The Indian subcontinent is a diverse and fertile region with monsoons, droughts, plains, mountains, deserts, and especially rivers, along which early cities developed in the third millennium B.C. Along with Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and Mesoamerica, the ancient Indian subcontinent was one of the few places in the world to develop its own system of writing. Its early literature was written in Sanskrit.
Here are some definitions for terms related to the ancient Indian Subcontinent.
1. Aryan Invasion
The Aryan Invasion is a theory about Indo-Aryan nomads migrating from the area of modern Iran into the Indus Valley, over-running it and becoming the dominant group.2. Ashoka
Released into the public domain by its author, Vastu.
Ashoka was the third king of the Mauryan Dynasty, ruling from c. 270 B.C. until his death in 232. He was known for his cruelty early on, but also his great acts following his conversion to Buddhism after he waged a bloody war in c. 265.
3. Caste System
Most societies have social hierarchies. The caste system of the Indian subcontinent was strictly defined and based on colors that may or may not correlate directly with skin color.4. Ganges
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The Ganges (or Ganga in Hindi) is a holy river for Hindus located in the plains of northern India and Bangladesh, running from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. Its length is 1,560 miles (2,510 km).
5. Gupta Dynasty
Chandra-Gupta I (r. A.D. 320 - c.330) was the founder of the imperial Gupta Dynasty. The dynasty lasted until the late 6th century (although starting in the 5th century, the Huns started breaking it apart), and produced scientific/mathematical advances.6. Harappan Culture
Harappa is one of the very ancient urban areas of the Indian subcontinent. Its cities were laid out on grids and it built sanitation systems. Part of the Indus-Sarasvati civilization, Harappa was located in what is modern Pakistan.7. Indus Valley Civilization
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When 19th century explorers and 20th century archaeologists rediscovered the ancient Indus Valley civilization, the history of the Indian sub-continent had to be rewritten. Many questions remain unanswered. The Indus Valley civilization flourished in the third millennium B.C. and suddenly disappeared, after a millennium.
8. Kama Sutra
The Kama Sutra was written in Sanskrit during the Gupta Dynasty (A.D. 280 - 550), attributed to a sage named Vatsyayana, although it was a revision of earlier writing. The Kama Sutra is a manual on the art of love.9. Languages of the Indus Valley
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The people of the Indian subcontinent used at least four different languages, some with limited purposes. Sanskrit is probably the best known of these and it was used to help show a connection among the Indo-European languages, which also include Latin and English.
