INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION AND EARLY ARYAN SOCIETY.

INDUS VALLEY INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATIONCIVILIZATION

AND EARLY ARYAN AND EARLY ARYAN SOCIETYSOCIETY

WHERE IS IT?WHERE IS IT?

THE GEOGRAPHIC SETTINGTHE GEOGRAPHIC SETTING Indian SubcontinentIndian Subcontinent

To North: Impassable HimalayasTo North: Impassable Himalayas To East: Passable low hillsTo East: Passable low hills To Northwest: Passable Hindu Kush, Khyber PassTo Northwest: Passable Hindu Kush, Khyber Pass To West: Arabian SeaTo West: Arabian Sea

Northern Plain of Indus, Ganges RiversNorthern Plain of Indus, Ganges Rivers Southern DeccanSouthern Deccan

High plateau, extremely dryHigh plateau, extremely dry Bordered on East and West by mountainsBordered on East and West by mountains Separated from north by river, low mountainsSeparated from north by river, low mountains

The Monsoon WindsThe Monsoon Winds Off the land October to April: Dry Season Off the land October to April: Dry Season Off the Indian Ocean May to September: Wet Off the Indian Ocean May to September: Wet

Season Season

THE INDUS RIVERTHE INDUS RIVERCIVILIZATIONCIVILIZATION

HARAPPAN SOCIETYHARAPPAN SOCIETY The Indus River The Indus River

Runs through north India, sources at Hindu Kush, Runs through north India, sources at Hindu Kush, Himalayas Himalayas

Rich deposits, but less predictable than the Nile Rich deposits, but less predictable than the Nile Wheat and barley were cultivated in Indus valley Wheat and barley were cultivated in Indus valley Cultivated cotton before 5000 B.C.E. Cultivated cotton before 5000 B.C.E. Complex society of Dravidians, 3000/2500 B.C.E. Complex society of Dravidians, 3000/2500 B.C.E.

Harappa and Mohenjo-daro Harappa and Mohenjo-daro Possibly served as twin capitals Possibly served as twin capitals Each city had a fortified citadel and a large granary Each city had a fortified citadel and a large granary Broad streets, market places, temples, public buildings Broad streets, market places, temples, public buildings Standardized weights, measures, architecture, bricks Standardized weights, measures, architecture, bricks

Specialized labor and trade Specialized labor and trade Domestic trade, items inc. pottery, tools, metals Domestic trade, items inc. pottery, tools, metals Trading with Mesopotamians about 2300 to 1750 B.C.E.Trading with Mesopotamians about 2300 to 1750 B.C.E.

HARAPPAN HARAPPAN SOCIETY/CULTURESOCIETY/CULTURE

Social distinctions as seen from living styles Social distinctions as seen from living styles Religious beliefs strongly emphasized fertilityReligious beliefs strongly emphasized fertility

Many deities were feminineMany deities were feminine In later Hinduism, Dravidian gods are blue-faced In later Hinduism, Dravidian gods are blue-faced

Harappan society declined from 2000 B.C.E. Harappan society declined from 2000 B.C.E. onward onward Ecological degradation led to a subsistence crisis Ecological degradation led to a subsistence crisis Natural catastrophes - floods or earthquakes Natural catastrophes - floods or earthquakes Population began to abandon their cities by about Population began to abandon their cities by about

1700 B.C.E. 1700 B.C.E. Almost entirely collapsed by about 1500 B.C.EAlmost entirely collapsed by about 1500 B.C.E Evidence of warfare, invasionEvidence of warfare, invasion

INDO-EUROPEANS & INDO-EUROPEANS & ARYANSARYANS

Indo-Europeans Indo-Europeans Linguistic similarities among Europe, Persia, and India Linguistic similarities among Europe, Persia, and India Indo-European family of languagesIndo-European family of languages

