Transcript India’s First Civilizations Ch. 6, Sec. 1

India’s First Civilizations
Ch. 6, Sec. 1
Vocabulary
Subcontinent
monsoon
Sanskrit
raja
Caste
guru
The Land of India
• India is a __________ of Asia—it hangs down and is
separated from Asia by the ____________ Mountains.
• Made up of 5 nations: India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal.
• It has two fertile river valleys, created by the __________ River and the
___________ River.
• ____________ are important to climate.
– Monsoon—_________________________________________.
• Winter Monsoon—brings cold, dry air of mountains.
• Summer Monsoon—brings warm, wet air from Arabian Sea (a lot of RAIN!!!).
– Rains begin—farmers celebrate b/c crop will be good.
– Rains are delayed—drought will occur & few crops harvested.
• First Indian civilization arose near ______ River after river
flooded & left behind fertile soil.
India’s First Civilization
• Used the rich soil to plant crops & feed families.
• Plentiful food supply allowed them to support themselves and grow.
• Began about 3000 B.C. & lasted ‘til 1500 B.C.
• Know about civilization from studying ruins of 2 major cities:
• ________________ & Mohenjo-Daro
• Cities had wells, drains, garbage chutes, & organized govts.
• Houses made from baked mud bricks, had flat roofs.
•
•
•
•
No real records left of Harrapans. (prosperous & peaceful).
Most people were _______. Grew wheat, barley, peas, cotton.
City dwellers were _______, made jewelry, pottery, tools, cloth.
Traded goods with people from other lands.
The Aryans
• Harrapans collapsed 1500 B.C. due to earthquakes & floods.
• Group of people, called ________ started settling in region.
– Were hunters who also raised/herded cattle. (Cattle were very
important—wealth measured by number of cattle)
– Also were nomads & expert warriors—had metal-tipped spears &
wooden chariots.
• Aryans helped destroy Harrapans—conquered all of Indian
subcontinent, except southern tip.
• After conquering India, Aryans became _______, but continued
to raise cattle.
• Cattle were so important, Aryans declared them ________!
• Could not be used for food!!!
Aryans Bring Change
• Aryans skilled iron workers & improved farming in India due to
inventing an _________ used to clear jungles. Also built
________ in order to irrigate.
• Developed new written language: ____________.
• Organized into tribes—each was led by a ______, or prince.
• Raja ran own small kingdom that fought among themselves over cattle, treasure, &
women kidnapped from other states.
• One result of Aryan arrival in India was development of a
______ system.
– Caste—_____________________________________________.
– Caste determines your job, your wife/husband, & your friends!!!
Society in Ancient India
•
Why create a caste system? No one is positive, but:
•
•
•
•
Skin color may be part of it.
Aryans were light-skinned & thought they were better than dark-skinned people
they met in India.
People that Aryans encountered in India outnumbered them. Caste system set up
rules for everyone’s behavior & allowed Aryans to stay in control.
Four levels of Aryan society:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Top Level (Brahmans & Kshatriyas)—Priests, rulers, & warriors.
2nd Level (Vaisyas)—Common People.
3rd Level (Sudras)—Unskilled laborers & servants (most people
belonged here)
4th Level (Pariahs)—Untouchables. Did work others didn’t want to
do.
Society in Ancient India
• Family was the center of life—everyone lived together.
• Oldest male in family was in charge.
• _____ lives were considered more important than _____ lives.
• Most cases, only men could inherit property.
• Only men were allowed to go to school or become priests.
• Families at top of Indian society, a boy had a _____, or teacher.
• Parents arranged marriages. This happens even today.
• Girls & boys often married in their teens, some as young as 13. Divorce almost
never allowed. If couple could not have children, husband could marry a second
wife!!!
• In India, people were cremated. When man from prominent
family died, wife was expected to jump into flames!!!
• If she did not kill herself, it was great shame & woman would be avoided.