Media and Culture

Submitted by

Vijaya Rajendra Barge

Anagha Tambe

Neha Jadhav

Jewellery of the Indus Valley• Early Harappan age- strands of

simple beads that were carved from soft stone, or fashioned from shells.

• Start of Metal Age

• Craftsmen worked with bronze, copper, Silver and Gold.

• Jewellery- strands of beads, headbands, bangles

• Example of this early jewellery can be seen on the cast-bronze statuette of the “Dancing Girl” of Mohenjo-Daro.(2500 BC)

• As India's abundance of mineral wealth became known throughout the world.

• Foreigners started invading India for trade.

• During Mahajanpadas (700-300 BC) region’s wealth and power increased.

• It reached zenith during mughal empire (16th century to mid 19th)

Barter System• 1st oceanic trading routes between ancient Greek and India

began in 130 BC.• 1st commodity that attracted ancient Greeks was spices

from Tamilnadu.• Romans expanded trade with Tamil Chola, Pandya and

Chera Dynasties.• In return they got gold from Romans and Greek.

• Jewellery had great status with India’s royalty.

• India’s Maharajas were fabulously wealthy

• And their taste in architecture, clothing and Jewellery reflected wealthy Image.

• By the end of 16th Century, Europeans developed keen interest in mineral wealth of India.

Maharajahs Singh & Patiala

Zahiruddin Babur and Bhupinder Singh

• According to Hindu beliefs, gold and silver are considered sacred metal.

• Gold- Warm sun, Silver- Cool moon• Both quintessential metals of Indian jewellery• Pure gold does not corrode with time, Therefore Gold= immorality• It was gold that Indians were after.• Rather using gold as currency, the Indians were simply in search

of new ways to decorate themselves.• One notable manifestation India’s pre occupation with gold and

self decoration was in the Hindu tradition of ‘Solha Shringar’ (Sixteen adornments).

‘TA’ – ‘NISHKA’

Marriage is celebrated

As the biggest occasion of

life in India where GOLD plays

a pivotal role.

BibliographyOppi Untracht, Jewelry Concepts & Technology - Complete Reference Guide . DoubledayWilliam Meacham, The Neolithic of South China . www.jstor.orgElena Neva, Types and Forms of Ancient Jewelry from Central Asia . www.transoxiana.orgC. C. Lamberg-Karlovsky, Industries of the Ancient Near East. 1997 American Oriental SocietyPBS, The Story of India . www.latimes.comElena Neva, Types and Forms of Ancient Jewelry from Central Asia . www.transoxiana.orgUntracht, Oppi., Traditional Jewellery of India. New York: AbramsNeich, R., Pereira, Pacific Jewellery and Adornment.Michel Danino, The Indus-Sarasvati Civilization . www.voiceofdharma.comRadha Krishnamurthy, Gemmology in Ancient India . www.new.dli.ernet.inSolah Shringar for Indian Bride . www.weddings.iloveindia.comColors of India Indian Bridal Fashion . www.colors-of-india.comWomen and Jewelry - The Spiritual Dimensions of Ornamentation . www.exoticindiaart.comCaroline Perry, Jewelry Inspired by Ancient Cultures . Running PressThe British Museum, Ancient India . www.ancientindia.co.uk