1. Chapter 6:Lesson 1 Early Civilizations
Ancient India
Chapter 6:Lesson 1
Early Civilizations

2. Geography of India
The Indian sub-continental (large landmass that is smaller than a continent) is a part of the continent of Asia
Bordered by the Himalaya’s in the North
3 main rivers – Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra
India’s people rely on these rivers for farming, transportation, and trade
The southern two-thirds of India is part of this huge plateau.

3. Climate Monsoons = Seasonal winds Cold, dry, air in the winter
In the summer, winds blow west to east bringing warm, wet air and pouring rains.
Monsoons were unpredictable. It brought much needed rain to farmers. It also could cause damaging floods.
Lack of Monsoons in summer would cause droughts.

4. Indus Valley Civilizations
5000 years ago, nomads settles in Valley’s along the Indus River in what is now Pakistan
People in the Indus Valley grew:
Wheat
Barley
Beans
Now everyone had to farm. Other people made tools and constructed houses. Merchants traded extra food and goods
The Indus civilization spread over much of western India and Pakistan

5. Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa
2 majoy cities between B.C in the Indus Valley were Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa
At its peak residents lived in each city

6. Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa
The two cities were designed exactly alike.
They had dozens of streets (paved with tan bricks)
Used oven-baked bricks to build houses
Large buildings stored grain for everyone in the city
Wells supplied water to the people

7. Housing Houses: Had flat, wooden roofs Enclosed courtyards
Some were several stories tall
Every house had at lease 1 indoor bathroom (wastewater flowed through the pipes to pits outside the city walls)
Houses also had garbage chutes connected to bins in the street.

8. What was life like?
Religion and Government was a major part of daily life
Indus Valley people resided in farming villages surrounding the city.
They grew rice, barley, wheat, peas, and cotton
City Residents were:
Merchants, shopkeepers, and artisans.
Made and sold: copper and bronze tools, clay pottery and cotton cloth, Jewelry from shells, ivory and gold
Toys were also found here

9. Trade and Migration
Indus Valley merchants traveled as far as Mesopotamia to trade.
Around 1900 B.C, the people of the Indus Valley began to abandon their cities and villages. (drought and earthquakes were killing people)
A group of people known as the Aryans began migrating into India and soon a new civilization emerged

10. Who were the Aryans The Aryans were not a race or ethnic group.
They were a part of a language family (group of similar languages) known as Indo-European
This language family lived in central Asia then migrated and the Aryans went to India.

11. Who were the Aryans They raised cattle for meat, milk, and butter
They traveled place to place to find pastures and water
They were expert horse riders, hunters, and warriors
They would sometimes raid other nearby villages for food

12. Who were the Aryans
Aryans eventually mixed with the descendants of the Indus Valley people and together they created a new culture
They banned cattle as food (sacred animals)
Made iron-tools for farming
Built irrigation systems
In the North
They grew wheat, millet, and barley
In the South
They grew cotton, vegetables, pepper, ginger and cinnamon

13. Who were the Aryans Aryans lived in tribes led by a Raj (prince)
They fought each other over cattle, treasure, and land
Language = Sanskrit
Used to record sales, trade, and land ownership
Eventually hymns, stories, poems, and prayers were also written in Sanskrit
They hymns, stories, poems, and prayers were collected into sacred texts known as the Vedas.

14. Ancient Indian Society
There were 4 social classes of Ancient India that were known as the Varnas.
People were considered members of the varna into which they were born.

15. Ancient Indian Society
The most powerful varnas were the Brahmins (priests) and the Kshatriyas (Warriors and Rulers).
Varnas system is considered a caste system. In a caste system, people remain in the same caste or social group for life.

16. Ancient Indian Society
In ancient India, the family was the center of life. Grandparents, parents, and children lived together
Elder Family members were respected
The oldest male was in charge of the entire household
Men had more rights than women
Men attended school and women were educated at home

17. The Guru
In India’s leading families, a boy has a guru or teacher, until he attended school in the city.
Parents arrange marriages for their children (a tradition that still goes on today)
Often they are forced to marry in their teens and are not allowed to get a divorce.