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Geography and Indian Life

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Physical Geography

a large landmass that is part of a continent, but considered a separate region

It includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and most of Pakistan

Used to be separate, but “crashed” into Asia, creating the mountains

India is a Subcontinent

This collision created the Hindu Kush mountains and the Himalayas

They are the highest mountains in the world

The Ganges and Indus rivers are large rivers that provide silt for fertile land

The Saraswati River was important in ancient times, but it dried up

India is surrounded by the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal

Mountains and Waterways

Tall mountains protect India from cold northern winds

Temperatures are generally warm

Monsoons occur in summer, bringing heavy rainfall

Climate

{Cities on the Indus

Settlement was similar to that of Sumer and Egypt

They settled along the Indus and Saraswati River

They grew crops, raised animals and made tools

They traded with other areas and became so wealthy, they were able to build a great culture

Early Inhabitants

By 2500 BC great cities grew up

At least 35,000 people lived in Mohenjo-Daro and Harrapa

We call this civilization “Harrapan Civilization”

It had planned cities that were built by architects

Most homes had bathrooms and toilets

They had underground sewers

Great Cities

{Harrapan Culture

No temples have been identified, but they have found baths used for rituals

Religious objects found link them to Hindu beliefs

The god Shiva’s likeness has been found among artifacts

They have found a mother deity and that of a bull

Religion

Pictograph writing evidence found

Area they settled was twice as big as Texas

Used weights and measures

Made statues from bronze and clay

Gained wealth from agriculture and trade

They traded ivory, beads and wood

They believe trade began around 2370 BC

Culture

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The End of Indus Valley Culture

A decline in building quality signaled a change in Indus Valley culture

Scholars believe that: yearly floods and monsoons were unpredictable and rivers sometimes changed course

Theses changes made it hard to grow crops

In 1970 it was discovered that an earthquake changed the course of the Indus River and the drying of the Saraswati

Environmental Change

Cities broke up and changed locations

Around 1500 BC nomads from the north Hindu Kush came into the valley and began to influence the culture

Impacts and Influence