Indo-Iranian including Aryans (India), Medes/Persians (SW Asia)Indo-Iranian including Aryans (India), Medes/Persians (SW Asia) Greek, Balto-Slavic, Germanic, Italic, CelticGreek, Balto-Slavic, Germanic, Italic, Celtic Tocarian, possibly Shang of China Tocarian, possibly Shang of China

Migrations as the key to explain linguistic similarities Migrations as the key to explain linguistic similarities Indo-European originsIndo-European origins

North of Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Aral Sea; Ukraine, Southern North of Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Aral Sea; Ukraine, Southern RussiaRussia

Common origins established through key vocabulary, traditions, Common origins established through key vocabulary, traditions, myths myths

Indo-European migrations Indo-European migrations To Tarim Basin, fourth millennium B.C.E.To Tarim Basin, fourth millennium B.C.E. Shang of China appear to have been Indo-Europeans Shang of China appear to have been Indo-Europeans To Anatolia (the Hittites), 3000 B.C.E. To Anatolia (the Hittites), 3000 B.C.E. By 2nd millennium, established communities in EuropeBy 2nd millennium, established communities in Europe Around 1500 BCE, domesticated horse amongst Indo-EuropeansAround 1500 BCE, domesticated horse amongst Indo-Europeans Often called the Chariot Peoples; introduced iron and horse technologiesOften called the Chariot Peoples; introduced iron and horse technologies

ARYANS IN INDIAARYANS IN INDIA The early Aryans The early Aryans

Depended heavily on a pastoral economy Depended heavily on a pastoral economy No writing system, but orally transmitted works called the Vedas No writing system, but orally transmitted works called the Vedas Sacred language (Sanskrit) and daily-use language (Prakit) Sacred language (Sanskrit) and daily-use language (Prakit)

The Vedic Age: 1500 to 500 B.C.E. The Vedic Age: 1500 to 500 B.C.E. A boisterous period, conflict with indigenous peoples A boisterous period, conflict with indigenous peoples Called indigenous people Called indigenous people dasasdasas - "enemies" or "subject people" - "enemies" or "subject people" Indra, the Aryans' war god and military hero Indra, the Aryans' war god and military hero Aryan chiefdoms fought ferociously among themselves Aryan chiefdoms fought ferociously among themselves

Aryan migrations in India Aryan migrations in India First settled in the Punjab, the upper Indus River valley First settled in the Punjab, the upper Indus River valley Spread east and south from their base Spread east and south from their base After 1000 B.C.E. settled between Himalayan foothills and GangesAfter 1000 B.C.E. settled between Himalayan foothills and Ganges Used iron tools and developed agriculture Used iron tools and developed agriculture By 500 B.C.E. migrated as far south as the northern Deccan By 500 B.C.E. migrated as far south as the northern Deccan Lost tribal organizations but established regional kingdomsLost tribal organizations but established regional kingdoms

THE CASTE SYSTEMTHE CASTE SYSTEM Caste and Caste and varnavarna

CasteCaste: : Hereditary, unchangeable social classes Hereditary, unchangeable social classes

Sanskrit word Sanskrit word varna,varna, "color," referring to social classes "color," referring to social classes Social distinctions based on racial skin colors Social distinctions based on racial skin colors

Social distinctions in the late Vedic Age Social distinctions in the late Vedic Age Four main varnas, recognized after 1000 B.C.E. Four main varnas, recognized after 1000 B.C.E.

brahmins (priests) brahmins (priests) kshatriyas (warriors and aristocrats: rulers) kshatriyas (warriors and aristocrats: rulers) vaishyas (cultivators, artisans, and merchants) vaishyas (cultivators, artisans, and merchants) shudras (landless peasants and serfs) shudras (landless peasants and serfs) Later, the category of the pariah (untouchables) was added Later, the category of the pariah (untouchables) was added Subcaste or jati Subcaste or jati

Represents more elaborate social classification, developed after 6th c. B.C.E. Represents more elaborate social classification, developed after 6th c. B.C.E. Jati, or subcastes, were determined by occupations Jati, or subcastes, were determined by occupations The elaborate rules of jati life The elaborate rules of jati life

