1. Early India
Chapter 4
Section 1

2. Key Terms
Subcontinent
Monsoons
Citadel
Vedas
Rajas
Varnas
castes

3. India’s Geography Indus River
Subcontinent-large landmass that is part of a continent
3 geographic areas
Himalayan and Hindu Kush Mountains
Deccan Plateau (south)
Northern Plains, where civilization developed

4. India’s Geography
Indus, Ganges, and Brahamaputra enrich the soil in the plains
Monsoons seasonal winds
Sumer months warm air, heavy rains
Winter dry cool wind from central Asia
Drier months

5. India’s Geography Depended on monsoons for water
Flooded rivers and left silt
Too heavy flooding and destruction
Too late can’t grow enough

6. Indus Valley Civilizations
2500 BC beginning
Started to write
Harappa discovered 1920
Mohenjo Daro- mound of the dead.

7. Indus Valley Civilizations
Well planned
Grid pattern of streets
Had public sewers
Citadel-large walled and elevated city
Enclosed
Granaries
Shrines
Homes, and workshops

8. Indus Valley Civilizations
Economy
Agriculture and trade
Cities specialization
Traded close and distant
Central Asia
Mesopotamia

9. Indus Valley Civilizations
Society
Not learned a lot
Indus valley single society
Shared common tool designs
Standard weights and measures

10. Indus Valley Civilizations
Decline
2000 BC started to decline
Suffered repeated flooding
River changed course
Invasion or disease

11. The Vedic Period 2000 BC new people take control Aryans arrived
Vedas-sacred writings include details of Aryan history and society

12. Vedic Period Vedic Society Settled in villages Rajas- regional leaders
Usually a war leader
Offered protection received food or money

13. The Vedic Period Social Structure
Divided into four social classes (Varnas)
Each Varna plays a role
Brahmins- priests and teachers
Kshatiyas-warriors and rulers
Vaisyas-traders, herders, farmers
Sudras-servants

14. The Vedic Period Social Structure
Four Varnas become hundreds of castes
Determined by job
Who you could marry
Some castes had more privileges
Untouchables were outside of the caste

15. The Vedic Period Vedic Religion Vedas-mostly hymns and prayers
Describe how people worshipped
Sacrifices
Priests claimed that religious rituals were needed to maintain the universe