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India – Emergence of Civilization I. Location (Map of Indus River Valley) II. Harappan Civilization (7000-6500 BC) A. Political & Social Structures B. Culture Mohenjo-Daro: Ancient City on the Indus © Borromeo/Art Resource, NY The Harappan peoples, like their contemporaries in Mesopotamia, developed a writing system to record their spoken language. Unfortunately, it has not yet been deciphered. Most extant examples of Harappan writing are found on fired clay seals depicting human figures and animals. These seals have been found in houses and were probably used to identify the owners of goods for sale. Other seals may have been used as amulets or have had other religious significance. Several depict religious figures or ritualistic scenes of sacrifice. © Scala/Art Resource, NY III. Arrival of the Aryans A. Who are the Aryans? (1500-1000BC) B. Mauryan Empire (342-301 BC) First Dynasty in India The Empire of Ashoka Ashoka, the greatest Indian monarch, reigned over the Mauryan dynasty in the third century B.C.E. This map shows the extent of his empire, with the location of the pillar edicts that were erected along major trade routes. Carved Chapels Carved out of solid rock cliffs during the Mauryan dynasty, rock chambers served as meditation halls for traveling Buddhist monks. Initially, they resembled freestanding shrines of wood and thatch from the Vedic period but evolved into magnificent chapels carved deep into the mountainside, such as this one at Karli. © age fotostock/SuperStock C. Caste and Class 1. Priestly Class (Brahmins) 2. 3. 4. 5. Warrior Class (Kshatriya) Commonor Class (Vaisya) Peasant Class (Sudras) Untouchables (Pariahs) Reasons for Survival of Caste System: 1. provided an identity for individuals in a highly hierarchical society 2. means for new groups to achieve recognizable place in broader community 3. primitive welfare system 4. provided an element of stability in society that was in a state of political anarchy Daily Life: family centered and religiously bound patriarchal culture for women IV. Escaping the Wheel of Life: Religion Blend of Dravidian and Aryan Culture Sacred text known as the Vedas (collection of hymns and ceremonies) A. Hinduism (Reincarnation) Dancing Shiva The Hindu deity Shiva is often presented in the form of a bronze statue performing a cosmic dance in which he simultaneously creates and destroys the universe. While his upper right hand creates the cosmos, his upper left hand reduces it in flames, and the lower two hands offer eternal blessing. Shiva’s dancing statues visually convey to his followers the message of his power and compassion. © William J. Duiker The Three Faces of Shiva In the first centuries C.E., Hindus began to adopt Buddhist rock art. One outstanding example is at the Elephanta Caves, near the modern city of Mumbai (Bombay). Dominating the cave is this 18-foot-high triple-headed statue of Shiva, representing the Hindu deity in all his various aspects. The central figure shows him in total serenity, enveloped in absolute knowledge. The angry profile on the left portrays him as the destroyer, struggling against time, death, and other negative forces. The right-hand profile shows his loving and feminine side in the guise of his beautiful wife, Parvati. © Charles & Josette Lenars/CORBIS. B. Buddhism (Middle Path) Achieve Nirvana (Paradise) 1. life is suffering 2. suffering is caused by desire 3. the way to end suffering is to end desire 4. the way to end desire is to avoid the extremes of a life of vulgar materialism and a life of self-torture and to follow the Middle Path 8-fold way to Middle Path 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. right knowledge right purpose right speech right conduct right occupation right effort right awareness right meditation ….. Becomes a Philosophy! Buddha Indonesia & Thailand Female Earth Spirit This earth spirit, sculpted on a gatepost of the Buddhist stupa at Sanchi 2,200 years ago, illustrates how earlier representations of the fertility goddess were incorporated into Buddhist art. Women were revered as powerful fertility symbols and considered dangerous when menstruating or immediately after giving birth. Voluptuous and idealized, the earth spirit could allegedly cause a tree to blossom if she merely touched a branch with her arm or wrapped a leg around the tree’s trunk. © Atlantide Phototravel (Massimo Borchi)/CORBIS C. Jainism – extreme simplicity