Question

early civilization in south asia
the indian
three zones: the gangetic plain, with rivers that support farming; the
decan _, a raised area of level land too dry for farming; and the coastal
plains, which receive plenty of rain. _, or seasonal winds, bring dry air from
the northeast in winter and rains from the southwest in summer.
civilization began on the subcontinent around 2600 b.c. in the indus river valley.
archaeologists believe organized governments helped plan cities such as
_and _. they were built with wide streets, strong building
materials, and complex plumbing systems. most people farmed, although some traded
goods by ship with sumer. people worshiped many gods and regarded certain animals
as sacred, perhaps influencing later indian beliefs such as the _ of cattle.
the civilization declined by about 1900 b.c., possibly as a result of environmental
damage, a major flood, or an earthquake.
by 1500 b.c., nomadic herders had migrated into india from the north. they married
local people, and _, or the blending of cultures, took place. their
descendants, known as aryans, learned to farm and built a civilization after 1000 b.c.
there were many kingdoms, and aryan warriors elected leaders called
_. their society was divided into five groups. at the top were priests, followed
by warriors, farmers and merchants, and workers and servants. at the bottom were
dalits, who had to do work that others would not.
people worshiped gods and goddesses who embodied natural forces, such as the sky
and sun. _, the god of war, was the chief deity and used thunderbolts as
weapons. priests wrote sacred teachings in the _, a collection of
hymns and religious instructions. epic poems were part of the culture. they described
aryan warfare, important religious beliefs, and valued behavior.
over time, aryan beliefs changed. there was a move toward the concept
of _, a single spiritual power beyond the gods of the vedas and existing in
all things. mystics also sought direct communion with divine forces.

Explanation:

The text is about early civilizations in South - Asia. Fill - in - the - blanks are based on geographical features (like subcontinent, plateau), natural phenomena (monsoons), aspects of Indus Valley civilization (city - planning, trade), religious and cultural elements (sacredness of cattle, Aryan migrations, caste system, deities like Indra, Vedas, concept of Brahman).

Answer:

subcontinent; Plateau; Monsoons; City - planning; Brick; Sacredness; Cultural diffusion; Rajas; Indra; Vedas; Brahman