Geography of India6th Grade UBD - Unit 4 - Geography of India

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Mountains and Seas- Indian is surrounded by two

geographic features. There are mountain ranges to

the north and large bodies of water to the south.

Rivers, Farming, and Civilization- South Asia

gets the water it needs for agriculture from rivers

and from the monsoon winds. The monsoon winds

bring rain each summer. Having a steady water

supply allowed early farmers to grow a steady

supply of food for the people of South Asia.

Reach Into Your Background

India is surrounded by

two geographic

features. There are

mountain ranges to

the north and large

bodies of water to the

south. How might

these geographic

features influence life

in India? (5 minutes)

Partner Activity

Work with a neighbor and compare your answer with theirs. What things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)

Key Ideas- Mountains and Seas

The Himalayas divide South Asia from Central Asia.

The mountains and ocean that surround India

affect its climate.

The monsoon winds are caused by the mountains

and the water surrounding India. Monsoon winds

create a wet and a dry season. Monsoon winds

make agriculture possible here.

The mountains and ocean also separate South Asia

from the rest of Asia. This has offered some

protection from invaders.

Location and Geography of AsiaVideo- Location and Geography of Asia

Key Term

Mountain

Range- A

mountain is a

landform that

rises more than

1,000 feet, above

the surrounding

land. A mountain

range is a group

of mountains that

are located close

together.

Key Term

Himalayas-

Earth’s highest

mountain range,

began forming

40 or 50 million

years ago. The

mountains are

still rising at the

rate of about

one-fifth of an

inch per year.

Key Term

Mount Everest-

The tallest

landform on

Earth is Mount

Everest, with an

elevation of

29,035 feet.

Mount Everest is

located in the

Himalayan

Mountains

Range .

Between the Mountains and the Sea

Ancient India, located in South

Asia, was home to many early

civilizations.

The geography of South Asia

enabled these civilizations to

grow and prosper.

Ancient India included territory

that makes up the modern-day

countries of India, Pakistan, and

Bangladesh.

Mountains

The northern boundary

of India is lined with

vast mountain ranges.

The tall Himalayas,

which contain Mount

Everest, are located to

the northeast India.

These mountains

continue to grow several

inches each year.

Mount Everest

Mount Everest, the

world's tallest mountain,

attracts many tourists,

although only about one

thousand climbers have

actually made it to the

top.

A trek involves two

weeks of hiking up

rough paths in

increasingly higher

altitudes.

Mount EverestVideo- Mount Everest

Sea

The southern portion of India

is surrounded by the Bay of

Bengal and the Arabian Sea.

The Arabian Sea would

eventually become an

important trade route

between South Asia and the

rest of the world.

Both of these bodies of water

are a part of the Indian

Ocean.

Subcontinent

Although India is part of Asia,

it is geographically separated

from the rest of the continent

by the mountains to the north

and the ocean to the south.

Because of this geographers

often refer to this region as

the Indian subcontinent or

South Asia.

Subcontinent

Water and mountains

surrounded ancient India.

This geographic isolation

protected the people who

settled in this region.

It was extremely difficult for

outside invaders to reach

the subcontinent without

making dangerous journeys

over the mountains or

across the ocean.

Key Term

Subcontinen

t- A large,

relatively self-

contained

landmass

forming a

subdivision of

a continent. 

Key Ideas- Rivers, Farming, and Civilization

The Indus River and the Ganges River flow from the Himalayas to

the Indian Ocean. They bring water and rich sediment to the river

valleys.

The monsoon winds bring seasons of cool, dry air and warm, moist

air. The monsoon rains provide most of the rainfall in South Asia.

The Indus Valley civilization was well developed. It had agriculture,

advanced cities, and a written language. The Indus Valley people

used technology. An example of this is advanced water drainage

systems.

Key Term

Indus River- One

of Earth’s longest

rivers it flows for

about 1,800 miles

from the

Himalayas to the

Arabian Sea. The

waters of the

Indus River have

been used for

irrigation for

thousands of

years.

