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World History

World History. Chapter Three Ancient India and China. Early Civilizations of India and Pakistan. Subcontinent – large landmass that juts out from a continent Bordered by Hindu-Kush and Himalayas Served as a partial barrier, but not complete Three zones: Fertile Gangetic Plains

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World History

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  1. World History Chapter Three Ancient India and China

  2. Early Civilizations of India and Pakistan • Subcontinent – large landmass that juts out from a continent • Bordered by Hindu-Kush and Himalayas • Served as a partial barrier, but not complete • Three zones: • Fertile Gangetic Plains • Dry Deccan Plateau • Coastal Plains

  3. Plateau – raised level area of land • Monsoon – seasonal winds that blow from certain direction for part of the year • Depending on the direction, they bring rain or dry air • Depend on the rains for crops

  4. Indus Civilization • 2600 B.C. – Indus Valley Civilization • Lasted 700 years and rivaled Sumer • Have not found any records of Kings and Queens, tax records. Only small clay seals • Harrapa and Mohenjo-Daro – two cities considered possible sites for the capitol of Indus Civilization

  5. Farming and Trade • Most people were farmers • Grew wheat, barley, melons, and dates • Also were merchants and traders • Traded cotton cloth, grains, copper, pearls, ivory

  6. Religion • Polytheistic – believed in many gods • Mother goddess – source of creation • Bull and buffalo considered sacred • Became part of Indian culture especially the veneration of cattle • Veneration – special regard

  7. Decline • Crude pottery replaced fine works from early on • Writing stopped • Mohen-Daro – was abandoned • What happened? • Maybe deforestation

  8. Aryan civilization • 2000 B.C. – 1500 B.C. • Nomadic people came to India subcontinent • Built no cities and left little behind • Vedas – collection of hymns, chants, ritual instructions, and other religious teachings • Left behind by Aryans • Became sacred teachings

  9. Eventually settled down and were no longer nomads • Cultivated crops and bred cattle • Led by rajahs, or chiefs, skilled war leader, elected to his position • Often fought with other rajahs to gain more territory

  10. Society • Ranked according to occupation • Top: Brahmins – priests • Middle: Kshatriyas – warriors • Bottom: Vaisyas – herders, farmers, artisans, merchants • Lowest: Sudras: farm workers, servants, laborers

  11. Aryan Religious Beliefs • Polytheistic • Gods and goddesses embodied natural forces like the sky, sun, storms and fire • Indra – top god- god of war • Weapon was a thunderbolt • Varuna – god of order and creation

  12. Brahmins offered sacrifices of food and drink to the gods • If they practiced religion correctly – they could ask the gods for help when they needed it • Began to believe in a Brahman – single god • Mystics – tried to have direct contact with divine forces

  13. Literature • Mahabharata – India’s greatest epic • 100,000 verses • Tells of Aryan battles to win territory • Ramayana – tells of fantastic deeds of the hero Rama and his wife Sita • Read passage from Mahabharata

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