History of India

Question 1

Who were the earliest civilization in India?

Answer 1

The Indus Civilization

Question 2

Who were the second earliest civilization in India?

Answer 2

The Harappan Civilization

Question 3

Where did the earliest civilization in India began?

Answer 3

Indus River

Question 4

Civilization

Answer 4

Literal Def: Living in some city/town-like community
Come to represent the ways of living in general: Government, food source, water access

Question 5

Indus Valley Civilization

Answer 5

An early civilization, known for its advanced culture that developed in the Indus River valley

Question 6

Indo - Aryans / Aryans (Used to justify racism)

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Indo - Aryan Migration

Answer 7

Migrated from the south and brought traditions and most importantly cattle (COWS DID NOT ORIGINATE IN INDIA)

Question 8

Cows

Answer 8

Holy animal of hinduism:
-Easy-tempered, easy to maintain
-Meat and milk
-Mellow (stupid, not much trouble)

Question 9

What is the shape of India?

Answer 9

India is a subcontinent with a triangular landmass

Question 10

Where is India?

Answer 10

Below the main Asia continent

Question 11

What surrounds India?

Answer 11

East: Bay of Bengal
South: Indian Ocean
West: Arabian Sea
Northwest: Karakorum Mt. and Hindu Kush
Northeast: Himalayas

Question 12

What were the rivers like?

Answer 12

They were unstable

Question 13

What were the geological activities?

Answer 13

Frequent earthquakes; Mountains grew each year

Question 14

What did the mountain paths act as?

Answer 14

Trading highways which connected India to both Central Asia and the near East

Question 15

What did the mountains do for India?

Answer 15

Protected India from invaders, making land access to India only possible through mountain passes

Question 16

What did the oceans do for India?

Answer 16

Protected India from casual migration or invasion

Question 17

What did the oceans act as?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

Mountain Ranges across North India

Answer 18

Acted as both a barrier and funnel for migration; Earliest inhabitants live in southernmost regions; Recent migrants / invaders occupy the north

Question 19

Cultural Diffusion

Answer 19

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