India

India is one of the largest countries in the world. Can you find it on this map?

India

Here it is!!!

Bodies of Water

Indus

R.

Ganges R.

Brahmaputra R.

Arabian Sea

Indian Ocean

Bay ofBengal

The Himalayas

“him” [snow]

“aalaya” [home]

Mt. Everest is 29,035 feet. It is the highest mt. peak in the world.

The Indus River System

1,975 miles long

•Civilization started on the Indus River about 2600 BC•Indo-Europeans started here (beginning of European Language (Latin, English…)

#1

Vedic Poetry

• Most of what we know about ancient India comes from a collection of hymns, chants, and poems called the Vedas.

2. Aryans (2500BC – 322BC)

• Group of nomadic tribes who had originally inhabited Central Asia or Northern Europe

• Tall, fair haired• they settled in the Indus Valley River region.• Fought with the original people of Indus

Valley• Civilization, who were dark skin and known as

Dravidians• The Aryans forced the Dravidians to move to

the the south.

Caste System (Manu code)

• Caste system was introduced and practiced, based on

• one’s profession:• Brahmins: Priests, teachers, intellectuals• Khsatriyas: Warriors, soldiers• Vashya: Traders, merchants, peasants• Shudras: People in service of others

Persian and Greek Invasion

• The Persian Invasion in 500BC, and the invasion of

• Alexander the Great of Greece in 327 BC, changed the

• Indian culture forever.• The most significant impact of this period was:• (1) Cultural mixing• (2) Establishment of contacts with foreign

countries

3. Mauryan Empire (322BC -188BC)

• 3. Mauryan Empire (322BC -188BC)• The Mauryans were better rulers and culturally

rich.• They had a highly centralized and hierarchical• government, well developed trade and commerce,• The most significant ruler of this period was

Emperor Ashoka • After the death of Ashoka, the Mauryan Empire• disintegrated rapidly and all of South Asia

fragmented into regional powers.

4. Gupta Period (320 AD – 480 AD)

• After the decline of Mauryans, Gupta rulers rose to power

• The Gupta period in Indian history is known as the Golden Age of India.

• Era of the most advanced civilization, flush with wealth, higher education, trade with foreign countries, and an overall happy life.

• Religious tolerance and freedom of worship• During the Gupta

Population Density

History Brochures of Ancient India

Your assignment is to created a short but informative history brochure on ancient India

The following should be included in your brochure: Early Indus River Civilizations(pg 70), Arian India (pg 72), Mauryan Empire(pg 84), Gupta Empire(pg 86)

Brochure should:1. Be well thought out and neat and organized2. Detail information about each civilization listed above

(What, when, where, who…)3. List Key dates of the Civilization.4. Describe key terms dealing with your topic (in book)5. Have drawn pictures of artifacts

Ancient India Museum ExhibitIn small groups you will create an Museum Exhibit

on one assigned aspect of ancient India:Possible Museum Exhibits: Early Indus River

Civilizations(pg 70), Arian India (pg 72), Mauryan Empire(pg 84), Gupta Empire(pg 86)

Exhibits should contain:1. A poster detailing information (What, when,

where, who…)2. Key dates of the Civilization 3. Key terms dealing with your topic (in book)4. Pictures of artifacts on your visual