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Title: Ancient India Geography • Do Now: You did not come to school yesterday because as a nation we celebrated President’s Day. This day honors two legendary American Presidents: George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Write a paragraph discussing anything you know about these two presidents. If you do not know about them, write a paragraph about why it is important to have a day to honor our country’s leaders
Agenda • Do Now • Geography and Early India • Make a Map
Objective • Students will draw the major river systems and geography of Ancient India on a map
Vocabulary • Subcontinent: a large landmass that is smaller than a continent • Natural barriers: features that make travel and communication difficult and dangerous • River system: a main river and all of its branches
Geography of India • Ancient India was located in South Asia: a subcontinent of the massive continent of Asia • The Indian subcontinent stretches almost 2,000 miles from north to south. • Today this region is made up of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, and Bhutan
Tallest Mountain in the world! Natural Barriers • Natural barriers limited contact between inhabitants of the region and other people • Mountain ranges from a natural barrier on the northern edge of the subcontinent • The mighty Himalayas, covered in snow and ice cover most of this area.
Natural Barriers • Himalaya comes from an Indian word meaning “house of snow.” • Another mountain range “the Hindu Kush” is in the northwest. • In ancient times, these rugged passes offered the best routes to South Asia from the north
Natural Barriers • The rest of the subcontinent is mostly surrounded by water. To the west, the Arabian Sea separates South Asia from West Asia. • The Indian Ocean lies to the south and the Bay of Bengal to the east
Major River Systems • Similar to Egypt, civilizations in south Asia arose in a river valley • The Indus and Ganges river systems have played a major role in South Asian history. • Both the Indus and Ganges rivers flow from the Himalayas and drain large areas of the subcontinent.
Indus River • The Indus river flows down the western side of the subcontinent into the Arabian Sea • At the end of its route, the Indus passes through a hot desert • Civilization first arose here • Why would this be an ideal place for people to settle?
Ganges River • The Ganges River flows across the northern edge of the subcontinent into the Bay of Bengal. • It crosses a huge, fertile plain, that became a center of civilization in ancient times. • This is the area of Ancient India!
South Asian Climate http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8E-s5QTQOg • Most of the Indian subcontinent has a tropical climate For much of the year, the land bakes under a high, hot sun. A seasonal wind pattern known as the monsoon controls rainfall. In the winter, dry wind blow the land from sea to sea
South Asian Climate • The summer rains provide water for crops and brings relief from the heat “The rain advances like a king In artful majesty; Hear, dearest, how his thunder rings Like royal drums and see His lightening-banners wave; a cloud For elephant he rides, And finds his welcome from the crowd Of lovers and of brides…” Kalidasa, “The Rains“
The Monsoons • From the time that farming began in South Asia, it was dependent upon the summer monsoon If the rains came on time, everything went well But, if it came late or not at all, crops died and people starved. If the rains were too heavy, farms and villages washed away
The Monsoons • The monsoons also influenced seagoing trade. • Sailors from other lands used the winds of the summer to blow their ships to South Asian ports. • There they would wait until the wind changed direction to blow them home again • In this way, the monsoon connected South Asia with Western Asia, Europe, East Africa and China so they could exchange goods and cultures!
Let’s Watch • We are going to watch a video that will show you everything we have been talking about. • Please pay attention and write down any questions you may have during the video!
Make a map • Use pages 167, 179 to complete your map • You must include (color and label): • Himalayas ( ) Naramada River • Indus River (dark blue) Godavari River • Ganges River (light blue) Sutlej River • Arabian Sea Yamuna River • Hindu Kush • Bay of Bengal • Mt. Everest
Title: Indus Valley Civilization; Aryans • Do Now: February is “American Heart Month.” Why is it important to take good care of your heart? What are ways you can take care of your heart?
Agenda • Do Now: • Indus Valley Lesson • Indus Valley Project • Aryan Invasion Lesson • Aryan Invasion Project
Objective • Students will create their family housing system to represent the Indus Valley cities • Students will explain the caste system as if they are part of that caste system
Vocabulary • Import: bring goods in from another land • Export: send goods out to another land for sale • Caste system: a social structure in which social class is inherited from one’s parents at birth and cannot change
Indus Valley Civilization • The Indus Valley civilization arose around 2500 B.C. • Archaeologists discovered over 1,400 cities and towns.
