History of India Flashcards
Who were the earliest civilization in India?
The Indus Civilization
Who were the second earliest civilization in India?
The Harappan Civilization
Where did the earliest civilization in India began?
Indus River
Civilization
Literal Def: Living in some city/town-like community
Come to represent the ways of living in general: Government, food source, water access
Indus Valley Civilization
An early civilization, known for its advanced culture that developed in the Indus River valley
Indo - Aryans / Aryans (Used to justify racism)
Immigrants from Europe and Asia who migrated to India and finally settled; Introduced the Indo-European Language; Composed Vedas and from this time suggested the beginning of caste system; Developed Hinduism and Sanskrit; Shaped Indian culture
Indo - Aryan Migration
Migrated from the south and brought traditions and most importantly cattle (COWS DID NOT ORIGINATE IN INDIA)
Cows
Holy animal of hinduism:
-Easy-tempered, easy to maintain
-Meat and milk
-Mellow (stupid, not much trouble)
What is the shape of India?
India is a subcontinent with a triangular landmass
Where is India?
Below the main Asia continent
What surrounds India?
East: Bay of Bengal
South: Indian Ocean
West: Arabian Sea
Northwest: Karakorum Mt. and Hindu Kush
Northeast: Himalayas
What were the rivers like?
They were unstable
What were the geological activities?
Frequent earthquakes; Mountains grew each year
What did the mountain paths act as?
Trading highways which connected India to both Central Asia and the near East
What did the mountains do for India?
Protected India from invaders, making land access to India only possible through mountain passes
What did the oceans do for India?
Protected India from casual migration or invasion
What did the oceans act as?
Extensive trading contacts; Earliest trade was between the Indus River delta (west coast) and Mesopotamian(Arab traders);
Later was between Roman Mediterranean world and both coasts of India
Mountain Ranges across North India
Acted as both a barrier and funnel for migration; Earliest inhabitants live in southernmost regions; Recent migrants / invaders occupy the north
Cultural Diffusion
Composed of layers with distinct regional cultures; Less migration, movement, or conquest internally, causing an increase in cultural diffusions and development of distinct regional cultures; Migration routes through India to South create areas of cultural diversity; Multiple cultures of successive invading; Greater cultural simplicity; Major Indo-Aryan movement from Europe to India