Key Term

Ganges River- Is

the sacred river of

Hinduism.

The Ganges River

also begins in

the Himalayas and

is fed by rainfall

and melting snow

from the

mountains and has

been used for

irrigation for

thousands of years.

Rivers and River Valleys

Water is necessary for

the survival of every

civilization.

Two large rivers flowed

through ancient India.

The two major river of

the region are Indus

River the Ganges River.

Rivers and River Valleys

Both the Indus and

the Ganges Rivers

carry good minerals

from the Himalayas

into the valleys.

The Ganges River

creates an alluvial

plain in northern India.

Promise and Peril

The rich plains these two

rivers create made ancient

India a good area for

agriculture.

They also supplied water for

people, plants, and animals.

This made the Indian

subcontinent an ideal location

for civilizations to develop.

Promise and Peril

The Indus and the

Ganges also presented

challenges to early

settlers.

The rivers flood

regularly. This can

destroy the crops

planted in the rich soil

along their banks.

Weather Patterns of AsiaVideo- Weather Patterns of Asia

Wet and Dry

South Asia’s climate is

very different from the

climate of the rest of

Asia.

South Asia’s year into

two seasons. There is

a warm, wet season

and a cool, dry season.

The Seasons

In the winter, the

monsoon winds blow

from Central Asia into

the Indian

subcontinent.

During this time, very

little rain falls over

most of the Indian

subcontinent.

The Seasons

In the summer, the

monsoon winds change

direction.

They bring warm, moist

air from the Indian Ocean

onto the subcontinent.

During the summer

monsoon, it usually rains

daily.

Planting Around Monsoons

Farmers in South Asia

depend on the monsoon

rains to provide the water

they need to grow their

crops.

Farmers planted in the

summer months, when

water was available. They

harvested in the fall. If the

monsoon rains were late,

farmers and their crops

suffered.

Key Term

Monsoon- A

strong wind

that brings

heavy rain to

South Asia in

the summer

and droughts

in the winter.

Key Term

Harvest-

The

gathering

of a

ripened

crop.

MonsoonsReading Handout- Monsoons

Civilization in the Indus Valley

Early farmers on the

Indian subcontinent

usually settled near

a great river.

Rivers provided for

rich fertile soil for

planting crops.

Civilization in the Indus Valley

South Asian farmers

began to farm in the

river valleys.

They tamed animals for

plowing the land and

planted crops.

They formed small

farming settlements.

Civilization in the Indus Valley

These settlements were

able to produce a steady

food supply.

They even grew a surplus

of food.

A steady food supply

allows people to gather in

large groups and allowed

people to form civilizations.

Civilization in the Indus Valley

The first civilization of

ancient India rose along

the Indus rivers in

modern-day Pakistan, as

farmers grew a surplus

of food and other

workers could specialize

in occupations other

than farming.

Life in Ancient India’s Major Cities

The Indus Valley

civilizations that

existed from about

2500 to 1700 BCE were

complex.

They had written

language and well-

developed trade.

They had advanced

knowledge of

mathematics.

Math

One way the people of

ancient India applied their

mathematical skills was in

the design of their cities,

which were laid out on a

grid pattern.

They also used the same of

weights and measures

when they traded for goods.

Rivers, Farming, and Civilization

The Indus Valley civilization was as advanced as other

early civilizations, such as Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Ancient India had a system of writing, city planning

that showed an understanding of mathematics, and

enough natural resources to survive and grow.

The Indus Valley civilization was also located close

enough to other civilization that its people could trade

for resources that they needed but did not have.

Independent Activity

What has been the

“muddiest” point so

far in this lesson? That

is, what topic remains

the least clear to you?

(4 minutes)

Partner Activity

Work with a neighbor and compare your muddiest point with theirs. Compare what things are the same and what things are different? (3 minutes)