History 381: History 381: Asian ExperienceAsian Experience

Ancient IndiaAncient India

Key termsKey terms

HarappaHarappa AryansAryans Raja/MaharajaRaja/Maharaja DharmaDharma ArthasastraArthasastra Mauryan empireMauryan empire VedasVedas

VarnaVarna JatiJati Caste systemCaste system HinduHindu Sidhartha GautamaSidhartha Gautama NirvanaNirvana BodhiBodhi AsokaAsoka StupaStupa

The Indian Subcontinent

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Indus River ValleyIndus River Valley

Supported agricultural Supported agricultural settlements as much settlements as much as 6,000 years ago as 6,000 years ago

River runs through River runs through modern Pakistan modern Pakistan

In ancient times was a In ancient times was a lush and fertile plain lush and fertile plain with abundant rainfall, with abundant rainfall, today it is mostly arid today it is mostly arid

Harappan name given Harappan name given to civilization in this to civilization in this ancient area ancient area

The Harappan Civilization

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The Early InhabitantsThe Early Inhabitants

Dravidians are Dravidians are descendents of descendents of Indus River valley Indus River valley culture culture

Hill peoples were Hill peoples were probably the probably the original inhabitants original inhabitants of much of the of much of the subcontinentsubcontinent

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Harappa and Mohenjo-daroHarappa and Mohenjo-daro No evidence for political No evidence for political

system system

Language probably Language probably belonged to the Dravidian belonged to the Dravidian family related to the family related to the modern tongues of modern tongues of southern Indiasouthern India

Each city had a fortified Each city had a fortified citadel and a large granary citadel and a large granary

Broad streets, Broad streets, marketplaces, temples, marketplaces, temples, public buildings public buildings

Standardized weights, Standardized weights, measures, architectural measures, architectural styles, and brick sizesstyles, and brick sizes

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Harappa and Mohenjo-DaroHarappa and Mohenjo-Daro Two great walled Two great walled

cities that cities that dominated dominated Harappan Harappan civilization civilization

Harappa Harappa surrounded by a surrounded by a brick wall 40 feet brick wall 40 feet thick thick

Laid out in a grid Laid out in a grid pattern with wide pattern with wide streets streets

Maybe 80,000 Maybe 80,000 inhabitants inhabitants

Contained Contained advanced drainage advanced drainage and water systems and water systems

Narrow mud brick streets Harappan site

THE THE ““ARYAN INVASIONARYAN INVASION”” From about 1500From about 1500––1000 BCE, 1000 BCE,

“Aryan” peoples from “Aryan” peoples from southern Russia enter Indus southern Russia enter Indus regionregion

Aryan societyAryan society– PastoralPastoral– NomadicNomadic– EquestrianEquestrian– PatriarchalPatriarchal

Aryan religionAryan religion– WarriorWarrior– PolytheisticPolytheistic

Aryan language was Aryan language was ancestral to Sanskrit, oldest ancestral to Sanskrit, oldest known in Indo-European known in Indo-European familyfamily

Aryan InvasionsAryan Invasions Aryan culture had long been subdivided into Aryan culture had long been subdivided into

distinct classes with warriors at the top, and this distinct classes with warriors at the top, and this system was superimposed upon Indian society. system was superimposed upon Indian society.

The warrior and priestly caste (or kshatriya and The warrior and priestly caste (or kshatriya and Brahmins respectively) dominated, and there Brahmins respectively) dominated, and there existed a small class of commoners or vaisya. existed a small class of commoners or vaisya.

The vast majority of the Indian population, The vast majority of the Indian population, however, fell into the bottom of societyhowever, fell into the bottom of society– the sudras and pariahs or untouchables.the sudras and pariahs or untouchables.

INDO-ARYAN SOCIETYINDO-ARYAN SOCIETY Divided into 4 hereditary Divided into 4 hereditary

occupational divisions or castes occupational divisions or castes ((varņasvarņas = colors): = colors):– BrāhmanBrāhman (priest) (priest)– Kşatriya Kşatriya (warrior)(warrior)– VaiśyaVaiśya (merchant/artisan) (merchant/artisan)– ŚūdraŚūdra (peasant) (peasant)

On margins of society are On margins of society are DalitsDalits (so-called “untouchables”), who (so-called “untouchables”), who perform menial and polluting perform menial and polluting tasks:tasks:– Corpse handlersCorpse handlers– ExecutionersExecutioners– Hunters and fishermenHunters and fishermen– ButchersButchers– LeatherworkersLeatherworkers

Caste SystemCaste System

Aryan system of castes Aryan system of castes superimposed upon Indian superimposed upon Indian subcontinent subcontinent

