CH 9 - Lesson 1

Chapter 9 - Ancient India

LESSON 1 - EARLY CIVILIZATIONS

TERMS TO KNOW

ESSENTIAL QUESTION

How does geography influence the way people live?

GEOGRAPHY

• India is a subcontinent, which is a part of the continent of Asia.
• India is separated from the rest of Asia by mountain systems, including the Himalaya; the southern two-thirds of India is part of the Deccan Plateau.
• The three main rivers of India are the Indus, the Ganges, and the Brahmaputra.
• Seasonal winds called monsoons greatly affect the climate and agriculture in India.

The Indus Valley Civilization

India’s first civilization began in the Indus River valley where crops grew in the rich soil. The Indus civilization lasted from about 2600 b.c. until 1900 b.c.

The Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley people left no written records. Experts have studied what is left of the cities to learn what life was like there.

Most people were farmers. City dwellers made goods that could be traded. Indus Valley merchants traded with the Mesopotamians. Some traders sailed across the Arabian Sea. Others made the difficult trip through the mountains.

The Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization

Working time: Indus Valley Civilization Graphic Organizer

Aryan migrations and settlements

Around 1900 b.c., the people of the Indus Valley began to leave their cities. Soon, people called the Aryans began settling the river valley.

The Aryans came from central Asia. They were nomads, so they traveled around to find food for their herds of cattle. The Aryans were not a single race or a tribe. They were a group of people who spoke similar languages. This language family was called Indo-European.

ARYAN CIVILIZATION

The early Aryans did not write things down when they were nomads. When they became farmers, they developed a written language called Sanskrit.

Using Sanskrit, they wrote down sales, and trade information.

They also wrote down songs, stories, poems, and prayers in sacred books called the Vedas.

Aryans political organization

Answer on classroom:

Why did the Aryans develop written language?

Where do you think these social classes were placed in Indian society?

farmers, craftspeople, and merchants

rulers and warriors

workers and servants

priests

Indian social classes (varnas)

most indians

Indian social classes (varnas) cont.

Grandparents, parents, and children all lived together with the oldest man in charge. This is called an extended, or enlarged, family.

Men had many more rights than women. Only men went to school or could become priests. When they were young, some boys studied with a guru, or teacher. Older boys went to schools in the cities.

Parents chose marriage partners for their children. Divorce was not allowed.