4. Geography: Indian Subcontinent
Subcontinent- large landmass that juts out
from a continent.
◦ What does India look like?
Wedge-shaped continent in the Indian Ocean.
6. Subcontinent: Three Regions
1. Well-watered northern plain
◦ Just south of mountains
◦ Fertile (watered by two rivers, Indus and Ganges)
Rivers are sacred
7. Subcontinent: Three Regions
1. Well-watered northern plain
◦ Just south of mountains
◦ Fertile (watered by two rivers, Indus and Ganges)
Rivers are sacred
2. Dry Deccan plateau
◦ Juts into the Indian Ocean
◦ Arid, hot and sparsely populated
8. Subcontinent: Three Regions
1. Well-watered northern plain
◦ Just south of mountains
◦ Fertile (watered by two rivers, Indus and Ganges)
Rivers are sacred
2. Dry Deccan plateau
◦ Juts into the Indian Ocean
◦ Arid, hot and sparsely populated
3. Coastal Plains
◦ Heavy, seasonal rain
◦ Used sea for fishing and trade
Ancient India
11. Indus Valley Civilization
Two main cities
◦ Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
Both had a massive hilltop structure (fortress or
temple), large warehouses for storage of food.
Laid out in grid pattern
Rectangular blocks
Houses built in similar patterns
Modern plumbing systems with baths, drains and water
chutes leading to sewers beneath the streets
Merchants used advanced weight systems for sales
Well organized government
14. Farming and Religion
Wheat, barley and dates
First to cultivate cotton and weave fibers into
cloth
15. Farming and Religion
Wheat, barley and dates
First to cultivate cotton and weave fibers into
cloth
Sea traders and merchants
◦ Contact with Sumer may have sparked their own
system of writing
16. Farming and Religion
Wheat, barley and dates
First to cultivate cotton and weave fibers into
cloth
Sea traders and merchants
◦ Contact with Sumer may have sparked their own
system of writing
Polytheistic
◦ Mother Goddess- source of creation
25. Section 2
Vedic Age
◦ Ancient Technology
◦ Aryans built no cities, left no statues
Vedas- collection of prayers, hymns and religious
teachings.
Warriors fought with bows, arrows and chariots
Loved eating, drinking and dancing
Nomadic herders
29. Aryan Society
Divided people into
occupation
3 basic groups
◦ 1. Brahmins (priests)
◦ 2. Kshatriyas (warriors)
◦ 3. Vaisyas (herders)
Warriors had power at first,
changed to the priests
Divine right
4th group were Shudras
30. Social System
Caste system- social groups into which
people are born and from which they cannot
change.
Untouchables
Caste System
32. Religious Beliefs
Polytheistic
◦ Indra- God of War, weapon was the thunderbolt
◦ Varuna- God of order and creation
◦ Agni- God of fire and served as the messenger from
the people to the gods
◦ Offered sacrifices
33. Religious Beliefs (Cont.)
Brahman- power resides in all things
Mystics- people who devote their lives to
seeking spiritual truth
34. Expansion and Change
Rajah- Chief of the Aryan tribe, most skilled
warrior, elected by a group of warriors.
Aryans settled down, became farmers
800B.C. learned how to make iron
Built jungle cities
New language- Sanskrit
Sanskrit
36. Section 3- Ancient China
Geography: The Middle Kingdom
◦ Geographic Barriers
Himalayan Mountains (SW)
Gobi Desert (N)
Jungles (SE)
Hard to invade China
38. Main Regions
Heartland- east coast along two rivers, the
Huang He (Yellow River) and the Yangtze
◦ Loess- fine yellow soil
As loess settles to the bottom, causes river to rise.
Chinese constantly fought to build and repair dikes.
39. Main Regions
Heartland- east coast along two rivers, the
Huang He (Yellow River) and the Yangtze
◦ Loess- fine yellow soil
As loess settles to the bottom, causes river to rise.
Chinese constantly fought to build and repair dikes.
Xinjiang and Mongolia- harsh climates with
rugged terrain.
40. Shang Dynasty
Government- Noblewomen had power.
◦ Burial place of Fu Hao, wife of the king.
Burial Place
◦ Shang kings ruled small areas, known as clans
Clans- groups of families who claimed a common
ancestor.
Many closely resembled Aryan India or city-states of Sumer
PLAY MOVIE FIRST!!!!
41. Shang Dynasty- Social
Royal Family
Noble Warriors
Merchants/Artisans
Peasants
46. Shang Dynasty- Religious Beliefs
King was the link between people and
Shang Di, main god.
Rulers and kings (dead and alive) between
gods were essential to a good harvest.
47. Shang Dynasty- Religious Beliefs
King was the link between people and
Shang Di, main god.
Rulers and kings (dead and alive) between
gods were essential to a good harvest.
48. Shang Dynasty- Religious Beliefs
King was the link between people and
Shang Di, main god.
Rulers and kings (dead and alive) between
gods were essential to a good harvest.
Ancestors brought good luck for harvest.
49. Shang Dynasty- Religious Beliefs
King was the link between people and
Shang Di, main god.
Rulers and kings (dead and alive) between
gods were essential to a good harvest.
Ancestors brought good luck for harvest.
PLAY MOVIE!!!
50. Shang Dynasty- Yin and Yang
Yin and Yang
◦ Yin- linked to Earth, darkness and female forces
◦ Yang- linked to Heaven, light and male forces
Forces not in opposition, but harmony
53. Shang Dynasty- Writing
Oracle Bones- used by priests to predict
future, wrote on turtle shells or animal bones
◦ Would heat up bones till cracked, then interpreted
the cracks as answers from the god
54. Shang Dynasty- Writing
Oracle Bones- used by priests to predict
future, wrote on turtle shells or animal bones
◦ Would heat up bones till cracked, then interpreted
the cracks as answers from the god
Calligraphy- fine handwriting
57. Zhou Dynasty
Mandate of Heaven- divine right to rule.
◦ Shang ruler was harsh, so gods punished him
Gave rule to Zhou who treated people well
58. Zhou Dynasty
Mandate of Heaven- divine right to rule.
◦ Shang ruler was harsh, so gods punished him
Gave rule to Zhou who treated people well
Dynastic rule- rise and fall of dynasties
◦ If you were good, you enjoyed mandate of heaven
If bad, heaven would take back its support
Signs were flood and famine
60. Zhou Dynasty (Cont.)
Feudalism- system of government in which
local lords governed their own land but owed
military service and other forms of support to
the ruler.
61. Zhou Dynasty (Cont.)
Feudalism- system of government in which
local lords governed their own land but owed
military service and other forms of support to
the ruler.
62. Zhou Dynasty (Cont.)
Feudalism- system of government in which
local lords governed their own land but owed
military service and other forms of support to
the ruler.
During Zhou, economy of China grew
◦ Iron replaced wood, stone and bronze.
Peasants grew new crop- soybeans, used large scale
irrigation techniques
64. Zhou Dynasty (Cont.)
Used money for first time.
◦ Coins had holes in the center so they could be
strung on cords
Made trade easier
Feudal lords built roads and canals for travel
