Ancient History Overview For You

Can You Find Hindu Kush?

What About The Himalyas?

How About Kalinga?

The civilization began in what is known as the harrapan valey in northeastern India in the years 2500-1800 B.C. The geography of the area greatly shaped how the civilization was ran. Because the region was surrounded bye hills and mountains to the north, east, and west, and by water on the south, there was no need for the region's inhabitants to develop and methods of war materials. The land in the area was fertile and rich, allowing the harrapa settlements to produce surplus ammounts of raw goods. The surplus allowed for trade, and Harrapa trders traveled as far as mesopotamia to sell their goods.

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The Arryan Empire moved into the Indus Valley around 2,000 BC. They entered the region through the high mountain passes thet traversed the Hindu Kush mountain passes. The new culture they established differed vastly from the Harripan lifestyle. They were highly skilled in the art of chariot warfare, having mastered math and the science of astronomy. They brought with them a new language known as sanskrit, which we can decipher, unlike the harrapian civilization. Their religion also differed from the Harrapians; their gods were more humanlike and were used to drive the power of the civilization through divine Kings. These Kings were at the top of a cast-system pyramid. Below the Kings were the Brahamans, or Priests; the Kshatryas, or warriors; the Vaishyas, or commoners; the Shudras, or servents; and finally the untouchables. These classes decided the profession and social status of the people.

      Following the invasion of Alexander the Great that devastated the Aryan Empire, a new empire grew around 320 BC. The Mauryan Dynasty lasted only about 70 years, but it was India's first great empire and had a large impact on the future of India. The first king, Chandragupta Maurya, led the government from 321 to 301 BC. He built the empire by force and used the order of the cast system to strengthen and justify his decisions. He and his chief advisor, Kautiya, designed the Government around a highly civilized central government that oversaw four districts of elected officials. The severity of punishment for law-breaking was dependent on the cast that you were adhered to the king greatly feared assassinations, so he constructed a spy network to keep tabs on any possible enemies. In 301 BC, he abdicated from his throne to his son, Bindusara, and spent the rest of his life fasting in an attempt to stop a 12 year drought. The third king, Ashoka, was the most influential of the Mauryan kings. After an early reign filled with war and death, he experienced an epiphany. Adapting the religion of Buddhism, Ashoka became a preacher of peace for the country.

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The Gupta dynasty began during the reign of Chandragupta. He built his empire out of marriage alliances and ran his government through the teachings of Asoka. Calling himself the "King of Kings," his government set up a strong base from which future generations of kings could build off of, such as his successor, Samudragupta, a warrior king. the country's golden age was during the reign of Chandragupta II, from 376 to 414 AD. Called the "son of power," his governmental style gave way to an age that was India's greatest cultural age. Most notably was the Ajunta temple carved into the walls of a cliff.

Surplus- something that remains above what is used or needed.

Sanskrit- an Indo-European, Indic language, in use since c1200 b.c. as the religious and classical literary language of India.

Preacher-a person whose occupation or function it is to preach the gospel.