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History 8 India Ancient India Workbook

15. It shows groups of people in Central Asia known as Indo‐Europeans. How does the map help to suggest their importance in world history?

The Indo-Europeans settled in Central Asia when the Indus River civilization collapsed. Because the arrows extend through the entire map, one can assume that the Indo-Europeans were successful in their migration. Because they were successful, other civilizations probably took on some of the cultures of the Indo-Europeans, causing the Indo-Europeans to shape and impact Central Asia. The Aryans, a group of Indo-Europeans, had a very strong military force due to their horse-drawn carriages. Because not many of the other civilizations had mastered the use of the carriage, the Aryans had a large advantage. This allowed them to be able to spread their civilization through Central Asia, shown by the arrows. Because they were so successful in warfare, other civilizations must have changed their military techniques in order to become as successful as the Aryans. The Aryan invasion into Central Asia led to the development of the caste system, an organization of classes within a society. As the Aryans became closer with the other civilizations, they made the caste system in order to distinguish who was who in society. As the Aryan civilization spread, so did this caste system. Through their military and social system, one can see how the Indo-Europeans' customs spread on. Because of this, one can see how the map shows the Indo-Europeans importance in world history.

CF Manual Page 172

External source: http://www.lmoskal.net/worldhistory/whtext/ch03/3.1.pdf

Picture source: http://www.worldmapsonline.com/UnivHist/Univ-World-History-Maps.htm

Grace Amandes

16. Can you think of some examples of catastrophic climate changes or natural disasters that would have been serious enough to wipe out an entire civilization?

The Indo-Europeans and the Aryans both settled in the Indus River area, and spread to other areas of India and Europe. They heavily relied on the Indus and Saraswati Rivers as their water supply, the only source of water in such a bipolar environment. A severe drought could cause the rivers to dry up, and possibly shift. In fact, in ancient India, the Saraswati River did dry up, and the Indus shifted its path, which caused the entire civilization of the Indus River area to disappear. The deserts in the Middle East and India continue to grow thanks to the droughts, which could eventually overtake the entire country. Not only that, there is presently a severe water crisis in India, which in about fifty years could cause desperate wars and fighting over water, and eventually destroy the civilization. Another disaster that could wipe out a civilization is an earthquake. India, unfortunately, lays on a major faultline. The earthquakes they have experienced so far are not nearly as bad as the notorious quake in Japan a couple of years ago, yet they have killed tens of thousands of people. India is in an area full of natural disasters, which shows up not only in its past but in its future.

CF Manual pages 148, 172.

External Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-18/edit-page/29141131_1_nuclear-power-earthquake-richter-scale

- Libby Carr