Caste and social mobility Caste and social mobility Caste system was capable of accommodating social change Caste system was capable of accommodating social change Social mobility was very difficult but still possible Social mobility was very difficult but still possible Foreign peoples could find a place in society of the castesForeign peoples could find a place in society of the castes

RISE OF PATRIARCHAL SOCIETYRISE OF PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY Patriarchal, Patrilineal societyPatriarchal, Patrilineal society

Original Aryan Society: women had rights, some were Original Aryan Society: women had rights, some were chiefschiefs

Changes occurred with change to sedentary civilizationChanges occurred with change to sedentary civilization Men served as priests, warriors, and tribal chiefs Men served as priests, warriors, and tribal chiefs Family lines based on male descendants (the patriline) Family lines based on male descendants (the patriline) Only males could inherit property Only males could inherit property Men learned the Vedas and received formal education Men learned the Vedas and received formal education

Source: Source: The Lawbook of Manu The Lawbook of Manu Prepared by an anonymous sage, 1st century B.C.E. Prepared by an anonymous sage, 1st century B.C.E. Dealt with moral behavior and social relationships Dealt with moral behavior and social relationships Advised men to treat women with honor and respect Advised men to treat women with honor and respect Subjected women to the control and guidance of men Subjected women to the control and guidance of men Women's duties: bear children, maintain the household Women's duties: bear children, maintain the household

SatiSati as a social custom as a social custom

ARYAN RELIGIONARYAN RELIGION The Aryan gods The Aryan gods

The war god, Indra The war god, Indra The gods of the sun, sky, moon, fire, health, etc. The gods of the sun, sky, moon, fire, health, etc. The god Varuna - an ethical concern The god Varuna - an ethical concern

Ritual sacrifices Ritual sacrifices Importance of ritual sacrificesImportance of ritual sacrifices Horse sacrifice originally Horse sacrifice originally Priests were specialists of the ritual sacrifices Priests were specialists of the ritual sacrifices Ritual sacrifices for rewards from the divine power Ritual sacrifices for rewards from the divine power

Spirituality Spirituality Many Aryans dissatisfied with ritual sacrifices in late Many Aryans dissatisfied with ritual sacrifices in late

Vedic age Vedic age A shift to spiritual contemplation A shift to spiritual contemplation Thoughtful individuals retreated to forests as hermits Thoughtful individuals retreated to forests as hermits Dravidian notions were cooptedDravidian notions were coopted

Transmigration of soulTransmigration of soul ReincarnationReincarnation ( (nirvana)nirvana)

THE RISE OF HINDUISMTHE RISE OF HINDUISM The Upanishads The Upanishads

Works of religious teachings, 800 to 400 B.C.E. Works of religious teachings, 800 to 400 B.C.E. The religious forums: dialogues between disciples and sages The religious forums: dialogues between disciples and sages

Brahman: the universal soul Brahman: the universal soul Brahman was the only genuine reality Brahman was the only genuine reality Highest goal: to escape reincarnation and join with Brahman Highest goal: to escape reincarnation and join with Brahman

Atman: The individual self-soul that is part of BrahmanAtman: The individual self-soul that is part of Brahman Teachings of the Upanishads Teachings of the Upanishads

SamsaraSamsara: An individual soul was born many times : An individual soul was born many times Dharma: Dharma: Caste duties Caste duties KarmaKarma: specific incarnations that a soul experienced : specific incarnations that a soul experienced MokshaMoksha: permanent liberation from physical incarnation: permanent liberation from physical incarnation

Religion and Vedic Society Religion and Vedic Society SamsaraSamsara and and karmakarma reinforced social hierarchy reinforced social hierarchy Upanishads were also spiritual and intellectual contemplations Upanishads were also spiritual and intellectual contemplations Taught to observe high ethical standards Taught to observe high ethical standards Respect for all living things, a vegetarian diet Respect for all living things, a vegetarian diet