Based on warrior class as head Based on warrior class as head Allows for keeping indigenous Allows for keeping indigenous

peoples subjugated peoples subjugated Color part of division as Aryans Color part of division as Aryans

were lighter skinned than native were lighter skinned than native Indians Indians

Not permitted to eat or marry Not permitted to eat or marry outside of caste outside of caste

Basic social organization by Basic social organization by which Indian society was divided which Indian society was divided even todayeven today

Role of womenRole of women Women were subordinate to men—Women were subordinate to men—

father, husband, sons father, husband, sons Men did most of the work in fields Men did most of the work in fields

agricultural societies agricultural societies Women seen as an economic Women seen as an economic

burden since did not have much burden since did not have much roles outside of the home roles outside of the home

Parents must provide dowry to Parents must provide dowry to obtain husband obtain husband

Female children joined families of Female children joined families of husband once married, so provided husband once married, so provided no real advantage to having no real advantage to having daughters daughters

Still, Hindu code of behavior Still, Hindu code of behavior ordered women to be treated with ordered women to be treated with respect respect

Women viewed as very sexual Women viewed as very sexual beings who could use sexuality to beings who could use sexuality to dominate men dominate men

The The VedasVedas Concerned with orthopraxy Concerned with orthopraxy

(proper action) in ritual(proper action) in ritual BrāhmanBrāhman authors edit oral authors edit oral

liturgical traditions, producing liturgical traditions, producing VedasVedas ( (““knowledgesknowledges””), c. 1200-), c. 1200-600 BCE600 BCE

By 600 BCE, By 600 BCE, sūtras sūtras ((““threads,threads,”” commentaries), or summaries commentaries), or summaries of of VedasVedas, become popular, become popular

4 collections (4 collections (samhitāssamhitās) of ) of VedasVedas::

ŖigvedaŖigveda were praise stanzas were praise stanzas sung by priests in ritualsung by priests in ritual

SāmavedaSāmaveda were songs sung by were songs sung by priestly entouragepriestly entourage

YajurvedaYajurveda were the short were the short incantations uttered by incantations uttered by priestspriests’’ assistants in ritual assistants in ritual

AtharvavedaAtharvaveda were the were the therapeutic spells and therapeutic spells and hymns used by hymns used by atharvansatharvans = = healershealers

The Rig vedaThe Rig veda

Ancient Sanskrit work of early Aryans Ancient Sanskrit work of early Aryans One of several collections of “verses One of several collections of “verses

of knowledge”of knowledge” Collection of Aryan traditions that Collection of Aryan traditions that

had previously been passed down had previously been passed down through oral storytelling through oral storytelling

The UpanishadsThe Upanishads

A set of A set of commentaries commentaries (explanations and (explanations and elaborations) on the elaborations) on the Vedas compiled in Vedas compiled in the sixth century the sixth century B.C.E.B.C.E.

dharmadharma

Set of societal laws Set of societal laws that set standards that set standards of behavior and of behavior and obligations for obligations for each caste in each caste in Indian society Indian society

karmakarma

The key element in reincarnation The key element in reincarnation Dictates that one’s rebirth in a next life is Dictates that one’s rebirth in a next life is

determined by one’s actions in this life determined by one’s actions in this life Governed by the dharma, which imposes Governed by the dharma, which imposes

different requirements depending on a different requirements depending on a person’s social status person’s social status

ReincarnationReincarnation

The individual soul is reborn in a different form The individual soul is reborn in a different form after death after death – The soul progresses through these lives until it The soul progresses through these lives until it

reaches union with the Great Soul, or Brahman, reaches union with the Great Soul, or Brahman, the final objective of all living souls the final objective of all living souls

– Reflects the social caste system with the Reflects the social caste system with the brahmins closest to ultimate release and the brahmins closest to ultimate release and the untouchables furthest away untouchables furthest away

– Provides hope to lowest classes that they can Provides hope to lowest classes that they can achieve a higher class through good actions achieve a higher class through good actions

Pantheon of godsPantheon of gods

Originally based on the idea of gods and Originally based on the idea of gods and goddesses representing forces of nature goddesses representing forces of nature

Most of the gods adopted human Most of the gods adopted human characteristics and frailties characteristics and frailties

Centered around the most powerful gods:Centered around the most powerful gods:– Brahman the CreatorBrahman the Creator– Vishnu the ProtectorVishnu the Protector– Shiva the DestroyerShiva the Destroyer

The Empire of Asoka

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Stupa at Sarnath, where Siddhartha Gautama preached his first sermon

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