INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATIONAND EARLY ARYAN SOCIETY

THE GEOGRAPHIC SETTING

Indian Subcontinent To North: Impassable Himalayas To East: Passable low hills To Northwest: Passable Hindu Kush, Khyber Pass To West: Arabian Sea

Northern Plain of Indus, Ganges Rivers Southern Deccan

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 RIVERCIVILIZATION

HARAPPAN SOCIETY The Indus River

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.

Harappa and Mohenjo-daro 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

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

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

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