Ancient India

1
Ancient India

• In this lesson, students will identify
  characteristics of Indias geography.
• Students will be able to define and/or identify
  the following terms
• Himalaya Mountains
• Monsoons
• Indus River
• Ganges River

2
India is a subcontinent in South Asia.
3
The Indian Subcontinent

• India is a country in South Asia.
• India is a subcontinent.
• A subcontinent is a large land mass that is
  smaller than a continent.
• A subcontinent is usually split from the rest of
  the continent by a mountain range.

4
The Himalaya Mountains separate India From China.
5
The Himalayas

• The Himalayas are mountains in northern India.
• The Himalayas are the highest mountains on the
  surface of the earth.
• The Himalayas have not completely separated India
  from the rest of Asia because the mountains have
  passes.

6
This is a photograph of the famous Khyber Pass.
This valley allowed travelers to enter India.
7
India also experiences the monsoon. The monsoons
are winds that bring rains.
8
Monsoons

• Monsoons are winds that bring rains.
• The Monsoons are vital for farming.
• Monsoon rains provide water for farming.
• If the monsoon rains do not arrive, many people
  will die from hunger and starvation.

9
The Indus River is an important river in Indian
history. It was the birthplace of South Asias
earliest civilization.
10
The Indus River

• The name India is derived from the Indus River.
• An early civilization developed along the banks
  of the Indus River.
• Today, the Indus River flows mostly through
  Pakistan. Pakistan was once part of India.

11
The Ganges River is an important river in India.
It is a sacred or holy river for Hindus.
12
The Ganges River

• The Ganges river is an important river in India.
• It is considered a sacred or holy river to
  Hindus.
• Hinduism is a religion of India. Hindus believe
  that the waters from the Ganges will purify the
  souls of those who drink or bathe in the Ganges
  river.

13
Even though India is a democracy today, geography
still influences the lives of its people.
14
Questions for Reflection

• Describe the Himalaya mountains.
• Why did the Himalayas not completely prevent
  cultural diffusion?
• Why are the monsoons vital for Indians?
• Where did Indias first civilization develop?
• Why do Hindus travel to the Ganges river?
• List two geographic features of India and state
  an effect for each feature.