The Indus and Ganges River Valleys

1a.)  Describe the geography of the Indus and Ganges river valleys.

          The Indus river begins in the Himalayas and flows through them into the Arabian Sea.  The Ganges River follows the Himalayas and then empties into the Bay of Bengal.  A lot of melted ice from the mountains helps make the rivers larger, and they make the land near them rich and fertile.

1b.)  How do the monsoons affect India and its climate?

           The different monsoons affect India in different ways.  The winter monsoon starts in October and ends in May.  It brings in dry air from the north-east and spread it over India and surrounding countries.  The summer monsoon begins in mid-June, and brings in wet, moist air from the Indian Ocean.  Without the summer monsoon, farmers wouldn't be able to grow crops because of the lack of rain they would receive.  Without rain, plants can't grow, and famines can occur.  On the other hand, if the monsoons bring too much rain, they can lead to massive flooding, which could be disastrous for the people of India.

2.a.)  How did geography influence the building of Mohenjo-Daro similar to modern cities? 

          Because of the geography around Mohenjo-Daro, the people living there built their city above ground-level.  Also, a citadel was built on a hill that was probably surrounded by a wall.  This wall may have protected some of the most important public buildings and homes from flooding.   As well as a citadel, the people of Mohenjo-Daro were able to build a sewage/drainage system, which took all the waste and extra water out of the city.

2b.)  How was it possible for the Aryans to spread their influence over the Indus and Ganges river valleys so successfully?

          The Aryans were able to spread their influence over the Indus and Ganges river valleys successfully, because they used horse-drawn chariots.  These chariots gave the Aryan warriors an extra edge as they fought against opposing cities, and they were able to win many of their battles.

3a.)  Who were the Aryans?

          The Aryans were newcomers to Mohenjo-Daro from from the north, whose name meant "noble."  They arrived in India between 2000-1500 BC, and by the year 800 BC, the Aryan language and culture had spread far and wide throughout the country.

3b.)  How was it possible for the Aryans to spread their influence over the Indus and Ganges river valleys so successfully?

          It was possible for the Aryans to spread their influence over the Indus and Ganges river valleys so successfully, because they were nomadic people.  They probably spent a short amount of time at one city, spreading their ideas, beliefs, and language to that city, and then moved on to the next one.  According to the text, marriages were made between the local people and the Aryans, and so that could have helped spread the Aryan culture even more.