1. Chapter 3 Ancient India & China
Section 1
Early Civilizations of India and pakistan

2. Geography of Indian Subcontinent
Indus Valley Civilization located on the Indian subcontinent
Northern border > Hindu Kush & Himalayan mountain ranges
Mts. isolated India > not completely though > invaders found gateways through the mts.
Subcontinent divided into 3 zones
Gangetic Plain in the north
Fertile region due to major rivers
Deccan Region > mostly a plateau
Arid, agriculturally unproductive, & sparsely populated
Coastal Plains
Farming, fishing, & trading present here
Defining feature of subcontinent > monsoons > seasonal winds that bring rain
No rain > drought > famine Too much rain > flooding

3. Indus Civilization
2600 B.C. > Indus River Valley Civilization emerges
Large civilization but little is known
Had well planned cities & government
Two major cities > Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
Most people were farmers
Grew a variety of crops
Religion > polytheistic
Also believed certain animals were sacred > influenced Indian belief in the veneration of animals
Decline > not sure what happened > Invaders? Flood? Earthquake?

4. Aryan Civilization (Vedic Age)
Aryans were a nomadic people that migrated to the Indian subcontinent in 2000 B.C.
They left little evidence
Most of what we know comes from the Vedas
Collection of hymns, ritual instructions, and other teachings
Appeared to be warriors then later became settled farmers
Learned to make iron tools and weapons
Aryan tribes > chief > called rajah
Most skilled war leader
Fought other neighboring tribes to control trade & territory
Society ranked by occupation > Highest were priests or Brahmins > Lowest were Sudras
Religion > polytheistic > chief deity (god) > Indra (God of War)
Had animal deities as well
Religion will change > belief in a single spiritual power > Brahman
Some moved toward mysticism > direct communion with divine forces

5. Epic Literature
Aryans and Dravidians mix > acculturation > Sanskrit is the written language
Strong oral tradition > seen in two epic poems > Mahabharata & Ramayana