Ancient India
Ancient India Geography Ancient Indian civilization began in the Indus River Valley. (Indus & Ganges River) Like ancient Egypt, India’s early civilization developed along a river which flooded and left fertile silt.
Geography India is a subcontinent because it is separated from the rest of Asia by the Himalayas, the highest mountains in the world.
Monsoon season Winter/Summer
Indus Valley Civilization: The first settlements ca. 3000 B.C.E., when farmers settled along the Indus River in what is now Pakistan. Indus Valley Civilization:
By 2500 B.C.E. Two cities: Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
Harappa-Mohenjo Daro 35,000 people!!
Harappa: Traded with Iran & regions to the east.
Traded w/Persia & Sumer to the west. Mohenjo-Daro Traded w/Persia & Sumer to the west.
Political Structure: Cities ONLY Share language & culture.
Gov’t = theocracy
Trading Seals Writing developed from earlier trading stamp, which had the merchants name and symbols of trade items.
Terra Cotta Trade Seals.
Religious beliefs: Great Bath Tanks were used for the purification of the body & soul.
Priest meditated in yogi to connect with gods.
Mountain Pose Tadasana The foundation of all standing poses, Mountain Pose makes a great a starting position, resting pose, or tool to improve posture. The foundation of all standing poses, Mountain Pose makes a great a starting position, resting pose, or tool to improve posture.
Extended Triangle Pose Utthita Trikonasana Extended Triangle Pose is the quintessential standing pose in many styles of yoga.
Warrior I Pose Virabhadrasana I
Warrior II Pose Virabhadrasana II Increases stamina
The people who lived in these marvelous cities disappeared around 1500 BCE. Perhaps they ran out of wood to hold back flooding, or perhaps their soil gave out and no longer would grow crops. No one knows what happened these people, or where they went.
Aryan invaders: Around 1500 B.C.E., conquered by the Aryans.
ARYAN INVASION After the Harappan civilization collapsed, another group of people called the Aryans began settling in the region. They became a new civilization. The Aryans were nomads that came from central Asia and began moving into the Indus River valley around 1500 B.C. Aryan Migration 2000-500 B.C.
The Aryans—hunters/raised cattle (sacred) warriors invented iron plows and canals
Written language = SANSKRIT
Aryan tribes were led by a raja, or prince.
Men’s lives were considered more important than women’s lives. In most cases, only men could inherit property. Only men were allowed to go to school or become priests. Parents arranged marriages, and divorce was not allowed. guru = teacher
There were four classes called varnas in India’s social system with one group of people that did not belong to any varna. They were called the Untouchables. CASTE SYSTEM
Reasons for the caste system: - Upper class control economy. alternative to slavery.
A new marriage tradition A new marriage tradition. The red dot on an Indian woman’s forehead goes back to the Aryan tradition of having a groom apply a spot of his blood on his bride’s forehead, as a sign of marriage.
India’s First Civilizations Under the caste system in India, what aspects of life are affected by a person’s caste? A person’s caste affects what job they will have, who they can marry, and who they can socialize with.
India’s First Civilizations Describe the cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro. Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were planned cities with wide main streets and a wall around each neighborhood. Each mud brick house had a flat roof and was laid out around a courtyard. Each city had public wells, a sewage system, and garbage disposal.
India’s First Civilizations Why are monsoons important to Indian farmers? They cause soil-enriching floods.
India’s First Civilizations Cause and Effect What caused the collapse of Harappan civilization? earthquakes, floods, the Indus River changing its course, and the Aryan invasions
India’s First Civilizations Explain How did the Aryans control the people they conquered? Possible answers: strong military, effects of caste system