India’s First India’s First CivilizationsCivilizationsCh. 6, Sec. 1Ch. 6, Sec. 1

VocabularyVocabulary

SubcontinentSubcontinent monsoonmonsoon

SanskritSanskrit rajaraja

CasteCaste guruguru

The Land of IndiaThe 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 CivilizationIndia’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 AryansThe 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 ChangeAryans 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 IndiaSociety 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. Top Level (Brahmans & Kshatriyas)—Priests, rulers, &

warriors.2. 2nd Level (Vaisyas)—Common People.3. 3rd Level (Sudras)—Unskilled laborers & servants (most

people belonged here)4. 4th Level (Pariahs)—Untouchables. Did work others didn’t

want to do.

Society in Ancient IndiaSociety 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.