Ch. 3 Ancient Indian Civilizations

Ch. 3 Sections 1 Geography

Geography of India• Separated from Asia by mountains–Ex. Himalayas and Hindu Kush–Difficult for immigrants and invaders to enter India

• Ganges River- flows to more fertile valley• Indus River flows into drier plains• Indo-Gangetic Plain- area rivers flow

into

Geography• Deccan- a high plateau region south

of the rivers• Western Ghats- mountain range

along the western costal plains • Eastern Ghats- mountains mark

the eastern Deccan• Bodies of Water–Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal

Climate• Monsoons- winds that mark seasons in

India• Dry Season- NE monsoons–Nov. to Mar. winds blow from N and NE

• Wet Season- SW monsoons–Mid-June to October–SW winds carry warm, moist air from

Indian Ocean• Temperatures range from mild on the

coast to 120 ̊F in the Plains

Ch. 3 Section 2

Early Indo-Aryan Societies

Early Indo-Aryans• Vedic Age: named for the Vedas-

early religious literature• Indo-Aryans- nomadic people from

north of the Black and Caspian Seas• Herded animals and became farmers

when they settled• Formed independent states or

territories –Raja- chief; military leader,

lawmaker, and judge

Indo-Aryan Society

Indo-Aryan Migrants

• Light skinned• Nomadic people

Social Structure Warriors/ Priests

↓Merchant/Traders

↓Farmers and Servants

Indus Valley People• Dark skinned• Settle communities• Taken over by Indo-

Aryans

Physical and social differences between Indo-Aryan migrants and earlier inhabitants

Marriage• Important institution; limited

between social orders• Rules for Marriage

Ceremonies:–Parents arranged marriages•Marriages by purchase or capture•Marriages for love is possible

Economy• Farming- wheat and barley–Used irrigation to grow rice

• Poor transportation made trade difficult–Bartering was used, not coins

• Sanskrit- Indo-Aryan language that spread throughout India