The Ancient Indian cities thrived mainly in areas which aided the growth of a civilization. They were geographically located mainly near rivers, mountains, and forests.
One of the main rivers of the Ancient Indians is the Indus Valley River. Major civilizations flourished along the banks of the river Indus. The river was a very good source of keeping the soil fertile. Farming became a major occupation. Another landscape that contributed greatly towards the growth of a civilization were the Himalayan Mountains. These Mountains were a good source of flint. They used flint to make blades and other tools. These tools were used for hunting and farming. They also had an abundance of forests which provided wood for tools and firewood. Another significant River that contributed to the growth of the civilization was the Saraswati River. These rivers were a good source for their life. They domesticated cattle, buffalo, and sheep. They also grew various crops like cotton, sesame, peas ,rice and barley. They could grow crops because of the rivers. From the book Ancient India it says, "A clay figure from the Indus Valley city of Mohenjo-Daro shows oxen pulling a farmer's or merchants cart". This shows that the resources of animals were really important to them. The civilizations used their geographical locations to their advantage and made use of the resources available to them wisely. Each civilization grew and flourished mainly because they used what was available to them. Some of the main civilizations that grew and flourished in ancient India are the Harappa, Mohenjo, Dholavira, Lothal, Ganweriwala. Harappa is believed to be an the urban center. Harappa lies on an old bed of River Ravi. The excavations show a very sophisticated city with buildings. Mohenjo is another important city and is located next to the Indus River. They are near flint mining quarries at Rohri. Dholavira is an island and is large in size. Lothal is near the Sabarmati River and the Arabian Sea. Ganweriwala is near the Saraswati River. The sources of the mountains and the bodies of water helped the Ancient Indians survive and grow. The geographical location of each city that grew and survived played a major role as to why the settlers chose the particular place. |
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Ancient India and Mesopotamia have many similarities and differences geographically.
Ancient India and Mesopotamia are geographically similar in many ways. Ancient India developed its important civilizations around the Indus Valley river. So did the Mesopotamians. They had the Tigris and Euphrates river around which the civilization developed. Ancient Indian civilizations grew many crops and irrigation was a major occupation because they were located off the banks of a river valley. Mesopotamia too shared a similar geographical location and grew plenty of crops because of their canals and the water from the rivers. In the book "Human Heritage" it says, "They used water in canals to irrigate their crops" This clearly shows the similarities between the two civilizations. Both the civilizations grew and flourished mainly because of their proximity to big rivers.
Both Ancient India and Mesopotamia had the similarities of being close to rivers but had some geographical differences too. Mesopotamia did not possess many natural resources whereas Ancient India was extremely rich with natural resources due to its topography. India had an abundance of mountains, forests which sheltered many animals.Mesopotamia on the other hand lacked these as most of the area was a desert. Ancient India grew crops such as cotton, sesame, peas, rice and barley. In the book "Human Heritage" it says, " The Sumerians grew barley, wheat, sesame, flax, fruit trees, date palms, and many vegetables". They both grew crops, but the type of crops were very different due to their geographic location.
Ancient India and Mesopotamia show characteristics of being both similar and different in many ways geographically.
Ancient India and Mesopotamia are geographically similar in many ways. Ancient India developed its important civilizations around the Indus Valley river. So did the Mesopotamians. They had the Tigris and Euphrates river around which the civilization developed. Ancient Indian civilizations grew many crops and irrigation was a major occupation because they were located off the banks of a river valley. Mesopotamia too shared a similar geographical location and grew plenty of crops because of their canals and the water from the rivers. In the book "Human Heritage" it says, "They used water in canals to irrigate their crops" This clearly shows the similarities between the two civilizations. Both the civilizations grew and flourished mainly because of their proximity to big rivers.
Both Ancient India and Mesopotamia had the similarities of being close to rivers but had some geographical differences too. Mesopotamia did not possess many natural resources whereas Ancient India was extremely rich with natural resources due to its topography. India had an abundance of mountains, forests which sheltered many animals.Mesopotamia on the other hand lacked these as most of the area was a desert. Ancient India grew crops such as cotton, sesame, peas, rice and barley. In the book "Human Heritage" it says, " The Sumerians grew barley, wheat, sesame, flax, fruit trees, date palms, and many vegetables". They both grew crops, but the type of crops were very different due to their geographic location.
Ancient India and Mesopotamia show characteristics of being both similar and different in many ways geographically.