a comprehensive history of india lecture – 7 january 22, 2012 history of ancient bengal

© 2012 Maharaj Mukherjee

A Comprehensive History of IndiaA Comprehensive History of IndiaLecture – 7Lecture – 7

January 22, 2012January 22, 2012

History of Ancient Bengal History of Ancient Bengal Maharaj MukherjeeMaharaj Mukherjee


Where is Bengal??Where is Bengal??


Bengal and its Neighborhood StatesBengal and its Neighborhood States

BANGA:West Bengal, Bangladesh, Tripura, Part of Assam

ANGA: Bihar, Part of West Bengal

KALINGAOrissa,


Bengali LanguageBengali Language

Sanskrit - A reformed version of original Aryan Language

Magdhi – A Language Derived from Sanskrit

Bengali: Language spoken in West Bengal, Bangladesh and Tripura (BANGA)

Bihari, Maithili, Bhojpuri: Languages spoken in Bihar (ANGA)

Oriya: Language spoken in Orissa (KALINGA)


Bengal GeographyBengal Geography

• Bengal is formed by the two largest rivers of the world: Ganges and Bramhaputra• Ganges Delta is the Largest River Delta in the World.• The whole Bengal is interspersed with many rivers• The rivers greatly influenced both the history and culture of Bengal


Who are the Original Inhabitants of Bengal?Who are the Original Inhabitants of Bengal?

• The original inhabitants of Bengal are the hunter gatherers – They are living in Bengal for more than 20,000

years– Many tribes (Santhal, Orao, Bheel, Munda)

living in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa belong to the original hunter gatherers.


The People of Bronze/Copper AgeThe People of Bronze/Copper Age

• About 4000 years ago people in Bengal started making weapons and artifacts in bronze and copper– They were possibly related to the Indus Valley

People– As the Aryans pressed along from the North

Western India, Indus valley people started moving east and possibly settled in Bengal.


Bengal and AryansBengal and Aryans

• For a long time Bengal was outside the part of Aryan India or the Aryavarta.

• Aryans could not dominate the people in Bengal for a long time.

• They called them by all kind of bad names– Danava – Giants– Dasyu – Thieves– Pakshi Jati – The race of birds (People who talk a

lot ??)• Eventually Aryan influence spread to Bengal at

the end of age of Epics (Ramayana and Mahabharata)


Where did the word “Banga” come form?Where did the word “Banga” come form?

• The exact origin is not known:• Most reliable story:

– Banga is a race of the Dravidians – Dravidians lived in India before the Aryans came in– They are related to the people who lived in the Indus

Valley– As the Aryans started coming in they slowly moved

East and South of India– This story is supported by the Aryan Mythology that

Anga (Bihar), Banga and Kalinga (Orissa) were three sons of the Vali, the king of the Danavas (Giants).


Where did the word “Banga” come form?Where did the word “Banga” come form?

• According to Islamic/Jewish Texts:– Banga is a descendant of Nu-Ah or Noah

Noah’s Ark or Boat

• The word Noah is related to the word Nao (Bengali) or Nou (Sanskrit)• The word itself mean “Boat”

• The Bengalis are known in the ancient history as “The Boat People”• The Rivers and the Boats shaped the Bengali Life and History• Aryans did not know how to use boats for a long time.• The Bengalis held against the Aryans and Other Indian Empires by their knowledge of boats


Bengal in the time of EpicsBengal in the time of Epics

Bengal was divided into many kingdoms:• Pundra Vardhana – King Vasudeva

• He claimed that he is Krishna• Krishna from Mathura fought and killed him

• PragJyotisha – King Bhagadatta• Fought on the side of the Kauravas• Had many elephants in his force

• Magadha – King Jarasandha• Also sided with the Kauravas• Bhima killed him in a wrestling match


Naval Exploits of BengalNaval Exploits of Bengal

• Around 550 BC King Vijay Singha conquered Lanka and Named it Sighala after his own name

• Many Bengali expeditions were sent to Eastern Asia along Bay of Bengals and helped form East Indian Countries such as Burma (Bramha), Siam (Shayam), Kamboj (Kambu Dwipa), Java (Java Dwipa).

• Most of these expeditions happened after 500 BC – when Aryans are well established


Expansion of Indian Culture Expansion of Indian Culture Through Bengal after 500 BCThrough Bengal after 500 BC


Buddhism and Jainism in BengalBuddhism and Jainism in Bengal• Similar to the Aryan Culture – Buddhism and

Jainism had to face a lot of initial resistance in Bengal

• According to Jain stories – Mahavira faced a lot of local resistance in Bengal.

