Ancient India

Ancient India

1. Geography

   • Subcontinent
     • A subcontinent is a country that is or almost the size of a continent
   • Natural Barriers & Protection
     • The Himalayas mountains, which separated India from Asia, also made it hard for invaders to enter India
       • However, invaders did find paths through the mountains.
   • Monsoons
     • Seasonal wind patterns that cause wet and dry seasons
   • Mountains
     • In the North of India, there lie the Himalayas mountains which are the highest mountains on Earth. They also act as natural barriers since they separate India from Asia and made it hard to enter
   • Oceans
     • The closest oceans to Ancient India are the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, and Bay of Bengal

2. Indian Empires

   • The Mauryan Empire
     • During the 320s BC, a military leader named Chandragupta Maurya dominated all of the northern parts of India which he then established the Mauryan Empire. A complex government help Chandragupta rule his empire with a network of spies and an army of 600,00 soldiers. Farmers had to pay taxes in return for their protection. Around 301 BC, Chandragupta decided to convert to a Jainist monk. Because of that he gave his throne to his son, who continued to expand the empire.