India
Geography of the
Subcontinent
Geography of India: Landforms
and Rivers
India is a
subcontinent. A
subcontinent is a
large landmass
separated from the
rest of a continent
by physical
features – in this
case mountain
ranges.
Geography: Landforms and Rivers
The Himalayas lie to
the north and are the
highest mountains in
the world. To the west
are the Hindu Kush.
The mountains made
it difficult to enter
India, however,
invaders did find some
passes to use.
Geography: Rivers & Plains
The west of the
Himalayas is a vast
desert. Much of the
rest of India is fertile
plains and rugged
plateaus. The
Himalayas are also
the source of many
rivers including the
Indus – the home of
India’s first civilization.
Rich Land
Much like the
people that relied
on the Nile and the
Euphrates, Indian
culture formed from
the flooding of the
Indus as the snows
of the Himalayas
melted leaving very
fertile land.
Climate
Most of India is hot
and humid and is
greatly influenced
by monsoons,
seasonal wind
patterns that cause
wet and dry
seasons.
Climate
The summer brings
monsoon winds
and heavy rain and
flooding. Winter
winds come down
from the mountains
pushing out the
moisture and
drying the land.
Harappan Civilization: First Cities
The 2 major
sources of
Harappan artifacts
come from two
cities, Harappa and
Mohenjo Daro.
They are 300 miles
apart, but
remarkably similar.
Harappa and Mop Handle
Cities were well
planned. Each could
be seen as a grand
fortress, with a grid of
straight, brick streets
and had stores,
workshops, markets
and homes. They also
had many public wells
Harappan Achievements
Most houses had
bathrooms and indoor
plumbing.
Trash chutes.
Pottery, jewelry, ivory
objects and cotton
clothing.
High quality tools and
system of weights and
measures.
Harappan Achievements
They developed
India’s first writing
system, although
scholars do not
understand it.
Since language still
un-coded, it is hard to
tell but we think the
society had a strong
central government
led by kings.
The Decline of Harappan Society
Harappan society
ended by the early
1700’s BC. No one is
sure what happened –
it could have been by
disaster such as flood
or earthquakes, by
invaders sacking the
cities or disease /
epidemic killing off
much of the
population.
Aryan Migration
Shortly after the fall of
Harappan Society, a
new group, the Aryans
arrived in the Indus
Valley. Originally from
central Asia, the
Caspian Sea area,
they would become
the dominant group in
India.
Aryan Arrival and Spread
Historians believe
that Aryans came
from the northwest
through mountain
passes in the
2000’s BC. Over
many centuries
they would spread
farther east to the
Ganges River.
Vedas
Much of what we
know about the
Aryans come from
the Vedas, a
collection of
religious poems,
hymns, myths and
rituals written by
Aryan priests.
Government and Society
Originally nomads,
Aryans brought
large flocks into the
region, but over
time would settle in
the villages and
began to farm.
They did not build
big cities.
Aryan Political System
Aryans live in small
communities,
based on family
ties. There was no
single ruling
authority. Each
group had its own
leader, often the
most skilled
warrior.
Aryan Government
Aryan villages were
governed by rajas.
Rajas ruled
villages and
surrounding areas.
Villagers would
farm some land for
the raja and used
some of their land
as pasture lands.
Raja Rumbles
Although many
rajas were related,
they often came
into conflict.
Sometimes they
would join forces
against a common
enemy, other times
they fought one
another.
Languages
The first Aryans did not read or write,
therefore they had to memorize stories,
hymns and poems.
Aryan poems and other writings were in
Sanskrit, the most important of Indian
languages.
At first, it was simply spoken and not
written. Later, the written form was
mastered and it made it possible to write
down and keep records of everything.
Sanskrit is the root of many modern South
Asian languages.
Exit
How did Aryan migration change
India?
Stay tuned next time for the Hindu
Gods