Civilization of India

Classical Indian civilization began in the Indus River Valley, spread to the Ganges River Valley, and then spread throughout the Indian subcontinent.

This spread continued with little interruption because of the geographic location.

Civilizations of India

Physical barriers made invasion difficult◦Himalayas◦Hindu Kush Kyhber Pass

◦Indian Ocean

Physical Geography of India

The Indus and Ganges were the important rivers in India

Mountain passes in the Hindu Kush provided migration routes into India

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0011/earthlights2_dmsp_big.jpg

Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro

Indus River Valley civilization

Over 400 symbols Plumbing 1st Domesticated Chickens Many cities are impossible to excavate

Fun Facts for Harappa

Deforestation of the Indus Valley

Or

Periodic flooding of the Indus River or earthquakes

Decline of Harappan Society

Migration, assertion of dominance

Aryans (Indo-Aryans)

Shudras

Vaishyas

Kshatriyas

Brahmins

Caste System

Influenced all social interactions and choices of occupations

Caste System

Sacred writings of Hindu Mahabharata part of the Bhagavad Gita

◦ Story of a warrior prince about to go to war◦ Krishna is his chariot driver.◦ Krishna tells prince how to live, fight, and die

properly

Epics of India

Read pages 63-65 (Aryans Transform India) Write down three things that you find

interesting or didn’t know about the topic EVERYONE must share!

Directions for Activity

Alexander

Chandragupta Maurya

Mauryan Empire

Asoka

Continued political unification of much of India

Contributions: 1. Spread of Buddhism2. free hospitals3. veterinary clinics, 4. good roads

Mauryan Empire - Asoka

Gupta Empire

Golden Age of classical Indian culture

Contributions: 1. Mathematics (concept of zero),2. Medical advances (setting bones), 3. Astronomy (concept of a round earth),4. New textiles,5. Literature

Gupta Empire