Asia in the Past

India

A) Indus Civilization (2000 BC - 1500 BC)

- The Indus Civilization began in the Indus Valley.

- The people were originally farmers. They grew wheat, barely, peas, and cotton. 

- They invented their own writing system.

- There were two large cities called "Mohenjo Daro" and "Harappa". They were the best designed cities in the world. The buildings were made from baked bricks, and they had their own supply of water. They even had bathrooms with sit down toilets made with bricks. 

- The whole civilization was destroyed by a giant flood, at least that's what we think. 

B) The Aryans 

- Their ancestors were European, such as Greek, Roman, and German. 

- They invaded the Indus civilization in groups over many years. 

- Their language was Sanskrit.

- They were originally wandering herdsman, and decided to settle down in villages later on. 

- Their religious beliefs mixed with the earlier Indians, and eventually developed into Hinduism. 

- When several villages such as this one formed together, they made a kingdom. 

C) Gupta Empire

- An empire is a group of states under one government or ruler. Usually, the ruler was someone who had conquered the neighboring kingdoms, and then formed the empire. 

- The Gupta Empire was one of the greatest empires of early India. 

- Starting in the 4th century, it lasted 250 years. 

- The rulers of the empire encouraged musicians, actors, and writers. 

- Gupta's mathematicians developed the system of numbering that we use today. They invented the decimal system. 

- The doctors performed plastic surgery. 

- Many universities were started for talented and smart students to get free room and board, and tuition. 

D) Moghul Empire 

 - This empire began in the 16th century and lasted until the 18th century. 

- The Moghuls who invaded the towns were Muslim, so the empire was Muslim. 

- The emperors built beautiful tombs, palaces, and gardens. 

- An empower named Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal.