Chapter 3: India

Revision

What is civilisation?What is the difference

between kingdom and empire?

OverviewBirth of civilisation in India

Features of the Indus Valley Civilisation

Decline of the Indus Valley Civilisation

The arrival of the Aryans

What comes to mind when you think of India?

Prior to 1920...

Historians thought that the Aryans (1700 BCE) were the first Indian civilisation.

Excavations in 1920 led to the finding of Mohenjo-daro. In the 1950s, Harappa was

found.

Information about the Indus Valley Civilisations are based purely on archaeological findings.

Origins

Began around 3000 BCE, ended around 1900 BCE

Dravidians settled in the Indus plains.

Built cities e.g. Harappa and Mohenjo-daro

A map showing the extent of the Indus Valley Civilisation

View of Mohenjodaro

Architecture

The Great Bath

The college

The granary?

Sophisticated drainage systems and sanitary facilities

Economic activities

Agriculture Trade

Production of pottery,

copper etc.

Occupations

Farmers, craftsmen and traders

King-priests who conducted religious

ceremonies

Government

TheocraticWorshipped a “Priest King”

Religion

Worship of fertility goddesses

Worship of sacred animals

Writing

Indus seals – probably used by traders for

identifying goods

Not deciphered yet

Why did the Indus Valley Civilisation decline?

Probable causes:Severe floods killed

many and forced others to leave

Invasion by another people – the Aryans

Overpopulation

The Aryans

Nomads, came from the Western part of Asia.Entered India in small groups, fought with

Dravidians but settled down

Gradually moved eastwards into Ganges

valleyCultures of Dravidians and Aryans gradually mixed, as

seen in Hinduism Movement of Aryans into Ganges Valley