Development of Indus River Valley Civilization Importance of

Development of Indus River Valley Civilization Importance of ideological control of a populace

INDUS RIVER VALLEY

IMPORTANT GEOGRAPHY Protected by mtns to the north Dependent on monsoons for their weather (monsoon = seasonal wind) Indus River was very unpredictable

HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION (emerged around 2600 BC) • EARLIEST EXAMPLE OF INDIAN CULTURE • URBAN SOCIETY – VERY COMPLEX • NO LARGE MONUMENTAL ARCHITECTURE (NO EVIDENCE OF PALACES OR TEMPLES) • FIRST INDOOR SANITATION SYSTEMS • STANDARD WEIGHTS AND MEASURES • BY 1700 BC, THEY HAD DISAPPEARED

HARAPPA

MOHENJA - DARO

SOAPSTONE TRADING SEALS

OTHER INDIAN CULTURES �CEMETERY H CULTURE (cremation, breakdown of trade networks) �GANDHARA CULTURE (terracotta figurines, simple dot designs) �OCHRE COLOURED POTTERY CULTURE (may be the last remains of Harappan culture or entirely separate – who knows? )

CEMETERY H CULTURE OCHRE COLOURED POTTERY

GANDHARA

VEDIC PERIOD EMERGED AROUND 1700 BC ASSOCIATED WITH THE ARYAN INVASIONS OF INDIA VEDAS WERE THEIR SACRED LITERATURE ARYANS - tall, light skinned, different language, no writing, heroic gods, wealth = cows DASAS – dark skinned, town dwellers, lifegiving gods

DEVELOPMENT OF THE CASTES Brahmins (priests) - MOUTH Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors) – ARMS Vaishyas (peasants and traders) – LEGS Shudras (laborers) – FEET “Untouchables” Made impure because of their work (grave diggers, butchers, trash collectors)

BRAHMINS KSHATRIYAS VAISHYAS S A R UD SH UNTOUCHABLES (NOT PICTURED)

Empires of the Indian Sub-continent

Mauryan Empire (321 – 184 BC) �Chandragupta Maurya Raised a large army due to heavy taxes Defeated the Macedonians and united the Indian subcontinent by the age of 20 Bureaucracy – modeled after the Persians �Asoka Devout Buddhist – promoted religion & tolerance Benevolent ruler Extensive public works builder (roads, rest stops)

Extent of Chandragupta’s Power

Gupta Empire (AD 320 – 535) �Founded by Chandra Gupta I who was not related to Chandragupta Maurya � 1 st three emperors of this empire saw great achievements in art, literature, and religion �The Guptas extended control to the western coast of India, thus enabling maritime trade with the Mediterranean

Indian Culture �Writing academies �Traveling drama groups �Astronomy �Seven day week �Invented zero and calculated pi (π) �Middlemen along the Silk Road �Rise in banking