INDIA: THE LARGEST INDIA: THE LARGEST DEMOCRACY ON DEMOCRACY ON EARTHEARTH

Begin new notes for Ch.6Begin new notes for Ch.6

NOTICE:NOTICE:

Do not copy slides that say Do not copy slides that say NOTICE, or that are written in NOTICE, or that are written in Italics. Italics.

Do not copy slides that have Do not copy slides that have REVIEW at the top. REVIEW at the top.

Copy everything else into your Copy everything else into your notes, even the notes that may notes, even the notes that may be connected to maps or pictures.be connected to maps or pictures.

REVIEWREVIEW

Why do we call native Americans Why do we call native Americans Indians?Indians?

Who was the person who played a Who was the person who played a great part in spreading Greek culture great part in spreading Greek culture to the Indian subcontinent?to the Indian subcontinent?

What was the name of the super What was the name of the super continent? (Idea that all of the continent? (Idea that all of the continents were at one time continents were at one time connected?)connected?)

The subcontinent of India is surrounded on all sides by landforms which make it hard to access. Himalayas to the north, desert to the north west, ocean to the south east and south west, and dense jungle to the east.

IndiaIndia

The history of India reaches back The history of India reaches back as far any written history on as far any written history on earth.earth.

Some historians believe that the Some historians believe that the Indus river may be one of the Indus river may be one of the rivers mentioned in the Bible as rivers mentioned in the Bible as the original site for the Garden of the original site for the Garden of Eden.Eden.

Characteristics of IndiaCharacteristics of India

India has two main rivers, the India has two main rivers, the Indus, and the Ganges.Indus, and the Ganges.

Another defining characteristic of Another defining characteristic of the Indian subcontinent is the the Indian subcontinent is the Himalaya Mountain Range.Himalaya Mountain Range.

The borders that have been The borders that have been previously discussed, kept India previously discussed, kept India from being invaded for many from being invaded for many years.years.

MonsoonsMonsoons

Monsoons are seasonal winds which bring Monsoons are seasonal winds which bring either cold dry air from the north (occurs either cold dry air from the north (occurs in the winter) or warm moist air from the in the winter) or warm moist air from the southwest (occurs in the summer).southwest (occurs in the summer).

Indian culture has been set up around Indian culture has been set up around these monsoons, and their religions are these monsoons, and their religions are also intertwined with the yearly weather also intertwined with the yearly weather events.events.

Monsoon season can see it rain for weeks Monsoon season can see it rain for weeks at a time, and drop almost all of the rain at a time, and drop almost all of the rain a region gets in an entire year in a month a region gets in an entire year in a month or two.or two.

The population of India relies on monsoons to irrigate their rice paddies, which is a main staple of their diet. A good monsoon season means enough food for all. A bad monsoon season means many people will starve because of food shortages. Traditionally, the economy of India does well during good monsoon seasons, and poorly during bad monsoon seasons.

MONSOONS BEGIN AND END VERY QUICKLY.

REVIEWREVIEW

How would American civilization How would American civilization be different if we had to cultivate be different if we had to cultivate our land, grow, and then prepare our land, grow, and then prepare our food for each individual meal, our food for each individual meal, each day?each day?

Monsoons have provided India’s people with very fertile land to grow crops, most of the time. In ancient times this meant the people of India had time to do other activities, such as trading, building houses, building tools, or creating larger and larger cities. This has allowed India’s civilization to progress much faster than some others in the region.

Earliest Peoples of Earliest Peoples of IndiaIndia Two early civilizations in India have Two early civilizations in India have

been discovered.been discovered. Harappan and Mohenjo Daro. Harappan and Mohenjo Daro. Little is known about these civilizations Little is known about these civilizations

because of the lack of written records. because of the lack of written records. What we do know about the cities What we do know about the cities

comes from excavations of their cities.comes from excavations of their cities. These peoples are believed to have These peoples are believed to have

existed prior to 2300 B.C.existed prior to 2300 B.C.

Harappan civilization, which is the most prominent of the two early civilization of India, left behind artifacts for us to learn about how they lived.

Cows were sacred to these early people because they provided meat, milk, cheese, and labor.

Harappan civilization ceased around 1500 b.c.. Historians believe that this was mainly because of earthquakes and floods. The Indus river also changed its course and flooded many areas and also made many people flee the area.

ReviewReview

What are the physical boundaries of the What are the physical boundaries of the Indian subcontinent?Indian subcontinent?

What are the yearly weather events in What are the yearly weather events in India called?India called?

Why are they so important to the Why are they so important to the culture?culture?

Who were the two main early religions Who were the two main early religions in Indiain India

The AryansThe Aryans

Shortly after the fall of the Harappan Shortly after the fall of the Harappan civilization, a group of people moved civilization, a group of people moved in called the Aryans.in called the Aryans.

These people were expert warriors These people were expert warriors who fought fiercely on horseback and who fought fiercely on horseback and had previously lived north of the had previously lived north of the Himalayas. (Thought to be related to Himalayas. (Thought to be related to the Mongol peoples.)the Mongol peoples.)

Their civilization soon spread to the Their civilization soon spread to the entire subcontinent.entire subcontinent.

The Aryans also populated present day Iran. Much of their culture has been misused by groups such as the Germans and white supremacists movements.

Aryan culture in India brought skilled iron workers, new farming techniques, and new language called Sanskrit.

The Aryans also made the worship of the cow mandatory. They also brought the caste system of culture the subcontinent.

Caste System in IndiaCaste System in India

Indian culture developed a very Indian culture developed a very elaborate caste system when the elaborate caste system when the Aryans entered the subcontinent.Aryans entered the subcontinent.

A caste is a group or a social class. A caste is a group or a social class. Social classes in India are very Social classes in India are very

important and are reminiscent of important and are reminiscent of Egyptian social classes, but each were Egyptian social classes, but each were probably developed around the same probably developed around the same time.time.

This is an example of the caste system. It was loosely based on several factors such as skin color and culture.

Brahmin were priest and the only people who could be involved in religious ceremonies.

Kshatriya were warriors who ran the government and the army.

Vaishya were commoners who were usually merchants and farmers.

Sudra were servants and unskilled labor. The majority of the culture fit into this category.

The Untouchables were the lowest group and performed the dirty work.

The class of untouchables still exists today. This is the lowest class in the culture and are not even thought of as real people worth any dignity or respect. They are a large group of people who have virtually no rights or way to move out of their given social class.

MEN AND WOMENMEN AND WOMEN

Men had the highest rank in society. Men had the highest rank in society. They were afforded rights that women They were afforded rights that women were not.were not.

Marriages were arranged.Marriages were arranged. If a high ranking man were to die, his If a high ranking man were to die, his

body was cremated and his wife was body was cremated and his wife was expected to jump into the flames with expected to jump into the flames with him. If she did not she was disgraced.him. If she did not she was disgraced.

This practice was called suttee.This practice was called suttee.

ReviewReview

What are the classes of the Indian What are the classes of the Indian social system?social system?

Who are the Aryans?Who are the Aryans? What was the Aryan language What was the Aryan language

called?called? Describe men and women's Describe men and women's

relationship in India.relationship in India.