Ancient India
(a brief review)
Environment
Way of Life
Indus Valley
Agriculture
Silt
Specialization
Ancient India
Harappans
Aryans
People
Vedas
Mohenjo-Daro
Achievements
Environment
Himalayas
1. The Indus River brings water and silt that make
farming possible.
2. It begins in the Himalayas and crosses desert
plains before reaching the Arabian Sea.
3. Ancient Indus River Valley farmers irrigated
their fields and built dirt walls to protect their
crops and homes from floods.
Indus River
Valley
Himalayas
Indus River
Indus Plain
Ganges River
Arabian
Sea
Bay of Bengal
Map of India
1. What is the source of the Indus River?
2. How does it become a more powerful river as
it reaches the Indus Plain?
3. Why does the Indus flood the plain?
India ahead! This
subcontinent is
surrounded by the Arabian
Sea, Indian Ocean and the
Bay of Bengal. The Indus
River and the Ganges
River are also large bodies
of water that run through
India.
People / Way of Life
1.There is little known about the Harappan civilization because
its writing system still has not been translated.
2. Mohenjo-Daro consisted of many brick buildings and a huge
citadel. The city also had a sewer system.
3. Because of the orderly layout of the city and its long grain
warehouse suggest that Mohenjo-Daro was ruled by a strong local
government.
4. Harapan merchants traded goods in many places, some of which
were as far away as Mesopotamia.
5. A people called “Ayrans” migrated to the Indian subcontinent in
about 1500 B.C. They brought new ideas to the region.
Mohenjo-Daro
Harappa
• Why is there little known about the Harappan
civilization?
2. What kinds of technologies made Mohenjo-Daro
a highly livable city?
3. Why is it believed that Mohenjo-Daro had a
strong government?
4. Who migrated to the Indus Valley about
1500 B.C.?
Religion
Shiva
A. Hinduism
1.Hinduism is one of the oldest religions in the
world and is practiced by over 800 million people.
2. The Aryan newcomers introduced sacred songs
written in the Vedas. They became the foundation
of Hinduism.
3. The Vedas supported a way of dividing Hindu
society into four major classes of people. These
four classes developed into the caste system.
Hinduism (contd.)
4. Reincarnation, the idea that people live in a
constant circle of birth, death, and rebirth is an
important theme in the religion.
5. Hindus believe by listening to the dharma, or
instruction (laws and duties) of their caste, they
can break free of the cycle of reincarnation.
Ganesha
Hanumana
1. What is the foundation of Hinduism?
2. What is the caste system?
3. What is reincarnation?
4. How can a person break free of reincarnation?
B. Buddhism
1. Between the years 1500 – 500B.C., the
Aryan rulers gained control of much of India and
spread Hinduism.
2. The founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama
gave up all he owned to search for peace and a way to end
suffering.
3. The Buddha borrowed beliefs from Hinduism. He also
taught the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, and
the Middle Way.
Copper model of Buddha
Buddhism (contd.)
4. Buddhism spread after his death. Today there are
an estimated 330 million followers of this religion.
Siddhartha Guatama
1. How did the Aryan power grow from 1500 B.C.
2. What major life decision did Siddhartha Gautama
make as a young man in his palace?
3. How would you describe the major beliefs of
Buddhism?
Buddhist Monk
The End