harappan society and its neighbors, ca. 2000 b.c.e
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Harappan society and its Harappan society and its neighbors, ca. 2000 B.C.E.neighbors, ca. 2000 B.C.E.
Foundations of Harappan SocietyFoundations of Harappan Society
►The Indus River Silt-enriched water from mountain ranges
►Major society built by Dravidian peoples, 3000-2500 BCE Cultivation of cotton before 5000 BCE, early cultivation of
poultry Decline after 1900 BCE
►Major cities: Harrapa (Punjab region and Mohenjo-Daro (mouth of Indus River) 70 smaller sites excavated (total 1,500)
Mohenjo-Daro RuinsMohenjo-Daro Ruins
►Population c. 40,000►Regional center
Layout, architecture suggests public purpose Broad streets, citadel, pool, sewage
►Standardized weights evident throughout region
►Specialized labor►Trade
Harapan Society and CultureHarapan Society and Culture
►Evidence of social stratification Dwelling size, decoration
►Harappan Civilization: matriarchal? Influence on later Indian culture
►Goddesses of fertility►Possible east/west distinctions
Mysterious End of Harappan Mysterious End of Harappan CivilizationCivilization
►Reasons for disappearance unclear Excessive deforestation, loss of topsoil Earthquakes? Flooding?
►Evidence of unburied dead
►Disappearance by 1500 BCE
The Early AryansThe Early Aryans
►Pastoral economy: sheep, goats, horses, cattle Vegetarianism not widespread until many
centuries later
►Religious and Literary works: The Vedas Sanskrit: sacred tongue Prakrit: everyday language, evolved into Hindi,
Urdu, Bengali Four Vedas, most important Rig Veda
►1,028 hymms to gods
The Vedic AgeThe Vedic Age
►Conflicts between Aryans and indigenous dasas (“enemies,” “subjects”) Aryans fighting Dravidians Also Aryans fighting each other
►Chiefdoms: Rajas►Early concentration in Punjab, migrations further
south Development of iron metallurgy Increasing reliance on agriculture
►Tribal connections evolve into political structures
Varna:Varna: The Caste System The Caste System
►Origins in Aryan domination of Dravidians Brahmin, Priest Kshatriya, Warrior Vaishya, Merchant Sudra, Commoner Harijan: “Untouchables; Pariahs”
►Jati subsystem of castes Related to urbanization, increasing social and
economic complexity
Aryan ReligionAryan Religion
►Major deity of Rig Veda: Indra, war god►Elaborate ritual sacrifices to gods
Role of Brahmins important
►C. 800 BCE some movement away from sacrificial cults Mystical thought, influenced by Dravidians
Teachings of the UpanishadsTeachings of the Upanishads
►Texts that represent blending of Aryan and Dravidian traditions
►Composed 800-400 BCE, some later collections until 13th century CE
►Brahman: the Universal Soul►Samsara: reincarnation►Karma: accounting for incarnations►Moksha: mystical ecstacy►Relationship to system of Varna
The Mauryan and Gupta empiresThe Mauryan and Gupta empires321 B.C.E.-550 C.E.321 B.C.E.-550 C.E.
