Ancient India

1. Ancient India Unit 4

2. Geography • Subcontinent: a large landmass that is part of a continent. • The subcontinent is occupied by India. • 3 geographic zones. • Far north, the Himalaya and Hindu Kush mountains that separates India from Asia. • South, the Deccan Plateau, receives less rain. • Between are the Northern plains society developed

3. Geography cont. Flood deposits from three rivers (Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra) enrich the soil of the plains, making it very fertile. Indian Ocean Heavy rains add to the fertility of the Northern Plains. Brought by seasonal winds called monsoons. Monsoons- summer winds from southwest bring warm air and heavy rains.

4. Geography cont. People depended upon monsoons to bring the water needed for crops. Rain flooded the rivers that deposited rich silt. Too much rain resulted in the danger of homes and crops being destroyed. If they came late or did not last long then crops had trouble growing resulting in famine.

5. Indus Valley Civilization Hunter-gatherers settle down in Northern India to start India’s first civilization. Harappa was the first ruin discovered of this civilization. Hundreds of other cities and civilizations have been found since. What we know of them come from these discoveries.

6. Cities and settlements They were well planned and carefully laid out. Streets ran in a grid pattern with major avenues twice as wide as others. Community wells, public drainage systems. Large cities containing a walled, elevated CITADEL, or fortress, enclosed buildings (granaries, warehouses, and meeting halls) Homes, workshops, and shrines were build outside the citadel.

7. Economy This kind of organization implies a central authority/ government. Economy focused on agriculture and trade. Most farmed and herded livestock. Specialization in crafts like pottery, metal work, and jewelry. Traded with those nearby and other civilizations as well (Central Asia, Arabian Peninsula, and Mesopotamia

8. Society Not many details are known about Indus society. They had a writing system but historians are unable to read it. Debate whether it was one civilization or city-states but each cities are remarkably similar.

9. Decline Thrived from about 2500 BCE to 2000 BCE but then declined. City of Mohenjo Daro was abandoned, not sure why but evidence points to excessive flooding. Evidence shows that some rivers may have disappeared (sarasvati river). Not sure how it came to an end (invasion, disease, environmental).

10. The Vedic Period A new people took control of India, referred to as the Aryans (a Sanskrit word meaning “noble”). Took control of most of India except for the far south. Debate continues on where they came from. Came through the Khyber Pass, a mountain pass where many invasions happened through. Most of what we know comes from sacred writings called the Vedas (vay-duhs) and why the period is called the Vedic period.

11. Vedic Society People settled in villages smaller then cities of the Indus Valley Civilization. Groups banded together under regional leaders known as rajas. Rajas (RAH-juhz)- primarily a war leader responsible for protecting the people. In return he received payment of food and money.

12. Vedic Religion Prayed to many aspects of a single eternal spirit, one such aspect being Indra, who ruled over heaven. Worshipped through fire sacrifices and chanting sacred hymns. Priests offered food and drink into the fire. The rituals grew more complex and were believed to maintain order therefore priests become more influential.

13. Social Structure Divided into 4 social classes called varnas, and played a particular role in society. A creation story tells of each being created from the body of one. Over centuries the four was divided into hundreds of smaller divisions called castes. Membership in a caste determines what jobs one can hold.

14. Social structure cont. A social hierarchy developed where some had more privileges than others. The order could and did change frequently. Untouchables- did not belong to a caste and had none of the protections of caste law. Could only perform jobs others did not want, like handling dead animals or garbage.