1. 10/9/2015 Do you think cultural advances are a good way to measure the historical significance of a nation? Why or why not? Make a list of 10 achievements for which you think the US will be remembered in the future from your lifetime.

2. Indus River Valley Civilization

3. Physical Geography
4500 years ago – First Indian Civilization in northwest India
India is separated in the
North - mountains (Himalayas)
South - Indian Ocean
Khyber Pass – main access
to India

4. The Climate Monsoon: Why is the timing of the monsoons important?
Winds that mark the seasons
From November until March - monsoons blow from the north
From June to October - Wet Season (southwest monsoons), when winds carry water from the Indian Ocean
Why is the timing of the monsoons important?
Too little rain = bad crops, Too much rain = bad crops
Temperatures can reach 120°

5. Harappan Civilization
2500 B.C. to 1500 B.C.
Main cities were Harappa and Mohenjo Daro
Large and carefully planned
Had water systems with public baths and sewers
Two story brick homes with indoor plumbing and garbage chutes
Had big citadels or castles to protect them
Had storehouses with food for 35,000 people
Gives evidence of strong central government

6. Why did they disappear? We aren’t 100% sure why they disappeared
Some theories are:
Floods shifted farmlands and forced people to leave
Possible violence from invading forces
Major earthquake striking the area in 1700 B.C.
Unburied skeletons, people fleeing, abandoned homes

7. Indo-Aryan Migrants

8. The People
Indo-Aryans: In 1750 B.C. nomadic people came from the north
Sheep and cattle herders as well as skilled warriors
Drawn to India’s northern rich pasturelands
Able to conquer northern India

9. Vedic Age = period of time in India 1500 B.C. to 1000 B.C.
Vedas: Works of religious literature
People memorized the Vedas and retold the stories

10. Indo-Aryan Religion Early gods were drawn from nature
Believed in one supreme god
Ceremonies were performed outside with special altars where fires were lit
Foods (meat, butter, milk) were offered as sacrifices
As time passed, things got more complicated
Brahmins (Priests): called to lead religious activities

11. Early Indo-Aryan Society
Still herders, but started to farm too
The settlements joined together into states or territories
Each governed by a raja: chief
Raja acted as the military leader, lawmaker, and judge

12. Social Orders Indo-Aryans were light skinned
Original inhabitants of India were dark skinned
Developed a complex Caste System: way to organize a society
Warriors and Priests were at the top
Merchants, traders
Farmers
Servants

13. Marriage Very important to salvation!!
Strict rules governed/limited marriage among the social orders – couldn’t go between
Parents usually arranged marriages
You could also purchase your spouse
Sometimes people even fell in love (gasp!)

14. Indo-Aryan Economy
They grew wheat, barley, rice, sugarcane, leafy vegetables, gourds, peas, beans, and lentil
Traders bartered until about 500 B.C. when coins were introduced
Eventually what the Indo-Aryan Migrants brought with them, became a way of life over much of India

15. Southern India
Vindhya Mtn Range: separates the southern region of the continent from the rest
People of the south
Able to hold onto their distinct way of life
They lived as farmers and hunter-gatherers
Traded some BUT usually stayed to themselves