Indus Valley Civilization • The Indus River Valley is a hot dry desert which has a river system running through it. • The Indus River flooded every year which created a fertile plane but also washed away crops. • Over time the people discovered how to manage the floods and were able to produce a surplus
Indus River Valley Cities • People built large, well organized cities which were constructed on huge raised mounds of earth and rock. • Why would this be important for this civilization? • This was designed so their houses would not be destroyed during the floods. • The people often used oven-fired brick to build buildings.
Indus River Valley Cities • They also had a well-designed plumbing and sewage system with every house having a bathroom and toilet. • All of this shows they had a strong level of central planning where many people worked together to develop good systems
Indus Valley Economy • Indus Valley farmers used irrigation. • They stored surplus crops in a granary • They were also the first to grow cotton used to make cloth
Indus Valley Economy • Indus Valley farmers domesticated animals and raised sheep, cattle, chickens and ducks for food. • They kept horses, camels and donkeys for transportation and may have even domesticated the elephant!!
Indus Valley Trade • Traders imported precious metals, stones and timber from distant lands. • The Indus Valley traders exported jewelry, cotton cloth and other goods to Egypt and Mesopotamia. • Most was shipped by boat which we know because they had many granaries and factories next to the docks.
Indus Valley Trade • Traders began using stone seals to identify their goods • They would stamp seals onto soft clay and attach the stamp to their goods. • They also began to regulate their system by using measures and weights • Traders used scales and stone cubes to weigh objects and measure objects.
Create a city • Raised house • Toilet • Outside sewage system • Crops area • Livestock area • Well • Kitchen area • bedrooms
The Aryan Invasion • Around 1500 B.C. the Aryans which means “noble ones” invaded the land. • We are unsure where they originally came from but they believe they invaded India from the north
Aryan Invasion • Like many nomads, they Indo-Aryans did not create a written language but they did have rich oral literature called the Vedas. • The Vedas are sacred verses that provide a record of the Indo-Aryan people. • Later, people collected and wrote down these poems, one book is called the Rig Veda
Aryan Life • The Indo-Aryans originally were nomadic herders who herded both cattle and horses. • They measured their wealth by the size of their herds. • They also loved music, dancing and gambling and held chariot races
Aryan Life • The Indo-Aryans were also great warriors who engaged in battles among themselves and nearby people.
The Caste System • India developed a social structure based on class • Often, the members remained separate for many important activities
The Caste System • The caste system evolved out of the Indo-Aryan system of four social classes, known as Varnas • Originally, people could move up on status but later this changed
The Caste System • The members of these three highest classes were considered “twice-born.” • This meant the males from these classes could be long to the Vedic religion • They could study Sanskrit and the Vedas and could also take part in religious ceremonies
The Class System • The bottom class was looked down upon and made them work as farmers and menial workers • Later they became known as the untouchables. • They often did the dirty jobs so people refused to have any contact with them for fear of being unclean.
The Caste System • As time progressed, caste rules became more rigid • People were born into a caste and could not leave it • They could only marry members of their own caste and had to work among their caste members
The Caste System • Eventually, the caste system became the most powerful force in Indian society. • IT brought costs: limited individual freedom, they couldn’t develop talents, interests or friendships outside of their caste • It brought benefits: stability to Indian society, a sense of belonging. Indian goods became famous because the skills were passed down and perfected. • It also allowed different groups to follow their own beliefs
Owner’s Manual • You need to write an owner’s manual for how the next generation should act/behave in order to be successful within their caste system • Include guidelines, examples and experiences
Exit Slip • Take out a blank piece of paper • Title: 6.5.4: Outline the Caste System • Don’t forget to include your name, date and period • There are 5 questions
Question 1 • The untouchables are • So godly that they should note be touched • People whose jobs involved the lowly or dirty tasks • Priests and religious scholars • Bald and all knowing
Question 2: • Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors) must • Become skilled with weapons • Study and teach the Vedas • Handle garbage and sewage waste • Never enter temples or attend schools
Question 3 • Who is at the highest rank of the Hindu Caste system? • Vaishyas (herders and merchants) • Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors) • Brahmins (priests) • Shudras (servants)
Question 4 • From top to bottom, the caste system looks like the following: • Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Shudras, Vaishas • Shudras, Vaishas, Kshatriyas, Brahmins • Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishas, Shudras • Shudras, Kshatriyas, Vaishas, Brahmins
Question 5 • Shudras (servants) are • People who take care of agriculture and sell it for profit • Peopl who work for others • People who clean sewage-type materials • Religious scholars who teach Sanskrit
