India’s First Civilizations
Chapter 3, Section 1
Geography of India
India is a subcontinent because it is separated from the rest of Asia by
the Himalyas, the highest mountains in the world.
The Indian subcontinent contains five nations: India, Pakistan, Bhutan,
Bangladesh, and Nepal.
India has two fertile river valleys created by the Ganges River and the
Indus River.
A monsoon is a strong wind that blows one direction
in winter and the opposite direction in summer. Monsoons bring rain
in summer.
The Subcontinent of India
The Hindu Kush
Indus River
The Himalayas
Himalaya Range
Ganges River Delta
Deccan Plateau
Dry Season
Wet Season
Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro
The first civilization in India arose near the Indus River after the
river flooded and left fertile soil behind. This civilization started
about 3000 B.C. and lasted until about 1500 B.C. Harappa and
Mohenjo-Daro were large, well-planned cities in ancient India. The
cities had wells, drains for wastewater, garbage chutes, and organized
governments. The houses were made from baked mud bricks. Most
people were farmers. They grew wheat, barley, peas, and cotton. City
dwellers were artisans, who made jewelry, pottery, tools, and cloth.
The Harappans traded their goods with people from other lands.
The range of the Indus
Valley Civilization
MOHENJO-DARO
1925
Between 1925 and 1931 initial
excavations were made at
Mohenjo-daro
a street in
Mohenjo-daro
Well at
Mohenjo-daro
"Great Bath“ at Mohenjo-daro
Bath Area
Unicorn Seal
from
Mohenjo-daro
HARAPPA
Harappa
the Granary at Harappa
Public well at Harappa.
Working Platforms at Harappa
Drain
Bull seal
from
Harappa
What happened to Mohenjo-daro and Harappa?
The Indus civilization collapsed about 1500 B.C. Historians
think that several earthquakes and floods damaged the cities.
After this the Indus River changed its course killing a number
of the people and forcing others to flee.
The cities of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa were built of firebaked bricks. Over the centuries the need for wood for brickmaking stripped the country side and this may have
contributed to the downfall.
After these catastrophes the remaining peoples of the Indus
civilization may have destroyed by the invading IndoEuropeans, the Aryans.
Sadly, the written records of this civilization have yet to be
deciphered.
The Aryans
The Aryans invaded India sometime around 2000 to 1500
B.C. By 500 B.C. they had conquered all of the Indian
subcontinent except the southern tip of India.
After conquering India, the Aryans became farmers but
continued to raise cattle. The cattle were so important, the
Aryans eventually declared them sacred.
The Aryans were hunters who also raised and herded cattle.
Because they herded animals, Aryans were also nomads and
expert warriors. They had metal-tipped spears and wooden
chariots.
The Aryans invented an iron plow and built canals to
improve farming.
Aryan tribes were led by a RAJA, or prince.
The Aryan’s written language is called SANSKRIT. It is
the classical language of India. The word “Sanskrit”
translates to “language of the cultured.”
Society in Ancient India
The Aryans believed in four levels, or varnas, of society.
The top level included priests and warriors. The next level
was common people, such as merchants and farmers. The
third level included laborers and servants. The lowest level
was made up of the Untouchables. These people did work
others did not want to do.
This was the CASTE system. A CASTE is a social group
that someone is born into and cannot change.
The Caste System
Men’s lives were considered more important than
women’s lives. In most cases, only men could inherit
property. Only men were allowed to go to school or
become priests.
Parents arranged marriages, and divorce was not allowed.