History of India
Standard SSWH2 The student will identify the major achievements of Chinese and Indian societies from 1100 BCE to 500 CE. Element a. Describe the development of Indian civilization; include the rise and fall of the Maurya Empire, the “Golden Age” under Gupta, and the emperor Ashoka. e. Explain how the geography of the Indian Subcontinent contributed to the movement of people and ideas.
PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S. Harappan Civilization - Indus River The ruins of Mohenjo-Daro; Indus Valley
Indian Subcontinent Between Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf India, Bangladesh and Pakistan Himalayas block India from rest of Asia Societal Effects: Little invasion b/c of natural barriers Favorable to trade b/c of access to H2O and large, rough coastline.
Resources: Tea Spices Opium (poppy seed) Cotton Societal Effects: promoted trade encouraged imperialism (from the industrializing west)
Himalayas Hindu Kush (Khyber Pass) West/East Ghats Societal Effects: Protection and isolation from foreigners Aryans= only significant land invasion
Indus Ganges Brahmaputra Societal Effects: Provide fertile soil Sites of ancient river valley civilizations (Indus) Holy river for Hinduism (Ganges)
Varies with each region Monsoons Societal Effects: Winter monsoons blow dry air from NE west across the country Summer monsoons shift winds and bring moisture and floods No summer monsoons= drought
Deccan Plateau Thar Desert Societal Effects: Plateau= most of the peninsula Monsoons interfere w/everyday living Desert= provides a natural barrier in the NW corner of India
ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS IN INDIA As far back as 200,000 years ago Debates surround how far back Harappan civilization stretches. Earliest strata indicates that by 2500 B.C.E., Harappan civilization was well established.
Indus Valley Civilizations
Indus River Valley Civilization BCE Two City States and many smaller villages Harappa Mohenjo-Daro Both had – centrally planned cities – city walls – Public buildings – granaries – toilets, wells, drainage system – brick lined sewers in the streets
Politics Governed by Priest Kings Indus Valley script never been translated Little known about: Lifestyle Belief system We rely on architecture
Indus Valley Economy Agricultural cotton and food crops Industry = textiles Irrigation Canals Crafts, i.e. clay figurines gold, silver and copper jewelry
Social/Religion Polytheist nature gods fertility goddess important Priests/kings in villages had high importance Some merchants but mostly farmers
Farming on Indus 3,200 B.C. -ish Bigger than Egypt or Mesopotamia. Domesticated Poultry Sheep goats. Cotton by 5000 B.C.E. Harappa and Mohenjo- Daro were the major cities
2,500 B.C. in the western part of South Asia Referred as Harappan Civilization after its first discovered city, Harappa. Mohenjo-Daro = largest archaeological dig in region. Largest of the four ancient urban civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, India and China. Not discovered until the 1920's. Most of its ruins, including major cities, remain to be excavated. The excavated ruins of Mohenjo-daro. PP Design of T. Loessin; Akins H.S. Indus Valley civilization
Cities laid out in grid with a defendable citadel. Engineered sophisticated plumbing and sewage systems. Indoor plumbing w/showers and toilets Similarity in housing indicates little differences between social classes. Typical Harappan dwelling Culture
Standard SSWH2 The student will identify the major achievements of Chinese and Indian societies from 1100 BCE to 500 CE. Element a. Describe the development of Indian civilization; include the rise and fall of the Maurya Empire, the “Golden Age” under Gupta, and the emperor Ashoka. e. Explain how the geography of the Indian Subcontinent contributed to the movement of people and ideas. List five facts that will help you remember this Element: