India and the Golden AgePathways, Chapter 11, p. 340-342, 347-362

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The Indian Landscape1. Takes up Indian

subcontinent, aka, South Asia

Neighbours:

– Pakistan

– Bangladesh

– Nepal

– Bhutan

– Sri Lanka

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The Indian Landscape2. Protected by:

- Himalayas

- Arabian Sea

- Bay of Bengal

- Western & Eastern Ghats

- Deccan Plateau

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The Indian Landscape3. Main rivers:

- Indus

- Ganges

- Brahmaputra

Monsoons: seasonal winds that bring heavy rains

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The Climate of India1. Sub/Tropical climate - monsoons drive

wet/dry seasons

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Climograph p. 342Hints:

- Red line/red scale = temperature

- Blue columns/blue scale = precipitation

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Climograph p. 342Temperatures:

- January: 25°C

- May: 30°C

- July: 30°C

- September: 28°C

- December: 27°C

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Climograph p. 342Precipitation:

- January: 0mm

- May: 20mm

- July: 620mm (!)

- September: 290mm

- December: 0mm

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Prince George vs. Mumbai

Prince George Mumbai

Prince George

• June: 73 mm average precipitation

• January temperature lows: -14oC

• July temperature highs: 22oC

INVADERS!!!

The Aryan Invaders

• Invaded around 1500 B.C.E.

• from west-central Asia

• Aryans conquered northern India

• Mostly nomadic, but fierce warriors

• Brought Aryan language to India

• Aryan language is the ancestor of both English and Indian languages like Punjabi

Alexander the Great

• Invaded northern India in 330 B.C.E.

• Claimed modern-day Pakistan and part of the Indus valley

Maurya Empire• 325 to 184 B.C.E.

• Included the rule of Ashoka (273-232 B.C.E.)

• Ashoka converted to Buddhism and devoted his life to avoiding violence and improving the lives of people in the empire

The Gupta Empire 320 to 550 C.E.

1. First Guptan ruler:

Chandragupta

2. “Golden Age” due

to developments in

art, science, music, and

literature

The Gupta Empire3. Guptan economy based on agriculture

4. Indian artisans belonged to guilds called shreni:

- shared resources

- shared profits

- hereditary occupations

- apprentice -> advanced student -> expert -> teacher

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