1. LESSON III – RIVER
CULTURES
Rivers have a thousand different
uses which are necessary for life
and civilisations to develop…
what are the most important?

2. Some of the river’s most important uses
include…

3. But just as the river has many advantages, it also
brings many problems and dangers, too…

4. Which is the most famous and important river in
India?

5. What makes a river so „important” to a culture
or country?
• The size. Larger rivers have access to more areas of a country, and
so become more important for trade and industry
• The success of the cities which developed on its banks. The reason
the Danube is so important in Europe is because many of the cities
which were founded on it became important capital cities, and the
Danube river is what connects them.
• Stories, legends, mythology and religious importance. The river
Ganges and the Yamuna in India are certainly important because of
this, and we will find out why in a moment. Other such rivers are
the Jordan, because Jesus was baptised in it, for example.
• Any other reasons?

6. Think back to the way that we „created” the god
of the cave cultures of Bhimbetka….
• What, then, might the religion of the river cultures be like? What
would their deity or god be like? The culture which grew along the
Ganges developed one of the most recognisable religions in the
world. What would its origins or beginnings be?
• What did these people want/need/fear from the river they lived on?
• Would this god be male or female? Why?
• What would this god/goddess be responsible for? What would
his/her powers be?
• How would they be worshipped? What sort of rituals and sacrifices
would be offered to them?
• What would their icons be?
• What might we expect their temples to look like?

7. The Ganges is not just a river. For millions of people, it is also
a Goddess in her entirity, named Ganga Ma, or Mother
Ganges

8. The temples dedicated to Ganga Ma are interesting, and
perhaps unexpected in their design
Why might they be
designed in this way?
What does it mean?

9. Varanasi is perhaps the most famous and
architecturally significant city on the Ganges
Varanasi is found almost exactly
in the middle of the Ganges,
halfway between its SOURCE in
the Himalayas, and its MOUTH in
the Bay of Bengal. Why is this
important? How would this affect
the size of the river and its
connection to the way the city
was built?

10. One of the „icons” of the city are the beautiful ghats or
buildings with steps leading into the Ganges
What are the function of these ghats? What materials
must have been used, and what properties are necessary
for these materials? Why?

11. But the city is a mess: overcrowded, polluted and with
every building fighting for a space on the banks of the
river. Why did this happen?

12. Varanasi is an ancient city, but it is facing an
incredible number of problems and difficulties