ANCIENT INDUS CIVILIZATIONS
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INDIA
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Early India & GeographyEarly Indian civilizations developed in the Indus
River valley
India is separated from the rest of Asia by two major mountain ranges– Himalayas– Hindu Kush
Himalayas
Hindu Kush
Indian subcontinent
Invaders can only enter the Indian subcontinent by water or through a small number of mountain passes
Himalayas
Hindu Kush
Indian subcontinent
Khyber Passmost well-known
mountain pass
Khyber Pass
Plains stretch south from the mountainsThere are three major rivers on these plains– Indus– Ganges– Brahmaputra
Indus River Ganges
River
Brahmaputra River
Early India & Geography
• Two seasonal winds called Monsoons affect the climate– Winter or Northeast
(November to March)• Brings dry air from
mountains– Summer or Southwest
(June to September)• Brings wet air from
the ocean
Early India & Geography
HARAPPAN CIVILIZATIONHarappan civilization
reached its zenith about 2500 B.C.E.
Most important advancement of the Harappan people was the development of planned cities– Cities were laid out in a
grid pattern
ARRIVAL of the ARYANSAbout 1500 B.C. a
group of peoples called Aryans invaded the Indus River valley thru the Kyber Pass
ARYANS
∆ Nomads at first, settled down into agriculture in Indus Valley
∆ each tribe led by a Rajah (chief)∆ Cattle served as basis of diet, eventually used as
money∆ spoke Sanskrit language∆ wrote the Vedas– means “Books of Knowledge”– formed basis of the Aryan religion that would become
Hinduism
ARRIVAL of the ARYANS
Society developed into the “Caste System”oLaw of Manu
laws that governed caste systemo4 Varnas (social classes) developedoEach Varna had its own duties
called DharmaoVarnas were subdivided into smaller Jati
5th group developed = Dalitso“broken people”
ARRIVAL of the ARYANS
OutcastsHarijan (“Children of God”)Chandalas (“Impure Ones”)•Too low to be in the caste system•Considered “impure” from birth•Perform jobs that are traditionally considered “unclean”
Scavengers, clean toilets and sewers, handle dead bodies
Originally -could not enter villages/city during the day-could not walk in same street with other
castes-shadow was considered impure-very sight of them was a bad omen-generally lived on outskirts of villages/cities-unknown/uncared for
MOVEMENT THROUGH CASTE SYSTEM COULD
ONLY BE ACHIEVED THROUGH
REINCARNATION
UNTOUCHABLES
CASTE SYSTEM
Varnas
Groups outside
the Varnas
Mauryan Empire321 BC - 184 BC
Chandragupta Maurya• Unified India• Skilled administrator• Developed efficient postal system
Ashokagrandson of Chandraguptabuilt an empire that covered 2/3 of India
262 BC – Ashoka converted Buddhismafter battle saddened by loss of lifenever again went to warruled by moralityCarved laws on poles and put throughout Indiafollowed “Ahimsa”
non-violencebegan building hospitals, schools, sent out Buddhist
missionariesbuilt road with “Rest Stops” for travelers
Mauryan Empire321 BC - 184 BC
Gupta Empire 310 ad – 415 ad
“Golden Age” of IndiaEducation, Arts
Folktales & Drama:• Panchantantra– folktales to teach moral lessons through stories of animals
• Kalidasa, wrote Shakuntala –about the love between a king and forest maiden
Mathematics:• principles leading to algebra• Invented concepts of infinity and zero• devised symbols for 1-9 (“Arabic Numerals”)
Gupta Empire 310 ad – 415 ad
“Golden Age” of IndiaAstronomy:Geography
earth is roundTrade:• Arabia – gems, spices, cotton, ebony• China – silk• Rome – gold
built many Hindu temples
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