Download The Development of Civilization in the Indus River Valley

Importance of ideological control of a populace
Protected by mtns to
the north
 Dependent on
monsoons for their
weather
 (monsoon = seasonal
wind)
 Indus River was very
unpredictable

•EARLIEST EXAMPLE OF INDIAN CULTURE
•URBAN SOCIETY – VERY COMPLEX
•NO LARGE MONUMENTAL ARCHITECTURE
(NO EVIDENCE OF PALACES OR TEMPLES)
•FIRST INDOOR SANITATION SYSTEMS
•STANDARD WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
•BY 1700 BC, THEY HAD DISAPPEARED

CEMETERY H CULTURE
(cremation, breakdown of trade networks)

GANDHARA CULTURE
(terracotta figurines, simple dot designs)

OCHRE COLOURED POTTERY CULTURE
(may be the last remains of Harappan
culture or entirely separate – who knows?)
CEMETERY H CULTURE
OCHRE COLOURED POTTERY

EMERGED AROUND
1700 BC

ASSOCIATED WITH
THE ARYAN
INVASIONS OF INDIA

VEDAS WERE THEIR
SACRED LITERATURE

ARYANS - tall, light
skinned, different
language, no writing,
heroic gods, wealth =
cows

DASAS – dark skinned,
town dwellers, lifegiving gods
Brahmins (priests) - MOUTH
Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors) – ARMS
Vaishyas (peasants and traders) – LEGS
Shudras (laborers) – FEET
“Untouchables” Made impure because of their
work (grave diggers, butchers, trash
collectors)
BRAHMINS
KSHATRIYAS
VAISHYAS
UNTOUCHABLES

Chandragupta Maurya
 Raised a large army due to heavy taxes
 Defeated the Macedonians and united the Indian
subcontinent by the age of 20
 Bureaucracy – modeled after the Persians

Asoka
 Devout Buddhist – promoted religion & tolerance
 Benevolent ruler
 Extensive public works builder (roads, rest stops)



Founded by Chandra Gupta I who was not
related to Chandragupta Maurya
1st three emperors of this empire saw great
achievements in art, literature, and religion
The Guptas extended control to the western
coast of India, thus enabling maritime trade
with the Mediterranean
 Writing academies
 Traveling drama groups
 Astronomy
 Seven day week
 Invented zero and calculated pi (π)
 Middlemen along the Silk Road
 Rise in banking