4 - Early Societies in South Asia.pptimages.pcmac.org/SiSFiles/Schools/GA/GwinnettCounty... · 2019. 9. 25. · • Great influence on later Indian cultureGreat influence on later

GeographyGeography• India is a subcontinent, with many diverseIndia is a subcontinent, with many diverse

climates and geographical features.• The northern plain is fertile due to theThe northern plain is fertile due to the

Indus and Ganges Rivers.• The Deccan Plateau is dry and sparselyThe Deccan Plateau is dry and sparsely

populated.• Winds called monsoons bring summerWinds called monsoons bring summer

rains. India depends on monsoons to grow their crops. There is often too much g por too little rain when the rains come.

Harappan Civilization

3300 BCE - 2400 BCE

Foundations of Harappan Society

• The Indus River– Silt-enriched water from the Hindu Kush &

Himalayan ranges• Major society built by Dravidian peoples,

3000-2500 BCEC lti ti f tt b f 5000 BCE l– Cultivation of cotton before 5000 BCE, early cultivation of poultry

– Decline after 1900 BCEDecline after 1900 BCE• Major cities: Harrapa (Punjab region and

Mohenjo-daro (Southern Indus River)j ( )– 70 smaller sites excavated (total 1,500)

Indus Valley Cities (2 00 1 00 BCE)(2500 – 1500 BCE)

• There were two prominent cities on theThere were two prominent cities on the Indus River: Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro.

• These cities were incredibly well planned:These cities were incredibly well planned:– Grid pattern streets– Water Systems (plumbing) with heated publicWater Systems (plumbing) with heated public

baths and brick sewers. – The wealthy even had two story buildings with

indoor bathrooms and garbage chutes.– Each city was dominated by a structure built

upon a hill that served as a stronghold suchupon a hill that served as a stronghold, such as a citadel.

Mohenjo-daro RuinsMohenjo daro Ruins• Population c. 40,000Population c. 40,000• Standardized weights & measurements

evident throughout the regionevident throughout the region• Specialized labor• Widespread trade• Widespread trade

CitadelOf

M h jMohenjo-DaroDaro

Aerial View of Mohenjo-Daro

Citadel, Mohenjo-Daro

The Great Bath, Mohenjo DaroMohenjo-Daro

Bath Area, Mohenjo-DaroBath Area, Mohenjo Daro

Well, Mohenjo-Daro

A Main Street, Mohenjo-Daro, j

Granery, Mohenjo-Daro

Pottery, Mohenjo-Daroy, j

Bison Seal, Mohenjo-Daro

A Horned-God Seal, ,Mohenjo-Daro

A Male Head, M h j DMohenjo-Daro

Dravidian

A Priest-King, M h j DMohenjo-Daro

Necklace, Mohenjo-DaroNecklace, Mohenjo Daro

Public Well, Harappa, pp

Drain, Harappa, pp

Unicorn Seal?, HarappaUnicorn Seal?, Harappa

Harappan Society and CultureHarappan Society and Culture

• Evidence of social stratificationEvidence of social stratification– Dwelling size, decoration

Great influence on later Indian culture• Great influence on later Indian culture• Statues, figurines and illustrations reflect a

ftradition of art and metallurgy• Venerated goddesses of fertility

Female Figures, Harappag , pp

Female Figures, Harappa

Bull Figurine, HarappaBull Figurine, Harappa

Elephant Figurine, Harappa

Burial Pottery, Harappay, pp

Male Skeleton, Harappa, pp

Female Skeleton with Female Skeleton with Child, Harappa

Harappan Writing

Undecipherable to date.

Mysterious End of Harappan Ci ili iCivilization

• Reasons for disappearance unclearReasons for disappearance unclear– Excessive deforestation, loss of topsoil

Earthquakes?– Earthquakes? – Flooding?