India Before the Mauryan DynastyIndia Before the Mauryan Dynasty
►520 BCE Persian Emperor Darius conquers north-west India
►Introduces Persian ruling pattern►327 Alexander of Macedon destroys Persian
Empire in India►Troops mutiny, departs after 2 years
Political power vacuum
Kingdom of MagadhaKingdom of Magadha
►Most significant remaining kingdom after Alexander’s departure
►Central Ganges plain►Economic strength
Agriculture Trade in Ganges valley, Bay of Bengal
►Dominated surrounding regions in north-eastern India
Chandragupta MauryaChandragupta Maurya
►Took advantage of power vacuum left by Alexander
►Overthrew Magadha rulers►Expanded kingdom to create 1st unified Indian
empire Mauryan Dynasty
Chandragupta’s GovernmentChandragupta’s Government
►Advisor Kautalya►Recorded in Arthashastra, manual of political
statecraft►Foreign policies, economics►Domestic policies
Network of spies
►Legend: Chandragupta retires to become a monk, starves himself to death
Ashoka MauryaAshoka Maurya
►Grandson of Chandragupta
►Represents high point of Mauryan Empire, r. 268-232 BCE
►Expanded empire to include all of Indian subcontinent except for south
► Positive rulership integrated Indian society
Decline of the Mauryan EmpireDecline of the Mauryan Empire
►Economic crisis follows death of Ashoka►High costs of bureaucracy, military not
supported by tax revenue►Frequent devaluations of currency to pay
salaries►Regions begin to abandon Mauryan Empire
Disappears by 185 BCE
Regional Kingdom: BactriaRegional Kingdom: Bactria
►Northwestern India►Ruled by Greek-speaking descendants of
Alexander’s campaigns►Intense cultural activity accompanies active
trade
Regional Kingdom: KushRegional Kingdom: Kush
►Northern India/Central Asia►C. 1-300 CE►Maintained silk road network
The Gupta DynastyThe Gupta Dynasty
►Based in Magadha►Founded by Chandra Gupta (no relation to
Chandragupta Maurya), c. 320 CE►Slightly smaller than Mauryan Empire►Highly decentralized leadership
Gupta DeclineGupta Decline
►Frequent invasions of White Huns, 5th c. CE►Gupta Dynasty disintegrates along regional
fault lines►Smaller local kingdoms dominate until
Mughal Empire founded in 16th c.
Trade in the Indian Ocean BasinTrade in the Indian Ocean Basin
►Seasonal sea trade expands Spring/winter winds blow from south-west,
fall/winter winds blow from north-west
►Trade from Asia to Persian Gulf and Red Sea, Mediterranean
Trade in the Indian Ocean BasinTrade in the Indian Ocean Basin
►Seasonal sea trade expands Spring/winter winds blow from south-west,
fall/winter winds blow from north-west
►Trade from Asia to Persian Gulf and Red Sea, Mediterranean
Society: Gender RelationsSociety: Gender Relations
►Patriarchy entrenched►Child marriage common (8 year old girls
married to men in 20s)►Women encouraged to remain in private
sphere
JainismJainism
►Vardhamana Mahavira, 540-468 BCE►Abandoned privileged family to lead ascetic
life►Promotes 7th c. movement based on
Upanishads►Emphasis on selfless living, concern for all
beings
AhimsaAhimsa
►Principle of extreme non-violence►Jainists sweep earth, strain water, use slow
movements to avoid killing insects►Ahimsa continues to inspire modern
movements (Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr.)
Early BuddhismEarly Buddhism
►Siddhartha Gautama, c. 563-483 BCE►Encountered age, sickness, death, then
monastic life►Abandoned comfortable life to become a monk
The Buddha and his FollowersThe Buddha and his Followers
►Begins teaching new doctrine c. 528 BCE►Followers owned only robes, food bowls►Life of wandering, begging, meditation►Establishment of monastic communities
Buddhist Doctrine: The DharmaBuddhist Doctrine: The Dharma
►The Four Noble Truths all life is suffering there is an end to suffering removing desire removes suffering this may be done through the eight-fold path
(right views, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration)
Ashoka’s Support of BuddhismAshoka’s Support of Buddhism
►Personal conversion to Buddhism►Disillusioned after violent war with Kalinga►Banned animal sacrifices, mandated
vegetarianism in court►Material support for Buddhist institutions,
missionary activities
Changes in Buddhist thoughtChanges in Buddhist thought
►3rd c. BCE – 1st c. CE Buddha considered divine Institution of Boddhisatvas (“saints”) Charitable donations to monasteries regarded as
pious activity
Spread of Mahayana BuddhismSpread of Mahayana Buddhism
►Mahayana (“greater vehicle”), newer development India, China, Japan, Korea, central Asia
►Hinayana (“lesser vehicle,” also Theravada), earlier version Ceylon, Burma, Thailand
Emergence of Popular HinduismEmergence of Popular Hinduism
►Composition of epics from older oral traditions Mahabharata Ramayana
►Emphasis on god Vishnu and his incarnations
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