2500 B.C.E.

1
Indus Valley Civilization

• 2500 B.C.E.

2

• Page 92

3
Indias Geographic Features

• The Indian subcontinent A large region that is
  part of a continent, but is separated from the
  rest of the continent in some way.

4
Himalayan Mountains

• This peninsula is surrounded by the Himalayan
  Mountains.
• Cultural Isolation Limited India's contact with
  other cultures.

5
(No Transcript)
6
Identification of Geographic Features in India
Indus River
Ganges River
Peninsula and/or Subcontinent
7
Seasonal winds known as monsoons bring rain every
summer. India is dependent upon monsoons to grow
their crops. Not enough rain brings drought.
When there is too much rain, rivers rise and
cause deadly floods and destruction of crops.
8
Carefully Planned Cities

• Originating around 2500 B.C.E.
• Around 40,000 people.

9
Indus Valley Civilization

• Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were the largest cities
• Civilizations participated in long-distance trade
• Possible causes for their Decline
• Monsoons destroyed irrigation and farming
  prospects
• Invasions
• Long distance trade collapsed

10
Aryans

• Root of the word is arya meaning noble or
  pure
• Spoke an early form of Sanskrit

11
Aryans and the Vedas

• The Vedas
• A collection, in multiple volumes, of hymns,
  rituals, and philosophies
• The Vedas include stories that attempt to explain
  how the world was created, who the gods are, etc.
• Thought to be the earliest written texts
• Rig Veda
• The earliest Veda
• Originally was recited orally and passed down
  generation to generation
• Children began learning the Rig Veda at an early
  age, would learn to chant each syllable in
  perfect order

12
Importance of Aryans Introduction of a Social
Order

• Each tribe was headed by a raja, or chief
• Priests were next in importance
• They learned complicated rituals
• Rituals typically focused on honoring or
  appeasing the gods
• Warrior class
• Farmers
• Non-Aryans made up the lowest class
• They were not slaves
• They were only allowed to perform the most menial
  tasks

13
(No Transcript)
14
Caste System

• The system of dividing society into hereditary
  groups that limited interaction with each other,
  especially marriage between castes
• The hierarchical groups (classes) into which
  Indian society was divided is called a varna

• Brahmins (priests)
• Kshatriyas (warriors and officials)
• Vaishyas (merchants and artisans)
• Sudras (peasants and laborers)
• Dalits (untouchables) outside the caste system

15
Caste System

• Brahmins
• Aryan priests who supported the growth of royal
  power
• The only caste that was permitted to perform
  important, sacred, daily religious rituals
• Untouchables
• Were not permitted to participate in or be near
  religious rituals
• It is believed that people ended up in this caste
  as a result of bad karma that accumulated in
  previous lifetimes
• Perform(ed) the most menial jobs