• Evidence of unburied dead• Evidence of unburied dead

• Disappearance by 1500 BCEH di i i d i l l• Harappan traditions survived – agricultural practices, religious beliefs, and urban

di itraditions

Aryan Migration

pastoral depended on their cattle.p p

warriors horse-drawn chariots.

Aryan MigrationsAryan Migrations• Aryans, lighter-skinned invaders from theAryans, lighter skinned invaders from the

north• Dravidians, darker-skinned sedentaryDravidians, darker skinned sedentary

inhabitants of Harappa• Color BiasColor Bias• Socio-Economic Implications• Difficulty of theory: no evidence of large-• Difficulty of theory: no evidence of large-

scale military conquest

The Early Aryans• Pastoral economy: sheep, goats, horses,

cattle– Vegetarianism not widespread until many

centuries later• Religious and Literary works: The Vedas

– Sanskrit: sacred tongueSanskrit: sacred tongue– Prakrit: everyday language, evolved into

Hindi Urdu BengaliHindi, Urdu, Bengali– Four Vedas (wisdom), most important Rig

VedaVeda• 1,028 hymns to gods

The Vedas 1200 BCE-600 BCE.

written in SANSKRIT.

Hindu core of Hindu core of beliefs:

hymns and poems hymns and poems.

religious prayers.

magical spells.

lists of the gods lists of the godsand goddesses.Rig Veda oldest work.Rig Veda oldest work.

The Vedic AgeThe Vedic Age• Conflicts between Aryans and indigenous dasasConflicts between Aryans and indigenous dasas

(“enemies,” “subjects”)– Aryans fighting Dravidians– Also Aryans fighting each other

• Chiefdoms: Rajas• Early concentration in Punjab, migrations further

south– Development of iron metallurgy– Increasing reliance on agriculture

• Tribal connections evolve into political structures

Varna: The Caste SystemVarna: The Caste System

• Origins in Aryan domination of DravidiansOrigins in Aryan domination of Dravidians– Brahmin, Priest

Kshatriya Warrior– Kshatriya, Warrior– Vaishya, Merchant

Sudra Commoner– Sudra, Commoner– Harijan: “Untouchables; Pariahs”

• Jati system of subcastes– Related to urbanization, increasing social

and economic complexity

Varna (Social (Hierarchy)

BrahminsBrahmins

Kshatriyas Kshatriyas

VaishyasVaishyas

ShudrasShudras

Pariahs [Harijan] UntouchablesPariahs [Harijan] Untouchables

TheThe Caste BrahminsBrahmins

SystemWHO IS… KshatriyasKshatriyas

The mouth?

WHO IS…

The arms?

The legs?VaishyasVaishyas

The legs?

The feet?ShudrasShudras

What is a JATI?ShudrasShudras

Patriarchy in Ancient Indian S iSociety

• “rule of the father”rule of the father• A social order that stood alongside the

caste system and varna hierarchycaste system, and varna hierarchy• Enforced in the The Lawbook of Manu

– Dealt with proper moral behavior and social relationships

– Caste, Jati, inheritance through male line

Aryan ReligionAryan Religion

• Major deity of Rig Veda: Indra war godMajor deity of Rig Veda: Indra, war god• Elaborate ritual sacrifices to gods

R l f B h i i t t– Role of Brahmins important– Soma

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

Sadhus: an Indian mystic or ascetic

Teachings of the UpanishadsTeachings of the Upanishads• Texts that represent blending of Aryan andTexts that represent blending of Aryan and

Dravidian traditions• Composed 800-400 BCE, some laterComposed 800 400 BCE, some later

collections until 13th century CE• Brahman: the Universal SoulBrahman: the Universal Soul• Samsara: reincarnation• Karma: accounting for incarnations• Karma: accounting for incarnations• Moksha: mystical ecstasy

Relationship to s stem of Varna• Relationship to system of Varna

Sanskrit writing

The Vedic Age

The foundations for Hinduism were established!established!