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.