3. 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
4. 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
5. Tall mountains protect India from cold northern winds
Temperatures are generally warm
Monsoons occur in summer, bringing heavy rainfall
Climate
7. 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
8.
9. 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
11. 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
12. 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
14. 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
15. 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