Indian Civilization (Indus Valley/ Harappan)

2500-1500BC

Background

• Dated 3100-1500BC• Lower-Large triangular peninsula enclosed by water• Upper- marked from the rest of Asia by Himalaya

mountains

• Below mountains stretches fertile plains watered by large stream rivers with their source in Himalaya Mountains that is R. Ganges

• Physical features of southern areas is a large plateau separated by Vindhyan mountains

Background

• Ancient India Civilization is classified into two:• Pre-Harappan- Harappan

– Started in present day Pakistan– Deciphered- undecoded– Cities- Mohenjadaro, Harappa

• Harappan – Indo-Aryans (Indo-Europeans) – Started in 1750 BC

Economic Activities

By 3100- new means of survival:Farming and herding along the Indus Valley Crops - wheat, barley. Sesame, melon, dates, peas cottonAnimals - sheep, goats & oxen, water buffaloes, elephants

Other Economic Activities:PotteryDeveloped tools- saws, axes, knives & spearheads (bronzeTextile industryTraded-copper and cotton- Arabia

Economic Activities

Other Economic Activities:Pottery Transportation-used camels, oxen and elephants to travel of land

Carts with wooden wheels By 2500 other cities had develop along the Indus Valley-Punjab (North), Mohenjadaro (South), Mehgarh

Pre-Harappan : Socio-Political System

Government: State level society – hierarchical rule Theocratic government Close link between ruling elite & priests who controlled the economy

Social structure- gave power & prestige to women

Matrilineal & matriarchal Women allowed to accumulate wealth & enjoy high status

Pre-Harappan : Socio-Political System

Religion Worshipped fertility goddesses & Cow considered to be the most sacred animal

Water – important in ancient Indian religious life

Little rain during summer & crop failure resulted to famine Water – purifying shrines households & worshippers

Foreign Invasion: Harappan1750- Harappa- Indo-Aryans (Indo-Europeans)

Lived in Russia (plains of Central Europe) Pastoralists & intermittent agriculturalists

• Impact: Cities destroyed & abandoned, writing abandoned Beginning of Dark age Introduced new social system & family structure

Caste system & joint family New political system

Republic & Monarchy

•

Foreign Invasion: Harappan New Religion

Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Jainism

Writing was developed & History of Indian recorded in Epic poem

Mahabharata Ramayana Arthasastra

•

Social Structure- Caste System Aryans introduced- Patriarchal society

Wives moved to husbands family Women paid substantial dowryAccept husband’s authority

• Caste (Varna): Initially it implied classification by color Conquerors (Aryans) & Conquered (Dasas) Later introduced into the socio-economic distinctions Hence – social grouping by birth

Social Structure- Caste SystemBrahmins (Priests)

Kshatriyas (Warriors & Nobility)

Vaishyas- (Merchants, Carpenters, traders, landowners)

Untouchables (Sudras) & land cultivators)

Harijans

Social Structure- Caste SystemEarly history (1500-1000)- Brahmins & Kshatriyas- equal

Religious rituals introduced- made distinctionCaste sub-divided into sub-caste-

more distinction in the castes Allow new comers fit in society

Upper class made vedas & interpreted lawsSudras: lived in segregationRules:

No intermarriage & eating Punishment depended on social classNo change of Caste- born –into it

Today- over 100 sub-castes

Social Structure- Joint FamilyFamily smallest unit- many families with a common ancestor= village

Chiefs & eldest male ruled the village, hereditaryProperty- sons & extended family- property owning unit Male-child- highly prized- bring honor Women- subordinate- sub-caste of the fatherMarriage

Sub-caste of the fatherNo property inheritancePaid dowry not ownRestricted in religious activities- home rituals

Political SystemBefore 1500:

Society loosely organized into tribes- clans-familiesTribe headed by Rajas (Kings/chief) – elected cyclesCouncil of elders & assembles shared power- Kings

Aryans: Republics & KingdomsRepublic- retained tribal institutions- council of elders

Oligarchy rule by small elite class (aristocrat)Father headed the family

Political SystemDynasties

Mauryan dynasty (321-185BC)Incorporated all India into one kingdom through warsPeriod of war ended reign of Asoka –ruthlessIntroduced Ahimsa (Non-violence) First to adopt vegetarian dietDynasty marked by Guptas- medicine (Ayurveda)

• Kingdoms:– Power of Rajas increased at the expense of

councils & assemblies– Became Monarchy thus hereditary

Developed administrative systems headed by chief priest & military leaders New political set up gave support to the caste system

New Religion• Pre-Harappa people worshipped goddesses and gods

attributed to their way of life– Veneration of animals

• Worshipped great god Shiva- Lord of the Beast– Mother goddess- Ga mata

• Aryans introduced gods from the North-– Gods of thunder & sun _ Indra– Gods of war-Agni– Lord of endless big sky-Varuna– Sacrificed these gods including human sacrifices

HinduismBeliefs & Rituals:

Cow most sacredLived along the mountains- gods- rivers, monkey, snakesGods- Brahma (Creator), Vishnu (preserver), Shiva (destroyer)Everything in nature- soul & selfBelief in eternal universal spirit

Life after death in which one is reborn- Reincarnation (Upanishad)Posistion of soul after rebirth- depended actions (Karma)Karma dictated by law (actions)

HinduismBeliefs & Rituals:

Freedom from being reborn (Moksha)To attain Moksha which was desirable- people disciplined their body & mindEnd human suffering- process of rebirth- Yoga (meditation)

BuddhismFounded by Kshatriya prince- challenge casteFounded Siddhartha Guatama (Buddha) 563 BC- Enlightened one-

Search- why do people sufferMeditation (59 days)- tortured, fasted, meditated & YogaCauses of suffering- wealth, success & powerIgnorance of causes of suffering kept people from liberation (Nirvana)

Nirvana could be attained-8-folds: Right belief, compassion, honesty, resolve, speech, Action, Effort and Meditation

BuddhismDeep meditation –define the right thingsRejected caste system, dhrama, vedas & ritualsPeople master of their own afteBelieved- reincarnation & need for Nirvana (Liberation)Vows- poverty, chastity & non-violencMissionaries- brae-foot, clothed saffron & beginning bowsSpread- Nepal, Tibet, China, Japan, Korea, Sri-Lanka, Vietnam and CambodiaS. India became the place of pilgrimage for Buddhist monks

JainismOriginated with Kshatriyas :

Challenged the socio-religious order based on the caste system (500BC)Founded Mahavira BuddhaAll souls have self & soul- equalMosksha – all have potential to atain itUniverse governed by natural lawsRespect for all persons- killing crimeEvery person responsible for their actions & have eternal soulVegetarianBelieve in non-violence and do not take meat acquired by cruelty

ContributionsIndian Literature::– Epic poems – Mahabharata & Ramayana– Arthasastra

• Mahabharata- – Reflects of Aryan age of chariot fighters and

kinship loyalties• Ramayana-

– Romantic story of Prince Rama of settlement in Ganges states

• Arthasastra-– Ruthless times of territorial state-building

Contributions

• Social institutions- caste system & joint family• Natural hierarchy of human society

• Philosophy- map of life by which are set forth the meaning of life & the means of attaining its goals (Moksha- freedom from rebirth)

• Belief systems- Buddhism and Hinduism– Buddhism attempts to organize human society with

emphasize on the dark state of life in the world

• Literature- vedas, thousands of hymns• Writing- Harappa writing which is still

undeciphered