Indias Geographic Features w large wedgeshaped peninsula w

India’s Geographic Features w large, wedge-shaped peninsula w Subcontinent: A large region separated from the rest of the continent in some way.

Identification of Geographic Features in India Indus River Ganges River Peninsula and/or Subcontinent

Himalayan Mountains w Surrounded on the north and northwest by huge mountains; Himalayan Mountains. w Cultural isolation.

Seasonal winds known as monsoons bring rain every summer. India is dependent upon monsoons to grow their crops.

Purpose of Early Cities w Each city was large in area and contained a large structure located on a hilltop.

Complexities w Laid out in a grid pattern, blocks similar to those seen in modern cities. w Homes built with bricks and in a pattern repeated throughout the city. w Plumbing systems, including baths, drains and water pipes

Trade w Most of the people of the Indus valley were farmers. w First people to grow cotton and weave it into cloth.

Aryans Take over Indus Valley w For unknown reasons, around 1750 B. C. the Indus Valley began to decline. w 1500 B. C. - Aryans, nomadic warriors, conquered the Indus Valley.

Huang He River Valley

China’s Geography Yellow River Yangzi River ~ Chinese civilization grew up in the river valley of the Huang He (Yellow River) and the Yangzi River.

Isolated Chinese culture. Have little contact with others.

Until recent times, most people lived only along the east coast or in the river valley.

Early Views w “The Middle Kingdom” because they believed they were at the center. w This is an example of ethnocentrism.

Shang Dynasty w 1650 BC, the Shang gained control of northern China. Ruling families began to gain control. w The first dynasty.

Religion w Early Chinese people were polytheistic. w Looked to their Ancestors to help them in daily life

Ying and Yang w Many Chinese believed that the universe held a delicate balance between opposing forces. w Ying and Yang must be in balance for prosperity and happiness to occur.