Chapter Six Section 1 SG

Chapter Six:Chapter Six:Early IndiaEarly India

Section OneSection One

India’s First CivilizationsIndia’s First Civilizations

VocabularyVocabulary

AryansAryansPart of a group called Indo-Part of a group called Indo-

Europeans,Europeans,

The Aryans lived in central Asia andThe Aryans lived in central Asia and

were good warriors, expert horse were good warriors, expert horse ridersriders

and hunters.and hunters.

VocabularyVocabulary

BrahmansBrahmansThe priests in Indian society, The priests in Indian society,

BrahmansBrahmans

were the only ones who could were the only ones who could performperform

religious ceremonies.religious ceremonies.

VocabularyVocabulary

subcontinent: subcontinent: A large landmass that is part of a A large landmass that is part of a

continentcontinent

but distinct from it.but distinct from it.

subcontinentsubcontinent

VocabularyVocabulary

monsoonmonsoonA strong wind that blows one directionA strong wind that blows one direction

during the summer and the oppositeduring the summer and the opposite

direction during the winter. direction during the winter.

VocabularyVocabulary

raja:raja:A prince who led an Aryan tribe in A prince who led an Aryan tribe in

IndiaIndia

and ran their own small kingdoms that and ran their own small kingdoms that

often fought against one another.often fought against one another.

VocabularyVocabulary

caste:caste:A social group that began in Ancient India, A social group that began in Ancient India,

wherewhere

a person is born into a position and cannota person is born into a position and cannot

change.change.

Vocabulary Vocabulary

guru:guru:A religious leader and spiritual A religious leader and spiritual

guide inguide in

HinduismHinduism

Vocabulary Vocabulary

drought:drought:An extended period without rainAn extended period without rain

Vocabulary Vocabulary

Sanskrit:Sanskrit:Written language developed by Written language developed by

thethe

AryansAryans

SanskritSanskrit

Example of Sanskrit Writing

1-1. What natural features of India 1-1. What natural features of India influenced where civilization first began influenced where civilization first began there? there? *What effect(s) did they have on these *What effect(s) did they have on these people?people?

The Indus River valley consisted of rich The Indus River valley consisted of rich fertile soil from fertile soil from two rivers: the Indus two rivers: the Indus and the Ganges.and the Ganges. South of the river South of the river valleys was the dry and hilly Deccan valleys was the dry and hilly Deccan Plateau. Plateau.

The river valleys and the eastern andThe river valleys and the eastern and

western coasts of India were lush fertilewestern coasts of India were lush fertile

plains, suitable for farming. plains, suitable for farming.

1-2. When did India’s first 1-2. When did India’s first civilization, Harappa exist? civilization, Harappa exist?

It existed from about It existed from about 3000 B.C.E. to 1500 B.C.E.3000 B.C.E. to 1500 B.C.E.

1-3. List and describe the 1-3. List and describe the two major cities of this two major cities of this

civilization.civilization.Harappa and Mohenjo-DaroHarappa and Mohenjo-Daro were large, were large,

well-planned cities. Each city containedwell-planned cities. Each city contained

a fortress, wide main streets, small sidea fortress, wide main streets, small side

streets, and walls that surrounded eachstreets, and walls that surrounded each

neighborhood. They also had differentneighborhood. They also had different

types of houses and wells, indoortypes of houses and wells, indoor

bathrooms, and a city garbage system.bathrooms, and a city garbage system.

1-4. Why is so little known about the 1-4. Why is so little known about the Harappans? What do historians think Harappans? What do historians think happened to them?happened to them?

*The Harappans left no written records *The Harappans left no written records

so we know little about them.so we know little about them.

*Historians think that earthquakes and*Historians think that earthquakes and

floods damaged the area and then thefloods damaged the area and then the

Indus River changed course, killingIndus River changed course, killing

some and forcing others to leave.some and forcing others to leave.

1-6. How did the economic activity of the 1-6. How did the economic activity of the Aryans change when they migrated into the Aryans change when they migrated into the Indian subcontinent? What crops were Indian subcontinent? What crops were grown by the Aryans?grown by the Aryans?

They were no longer nomads, but They were no longer nomads, but

became farmers, inventing iron tools tobecame farmers, inventing iron tools to

improve farming.improve farming.

Their crops included:Their crops included:

Wheat, barley, millet, rice and spicesWheat, barley, millet, rice and spices

such as pepper, ginger, and cinnamon. such as pepper, ginger, and cinnamon.

1-7. What new ideas did the 1-7. What new ideas did the Aryans introduce to the Aryans introduce to the

area?area?

The Aryans brought new ideas The Aryans brought new ideas such assuch as

the caste system and Sanskrit. the caste system and Sanskrit.

1-8. How were the 1-8. How were the Aryan kingdoms of India Aryan kingdoms of India

ruled?ruled?They were ruled by the Ksatriyas, They were ruled by the Ksatriyas,

thethe

warrior and ruler class that was warrior and ruler class that was belowbelow

The priestly class, the Brahmans. The priestly class, the Brahmans.

1-9. Draw a diagram of 1-9. Draw a diagram of India’s early social India’s early social system.system.

Brahmans (priests)Brahmans (priests)

Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers)Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers)

Vaisyas (common people)Vaisyas (common people)

Sudras (unskilled labors and Sudras (unskilled labors and servants)servants)

Pariahs (untouchables)Pariahs (untouchables)

1-10. Compare the role of 1-10. Compare the role of women and that of men in women and that of men in

Indian society.Indian society.Men had more rights. Only menMen had more rights. Only mencould______.could______.

• inherit propertyinherit property• go to schoolgo to school• become priestsbecome priests• marry again, if his wife did not marry again, if his wife did not

have childrenhave children (continued)(continued)

1-10 Continued Women’s 1-10 Continued Women’s rightsrights

Women had little rights, and wereWomen had little rights, and were

treated much like property. treated much like property.

For example, During “suttee” when aFor example, During “suttee” when a

man from a prominent family died andman from a prominent family died and

was being cremated, the woman had towas being cremated, the woman had to

leap into the fire, killing herself. leap into the fire, killing herself.

If she didn’t, then she was shamed fromIf she didn’t, then she was shamed from

society.society.