Geography of Ancient India

Geography & Life in Ancient India

Review the rich and varied landscapes, from the majestic Himalayas to the Indian Ocean. Explore the culture of Ancient India that makes this region a unique destination. Use your web-quest notes to participate in our review. If your web-quest packet is incomplete, please complete it as we review the information as a class.

Match

Match the following unit vocabulary terms to the correct definition:

• Subcontinent
• Harappa
• Karma

• Hinduism

• Monsoon

A large part of a continent

India's first civilization

A person's actions can affect the soul

World religion developed from the Vedas

Wind pattern that brings heavy rains

• A large part of a continent

• India's first civilization

• A person's actions can affect the soul

• World religion developed from the Vedas

• Wind pattern that brings heavy rains

• ​India is a subcontinent which includes present day Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and most of Pakistan.

• The kite-shaped Indian subcontinent used to be a separate landmass. It inched north until it hit Asia. The collision pushed up mountains where the two lands met.

Physical Geography of India

Draw

Draw the two main rivers in Ancient India on the map.

1. 1. Indus River

2. 2. Ganges River

• ​The two most important rivers in Ancient India are the Indus and Ganges rivers. They carry water for irrigation and silt for growing crops.

Physical Geography of India

Match

Match the following vocabulary terms to the correct definition:

• Vedas

• Buddhism

• Reincarnation

• Caste System

Collection of religious poems & myths

World Religion based on Buddha

The rebirth of one's soul

A social order

• Collection of religious poems & myths

• World Religion based on Buddha

• The rebirth of one's soul

• A social order

Multiple Choice

History in the Indus River valley followed the same pattern as in Sumer. As in other regions, civilization in Ancient India developed in a _____________________________.

• River Valley

• Canyon

• Desert

• Volcanic Region

• Food grown: Wheat & barley

• Animals raised: Cattle, sheep, goats, chickens

• Two most important cities: Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro (planned cities)

  • Walled cities close to rivers

  • City streets in a grid pattern

  • Built on mud brick platforms to protect during flooding

  • Included castles

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Cities of the Indus Valley

Multiple Choice

No one has yet figured out how to read the writing of the Harappan civilization. Until someone does, the only way we can learn about the civilization is by studying _____________________.

• Movies

• Photographs

• Artifacts

• Their written language

• The ancient Indians were polytheistic. They worshipped several deities (gods)

• Shiva is one major Hindu god--Known for creating, transforming and protecting the universe.

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Harappan Culture

Open Ended

What things did the Harappans trade to Mesopotamia?

Silver, Tin & Woolen Cloth

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Things the Mesopotamians traded to Harappa:

Drag and Drop

What events led to the decline of the Indus River Civilization? (Select 2)​

Placeholder

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Placeholder

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Earthquakes

Changes to the rivers/flooding

Tsunamis

Lack of trading

Famine

Yearly floods along the Indus were unpredictable.

Yearly Floods

Rivers sometimes change course.

Changing Course

The cycle of wet and dry seasons were unpredictable.

Seasons

Multiple Choice

In the 1970s, satellite images of the subcontinent of India revealed evidence of _____________ that made trade on this river impossible, and cities began to die.

• Droughts

• Monsoons

• Floods

• Earthquakes