harappan society and its neighbors, ca. 2000 b.c.e
TRANSCRIPT
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