5. Physical features:
India is separated from the rest of
Asia by the Himalayas (kept out
invaders)
Two great rivers:
Ganges River (through fertile valley)
Indus River (through drier plain)
6.
7.
8. Harappan civilization:
Arose in Indus River valley around 2500 BC
and lasted through 1500 BC (same time as
Egypt’s Old and Middle Kingdoms)
Harappa and Mohenjo Daro were the two
major cities of the region
Mohenjo Daro translates as “Mound of the
Dead”
Citadel was strong central fortress in both
cities
9.
10. Both cities were large and
carefully planned
Had public baths, brick
sewers, and some two-story
homes had bathrooms
Had irrigation canals and
ditches
11. Technology:
Storehouses for grains could hold food for
35,000 people
Ability to store and distribute surplus food
shows strong central government
Evidence of writing from 2300 BC
Can’t decipher it
Most are personal seals with names on
them
12. Religion:
May have held rituals in homes or outdoors
Buried their dead in wooden coffins along
with many pottery vessels that were probably
filled with food for the afterlife
Most people were buried with some simple
jewelry, such as shell or copper bracelets
and agate beads
Elaborate ornaments of gold, silver and
precious stones were never included in
burials and must have been kept by the living
relatives
13. Economy:
Rich farmland around cities – grew cotton,
wheat, barley, rice and raised cattle, sheep,
pigs, and goats
Traded with Mesopotamia
Made cloth, pottery, bronze items, gold and
silver jewelry
14. Disappearance
Unsure as to why they disappeared
around
Floods, violence, or an earthquake are all
ideas
Several complete skeletons were found
People appear to have abandoned their
homes and possessions
15. Indo-Aryans
Nomads from the North who established Indian
civilization around 1750 BC
We know about them through their religious
writings called Vedas
Aryans today are called Indo-Europeans and
Indo-Iranians, depending on location
Indo-Aryans brought new religion (Hinduism)
and a new language (Sanskrit) to northern India
17. They also brought the idea of the caste system
Distinct social classes appeared in Indian society
People were not able to move classes after birth
The fifth class was the Untouchables – garbage
collectors, movers of dead bodies, etc.
Farming provided a living for people in the
North
Trade provided a living for people in the South
Silk, cotton, wool, ivory, spices, gems
To Far East, SW Asia, Africa, and Europe
19. Hinduism
India’s major religion
We know about Hinduism through religious
writings called the Vedas
Believe in reincarnation of souls
Ultimate goal is nirvana – a perfect peace
The Hindus have a trinity of gods –
Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva.
Brahma is the creator, Vishnu is the
preserver and Shiva is the destroyer.
The daily alternation of light and dark
is caused by Brahma. This picture
shows Vishnu and Shiva.
20. Hinduism has grown to become the
world's third largest religion,
after Christianity and Islam.
It has about 950 million followers --
about 14% of the world's population.
22. Ancient Indian Life and Society
Polygyny was accepted – men had more than
one wife
Children of higher castes were educated in
literature, astronomy, math, warfare,
government
Studied math, medicine, and astronomy in great
detail
Lower castes educated in crafts and trade
Indians were advanced in studying medicine
Understood importance of spinal cord
Knew about cleanliness and disinfecting wounds
