Download indus valley civilization

INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION
AND EARLY ARYAN SOCIETY
THE GEOGRAPHIC SETTING

Indian Subcontinent






North: Impassable Himalayas
East: Passable low hills
Northwest: Passable Hindu Kush, Khyber Pass
West: Arabian Sea
Northern Plain of Indus, Ganges Rivers
Southern Deccan




To
To
To
To
High plateau, extremely dry
Bordered on East and West by mountains
Separated from north by river, low mountains
The Monsoon Winds


Off the land October to April: Dry Season
Off the Indian Ocean May to September: Wet Season
THE INDUS RIVER
CIVILIZATION
HARAPPAN SOCIETY

The Indus River






Harappa and Mohenjo-daro





Runs through north India, sources at Hindu Kush,
Himalayas
Rich deposits, but less predictable than the Nile
Wheat and barley were cultivated in Indus valley
Cultivated cotton before 5000 B.C.E.
Complex society of Dravidians, 3000/2500 B.C.E.
Possibly served as twin capitals
Each city had a fortified citadel and a large granary
Broad streets, market places, temples, public buildings
Standardized weights, measures, architecture, bricks
Specialized labor and trade


Domestic trade, items inc. pottery, tools, metals
Trading with Mesopotamians about 2300 to 1750 B.C.E.
HARAPPAN SOCIETY/CULTURE

Religious beliefs strongly emphasized fertility


Many deities were feminine
Harappan society declined from 2000 B.C.E.
onward




Natural catastrophes - floods or earthquakes
Population began to abandon their cities by about 1700
B.C.E.
Almost entirely collapsed by about 1500 B.C.E
Evidence of warfare, invasion
ARYANS IN INDIA
The early Aryans




Pastoral economy (rural life…farming, herding)
No writing system, but orally transmitted texts called the Vedas
Sacred language (Sanskrit)
The Vedic Age: 1500 to 500 B.C.E.





A fighting period, conflict with indigenous peoples
Called indigenous (native) people “ dasas”
Indra, the Aryans' war god and military hero
Aryan chiefdoms fought ferociously among themselves
Aryan migrations in India







First settled in the Punjab, the upper Indus River valley
Spread east and south from their base
After 1000 B.C.E. settled between Himalayan foothills and Ganges
Used iron tools and developed agriculture
By 500 B.C.E. migrated as far south as the northern Deccan
Lost tribal organizations but established regional kingdoms
THE CASTE SYSTEM

Caste and varna

Caste:




Hereditary, unchangeable social classes
Sanskrit word varna, "color," referring to social classes
Social distinctions based on racial skin colors
Social distinctions in the late Vedic Age

Four main varnas,(colors) recognized after 1000 B.C.E.

brahmins (priests)
kshatriyas (warriors and aristocrats: rulers)
vaishyas (cultivators, artisans, and merchants)
shudras (landless peasants and serfs)
Later, the (untouchables) was added

Caste and social mobility







Caste system was capable of accommodating social change
Social mobility difficult but still possible
Foreign peoples could find a place in society of the castes
RISE OF PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY

Patriarchal, Patrilineal society







Original Aryan Society: women had rights, some were chiefs
Changes occurred with change to civilization
Men served as priests, warriors, and tribal chiefs
Family lines based on male descendants
Only males inherit property
Men learned the Vedas and received formal education
Source: The Lawbook of Manu





Prepared 1st century B.C.E.
Dealt with moral behavior and social relationships
Advised men to treat women with honor and respect
Subjected women to the control and guidance of men
Women's duties: bear children, maintain the household
ARYAN RELIGION



The Aryan gods
 The war god, Indra
 The gods of the sun, sky, moon, fire, health, etc.
 The god Varuna - ethical
Ritual sacrifices
 Important
 Horse sacrifice originally
 Priests were specialists of ritual sacrifices
 Ritual sacrifices for rewards from the divine power
Spirituality
 Many Aryans dissatisfied with ritual sacrifices in late Vedic age
 A shift to spiritual contemplation
 Thoughtful individuals retreated to forests as hermits
 Dravidian notions were coopted
 Transmigration of soul
 Reincarnation (nirvana)
THE RISE OF HINDUISM

The Upanishads



Brahman: the universal soul




Brahman was the only genuine reality
Highest goal: to escape reincarnation and join with Brahman
Atman: The individual self-soul that is part of Brahman
Teachings of the Upanishads





Works of religious teachings, 800 to 400 B.C.E.
The religious forums: dialogues between disciples and sages
Samsara: An individual soul was born many times
Dharma: Caste duties
Karma: specific incarnations that a soul experienced
Moksha: permanent liberation from physical incarnation
Religion and Vedic Society




Samsara and karma reinforced social hierarchy
Upanishads were also spiritual and intellectual contemplations
Taught to observe high ethical standards
Respect for all living things, a vegetarian diet