Let's find out about the physical features of ancient india
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WHAT WERE THE GEOGRAPHICAL FACTORS INFLUENCING ANCIENT INDIA?
1. Location and Size. India (today constituting three nations, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh) is a landmass located in southern Asia. It extends about 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) from north to south. India lies north of the equator, but the lower region falls within the tropical zone and has a warm tropical climate. Mainly a triangular peninsula, India is sometimes termed a subcontinent be-cause its geographical features sharply separate it from the rest of Asia.
2. Boundaries. Ancient India was geographically isolated and therefore largely protected against invasion from the east, west, and south as well as the waters of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. It was also protected in the north by towering mountain ranges, the Himalayas. Still, a few mountain passes on the northwest border, such as the Khyber Pass, enabled ancient invaders to enter northern India.
1. Location and Size. India (today constituting three nations, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh) is a landmass located in southern Asia. It extends about 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) from north to south. India lies north of the equator, but the lower region falls within the tropical zone and has a warm tropical climate. Mainly a triangular peninsula, India is sometimes termed a subcontinent be-cause its geographical features sharply separate it from the rest of Asia.
2. Boundaries. Ancient India was geographically isolated and therefore largely protected against invasion from the east, west, and south as well as the waters of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. It was also protected in the north by towering mountain ranges, the Himalayas. Still, a few mountain passes on the northwest border, such as the Khyber Pass, enabled ancient invaders to enter northern India.
3. Monsoons. The monsoons are the strong winds that blow, with regularity, over India. The summer monsoons—June to October—come from the south-west, absorbing moisture from the Indian Ocean and depositing rain inland. This rainfall is essential throughout most of India for its major economic activity—farming. If the summer monsoons are late or do not contain enough moisture, they can hinder crop growth and even cause famine.
4. Topography. India contains two major regions:
a. In the North: The Plain of the Indus and Ganges. This fertile region is watered by two great river systems, both originating in the Himalayan Mountains. The Indus River flows southwest to the Arabian Sea, and the Ganges River flows southeast to the Bay of Bengal. The Indus Plain, directly accessible through the northwest mountain passes, attracted many invaders to India. (From the Indus River was derived the name India.)
b. In the South: The Deccan Plateau. This relatively inhospitable region, despite some good farmland, includes mountain ranges, tropical forests, and rocky soil. Although the Deccan was not impassable, usually little unity existed between northern and southern India. The numerous mountain ranges also tended to isolate population groups from each other and to foster a feeling of regional loyalty, or regionalism.
a. In the North: The Plain of the Indus and Ganges. This fertile region is watered by two great river systems, both originating in the Himalayan Mountains. The Indus River flows southwest to the Arabian Sea, and the Ganges River flows southeast to the Bay of Bengal. The Indus Plain, directly accessible through the northwest mountain passes, attracted many invaders to India. (From the Indus River was derived the name India.)
b. In the South: The Deccan Plateau. This relatively inhospitable region, despite some good farmland, includes mountain ranges, tropical forests, and rocky soil. Although the Deccan was not impassable, usually little unity existed between northern and southern India. The numerous mountain ranges also tended to isolate population groups from each other and to foster a feeling of regional loyalty, or regionalism.
In ancient times, India was much more extended to the North West and West (consisting of parts of modern Pakistan and Afghanistan). The Himalayas lay to the north as they are today. In ancient period there were many other rivers besides the present ones. The most important of them was River Saraswati, which is not traceable now. The geography of India is one of great extremes, encompassing desert, mountains, forest, and jungle. All of these environments are susceptible to unpredictable periods of flood, drought, and monsoon.
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The archaeologists have found the remains of cities to be very well planned out. Historians estimate that each major city could support as many as 80,000 people, so Ancient India was by far the largest early civilization. The buildings were made from mud-bricks that had been fired in a kiln to make it harder. A kiln is a hot oven or furnace to bake clay pottery. City planners started by digging water wells and water drainage systems with main roads and small roads laid out in a square grid. Finally homes were built along the roads, sometimes with multiple stories. It appears that most urban homes had water drain systems in their home--a technology that wouldn't be matched in history for over 3000 years. However, most people didn't live in the urban areas. Most people lived in farming villages in rural areas.
What defined the Indus Valley Civilisation?
Civilisation is defined as an advanced stage of human cultural development. It requires technology and economic relationships .There are a number of traits which mark a civilisation. Some of these are :Evolution of cities, Surplus food, Division of labour, System of writing , Monumental public buildings and Development of technology .
When did the Indus Valley Civilization began? Answer: 2700 B.C.E.
What are the name of the rivers of the valley where the civilization rose up? Answer: Indus and Ganges Rivers
MOHENJO-DARO AND HARAPPA Believed to be created by the Dravidians.
Borth cities had well planned areas. Excavators found structures which resembled large buildings, public baths, rice granary and a market place. Unique and very advanced features were: Structure of the houses had one or more toilets or toilets connected to a centralized system. Underground sewer pipes were most advanced for the time.
Farming and agriculture became the main economic activity due to scarce metal resources.
Most artifacts found were toys indicating that the Dravidians liked entertainment and loved to play. For a while, archaeologists thought that the cities of the Indus Valley Civilisation were populated by children.Their disappearance remains a mystery due to no traces of war were evident.
What was life like for the people in Mohenjo- Daro and Harappa ?
When did the Indus Valley Civilization began? Answer: 2700 B.C.E.
What are the name of the rivers of the valley where the civilization rose up? Answer: Indus and Ganges Rivers
MOHENJO-DARO AND HARAPPA Believed to be created by the Dravidians.
Borth cities had well planned areas. Excavators found structures which resembled large buildings, public baths, rice granary and a market place. Unique and very advanced features were: Structure of the houses had one or more toilets or toilets connected to a centralized system. Underground sewer pipes were most advanced for the time.
Farming and agriculture became the main economic activity due to scarce metal resources.
Most artifacts found were toys indicating that the Dravidians liked entertainment and loved to play. For a while, archaeologists thought that the cities of the Indus Valley Civilisation were populated by children.Their disappearance remains a mystery due to no traces of war were evident.
What was life like for the people in Mohenjo- Daro and Harappa ?
- They were mainly occupied with agriculture.
- They had irrigation systems and made pottery and jewelry.
- Houses were made of clay.
- They worshipped many gods some of which were animals like the very revered BULL.
- Their social classes were the ruling class who lived inside the citadels- the farmers and traders lived outside citadels