• According to Buddhist stories – Emperor Shashanka of Bengal uprooted the Bodhi tree

• However slowly Buddhism became part of the Bengali identity

• Buddha became same as Shiva in many rural Bengali temples


Buddha and ShivaBuddha and Shiva

The story of Buddha-Shiva or Bura-Shiva


Temple of Buddha ShivaTemple of Buddha Shiva• Temple of Buddha-Shiva or Bura-Shiva, Burdwan district• There are many such temples all over rural Bengal• Typically these temples celebrate Buddha’ s Birthday with a lot of fan fare.

• The first Full Moon Day in April


In Short:In Short:• Bengali culture is a mixture of original hunter-

gatherers, Dravidian and Aryan culture• Boats and Rivers have a strong influence in

Bengali History and identity• Though influenced by the rest of the India,

Bengali culture has come out to have its own identity

• Next – We will start how Bengal started influencing the rest of the Indian history.


Review for the Mid TermReview for the Mid Term


QuizQuiz

• What does the word History mean?– His Story

• When did history happen?– It is still happening

• Why do we study Indian History?– To understand our culture as well as US history

• What is the address of India?– The country that is south of the Himalayas and the North of the

Ocean is called India

• What is the most important month in Indian History?– November


QuizQuiz

• Where did the first human come from?– Africa

• What kind of people were the first inhabitants of India?– Hunter Gatherers

• Where did the first human civilization start?– The Fertile Crescent in Turkey/Iraq

• Where did the first civilization start in India?– The Indus Valley

• When did the first human civilization start in India?– About 5000 years back

• Give One Reason why People Migrate– Basic Needs and Pursuit of Happiness


QuizQuiz

• Did the Aryans called themselves as Hindus?– No – the other Aryans/Iranians called them

Hindus

• What were the four division of labors?– Priests, Soldiers, Traders, Farmers

• Name one important Aryan literature– Vedas, Upanishads


QuizQuiz

• What are the main epics of India– Ramayana and Mahabharata

• Where did the Aryans lived at the time of Ramayana– Mostly in Northern India

• When did the concept of India develop: Ramayana time or Mahabharata time?– Mahabharata time

• What is the style of writing for Mahabharata– Prose style


QuizQuiz

• Name two religions of peace in India– Jainism and Buddhism

• What brought in the religions of peace– Ritualism and Untouchability

• Who was the main leader of Buddhism– Buddha

• Name one leader of Jainism– Mahavira

• How many vows are there in Jainism? Name one.– Five

• How many basic tenets are in Buddhism? Name One– Eight:


QuizQuiz• What was the first empire of the World?

– The Persian Empire• Who vanquished the Persian Empire and Built a Greek

Empire in its Place?– Alexander

• How far did the Persian and the Greek Empire extend to?– From the Indus Valley to Greece

• Who founded the Maurya Empire?– Chandra Gupta Maurya

• Who is the most influential emperor of Indian History?– Ashoka Priya Darshi

• What is the grand seal of India?– Ashoka Stambha or the Piller of Ashoka

• What is in the Center of the Indian Flag?– The Dharma Chakra or the Ashoka Chakra


QuizQuiz1. When did the Golden Age Happen?

• 0 – 400 AD2. Why is it called the Golden Age?

• Because of developments in science, art, literature, engineering3. What was the contribution of Arya Bhatta in Science?

• Show that Earth moves around the Sun4. Who wrote Shakuntala?

• Kalidasa5. Where did the Shaka-s come from?

• Caucasian regions6. What is the Silk Route?

• Ancient trade route extending from China to Europe through Asia7. Name one of the Shaka Emperor

• Kanishka8. Name One of the Gupta Emperors

• Chandra Gupta, Samudra Gupta, Kumara Gupta9. How did the Golden Age end

• Outside attacks by Huns


QuizQuiz

• Where is Bengal?– In Eastern India

• Where is the world’s largest river delta?– Ganges Delta in Bengal

• Who are the original inhabitants of Bengal?– Hunter Gatherers

• What shaped the Bengali history and culture?– Rivers and the Boats

• What does the word Banga mean in Islamic and Jewish books?– Children of Noah

• Where did the word Banga come from?– An ancient Dravidian tribes.

a comprehensive history of india lecture – 7 january 22, 2012 history of ancient bengal

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