Chapter 4 in Class Chapter 4 in Class Notes Notes Early Societies in South AsiaEarly Societies in South AsiaReally cool PPT ShowReally cool PPT Show

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ObjectivesObjectives

1.1. What was the Harappan Civilization?What was the Harappan Civilization? Where, When, So what?Where, When, So what?

2.2. What became of the Harappan Civilization?What became of the Harappan Civilization?

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What do these remains tell you about Harappan Civilization?

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What do these artifacts tell you about Harappan Civilization?

Harappan society and Harappan society and its neighbors, ca. 2000 its neighbors, ca. 2000

B.C.E.B.C.E.

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Foundations of Foundations of Harappan SocietyHarappan Society

The Indus RiverThe Indus River Silt-enriched water from mountain rangesSilt-enriched water from mountain ranges

Major society built by Dravidian peoples, 3000-2500 Major society built by Dravidian peoples, 3000-2500 BCEBCE Cultivation of cotton before 5000 BCE, early cultivation of Cultivation of cotton before 5000 BCE, early cultivation of

poultrypoultry Decline after 1900 BCEDecline after 1900 BCE

Major cities: Harappa (Punjab region and Mohenjo-Major cities: Harappa (Punjab region and Mohenjo-Daro (mouth of Indus River)Daro (mouth of Indus River) 70 smaller sites excavated (total 1,500)70 smaller sites excavated (total 1,500)

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Mohenjo-Daro RuinsMohenjo-Daro Ruins

Population c. 40,000Population c. 40,000

Regional centerRegional center Layout, architecture suggests public purposeLayout, architecture suggests public purpose Broad streets, citadel, pool, sewageBroad streets, citadel, pool, sewage

Standardized weights evident throughout regionStandardized weights evident throughout region

Specialized laborSpecialized labor

TradeTrade

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Harappan Society and Harappan Society and CultureCulture

Evidence of social stratificationEvidence of social stratification Dwelling size, decorationDwelling size, decoration

Harappan Civilization: matriarchal?Harappan Civilization: matriarchal? Influence on later Indian cultureInfluence on later Indian culture

Goddesses of fertilityGoddesses of fertility

Possible east/west distinctionsPossible east/west distinctions

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Mysterious End of Harappan Mysterious End of Harappan CivilizationCivilization

Reasons for disappearance unclearReasons for disappearance unclear Some evidence of alien abductionSome evidence of alien abductionExcessive deforestation, loss of topsoilExcessive deforestation, loss of topsoilEarthquakes? Earthquakes? Flooding?Flooding?

Evidence of unburied deadEvidence of unburied dead

Disappearance by 1500 BCEDisappearance by 1500 BCE

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ObjectivesObjectives

1.1. Who were the Aryans? What involvement Who were the Aryans? What involvement did they have with the people of the Indus did they have with the people of the Indus Valley?Valley?

2.2. What was Aryan culture like?What was Aryan culture like?

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The Aryan “Invasion”The Aryan “Invasion”

Aryans, lighter-skinned invaders from the northAryans, lighter-skinned invaders from the north

Dravidians, darker-skinned sedentary inhabitants of Dravidians, darker-skinned sedentary inhabitants of HarappaHarappa

Color BiasColor Bias

Socio-Economic ImplicationsSocio-Economic Implications

Difficulty of theory: no evidence of large-scale Difficulty of theory: no evidence of large-scale military conquestmilitary conquest

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The Early AryansThe Early Aryans

Pastoral economy: sheep, goats, horses, cattlePastoral economy: sheep, goats, horses, cattle Vegetarianism not widespread until many centuries laterVegetarianism not widespread until many centuries later

Religious and Literary works: The VedasReligious and Literary works: The VedasSanskrit: sacred tongueSanskrit: sacred tonguePrakrit: everyday language, evolved into Prakrit: everyday language, evolved into

Hindi, Urdu, BengaliHindi, Urdu, BengaliFour Vedas, most important Rig VedaFour Vedas, most important Rig Veda

1,028 hymns to gods1,028 hymns to gods

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The Vedic AgeThe Vedic Age

Conflicts between Aryans and indigenous Conflicts between Aryans and indigenous dasas dasas (“enemies,” “subjects”)(“enemies,” “subjects”) Aryans fighting DravidiansAryans fighting Dravidians Also Aryans fighting each otherAlso Aryans fighting each other

Chiefdoms: RajasChiefdoms: Rajas

Early concentration in Punjab, migrations further southEarly concentration in Punjab, migrations further south Development of iron metallurgyDevelopment of iron metallurgy Increasing reliance on agricultureIncreasing reliance on agriculture

Tribal connections evolve into political structuresTribal connections evolve into political structures

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Varna:Varna: The Caste The Caste SystemSystem

Origins in Aryan domination of DravidiansOrigins in Aryan domination of Dravidians Brahmin, PriestBrahmin, Priest Kshatriya, WarriorKshatriya, Warrior Vaishya, MerchantVaishya, Merchant Sudra, CommonerSudra, Commoner Harijan: Harijan: “Untouchables; Pariahs”“Untouchables; Pariahs”

Jati subsystem of castesJati subsystem of castesRelated to urbanization, increasing social and Related to urbanization, increasing social and

economic complexityeconomic complexity14

Brahmins from BengalBrahmins from Bengal

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Patriarchy in Ancient Indian Patriarchy in Ancient Indian SocietySociety

““rule of the father”rule of the father”

Enforced in the Enforced in the The Lawbook of ManuThe Lawbook of Manu

Overwhelmed Harappan matriarchy?Overwhelmed Harappan matriarchy?

Caste, Jati, inheritance through male lineCaste, Jati, inheritance through male line

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Sati (“Suttee”)- Sati (“Suttee”)- Ritual Ritual Sacrifice of students who failed to Sacrifice of students who failed to

follow teacher’s ordersfollow teacher’s orders

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Aryan ReligionAryan Religion

Major deity of Major deity of Rig Veda: Rig Veda: Indra, war godIndra, war god

Elaborate ritual sacrifices to godsElaborate ritual sacrifices to gods Role of Brahmins importantRole of Brahmins important

C. 800 BCE some movement away from sacrificial cultsC. 800 BCE some movement away from sacrificial cults Mystical thought, influenced by DravidiansMystical thought, influenced by Dravidians

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Teachings of the Teachings of the UpanishadsUpanishads

Texts that represent blending of Aryan and Dravidian traditionsTexts that represent blending of Aryan and Dravidian traditions

Composed 800-400 BCE, some later collections until 13Composed 800-400 BCE, some later collections until 13 thth century CEcentury CE

Brahman: the Universal SoulBrahman: the Universal Soul

Samsara: reincarnationSamsara: reincarnation

Karma: accounting for incarnationsKarma: accounting for incarnations

Moksha: mystical ecstasyMoksha: mystical ecstasy

Relationship to system of VarnaRelationship to system of Varna

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