Indus Valley Civilization Ancient Roots Indus Valley Civilization

Indus Valley Civilization Ancient Roots

Indus Valley Civilization a Primary Phase Culture n little or no continuity with the following cultures n forgotten until the 19 th Century n – rediscovered by the British

Harappan Culture n Indus valley – – n not desert well-watered and heavily forested 500 miles along the river valley – 10 -20 times larger than Mesopotamia or Egypt

Hydraulic Culture like Egypt and Mesopotamia n agriculture and flood-control n significant industry and trade n cities very common n

Lack of Sources n literate culture – – – we cannot read the writing on bricks and seals did not use paper or clay tablets

Reasonable generalizations rapid development: early 2, 000 s B. C. n roughly contemporary with Egypt and Mesopotamia n early village culture n changing rapidly to urban civilization n

Generalizations, con’t cities dominated both economic and political activity n origins of the people are unclear n – similar to the Mediterranean type

Major Cities n Harappa and Mohenjo-daro – surrounded by smaller cities, towns, and villages one situated in the north n one situated in the south n

Cities, con’t uniform culture over a wide area n cities built on a common plan n – a grid: always NS and EW axes » – with twelve smaller grids kiln-dried bric

Monumental architecture very-large scale building n walled cites, with fortified citadels n always on the same scale n palaces, temples n

Architecture, con’t large grain storage facilities near temples n a theocracy ? ? n planned economy n

Cities very densely populated n houses: two to three stories n every house is laid out the same n

Culture and Society advanced agriculture n surplus production n textiles: wool and cotton n domesticated animals and fish n

Bronze Age technology no swords n spears and bows n stone arrow heads n

Society dominated by priests ? n from the fortified palaces and temples ? n power base: fertility ? n deities: male and female, both nude n bull worship and phallic symbols n

Trade with lower Mesopotamia n but gradually declined n

Decline n domination of an indigenous people ? – who rebelled ? foreign invasion? n gradual decline ? n

Combination of Changes climate shift: the monsoon patterns n flooding n destruction of the forests n migrations of new peoples: the Aryans n

The Aryan Invasions Indus civilization on the verge of collapse n about 1500 B. C. n settlement by a nomadic people n – the Aryans

The Aryans not to be confused with Hitler’s “Aryans” n not a “race” n “race” is a 19 th century idea n – an incorrect way of thinking of people

The Aryans, con’t they called themselves “Aryans” n their land: “Aryavarta” n – land of the Aryans

Gradual settlement over a long period of time n gradual infiltration n more primitive than the earlier culture n

Settlement, con’t new society by 1, 200 B. C. or so n little evidence n not literate n no record system n

Oral Tradition passed down from priests and singers n written down in the 500’s n The Vedas n – “Veda” means “knowledge”

The Vedas n our primary source – – n early Aryan tradition later Hindu religion four “vedas” – the Rig Veda

The Vedas oral poetry n come to have a sacred character n provide some historical information n

The Aryans restless, warlike people n tall, blue-eyed, fair-skinned n describe the indigenous population as n – short, black, noseless, and slaves

The Aryans, con’t originally pastoralists n family, clan, tribe (typical Indo-Europeans) n eventually settled down to farming n living in villages n

The Aryans, con’t villages and kingdoms constantly fighting n warchiefs and kings n aristocrats and freemen n

The Aryans, con’t n fond of fighting, drinking, chariot racing, gambling chasing women and bragging – n any modern comparisons ? ? ? fond of taking soma – – a psychedelic drug probably psychotropic mushrooms

Aryans and Hindus Aryans give rise to Hindu society n but different characteristics n – – – n cows: they ate them classes, but no castes priests subordinate to the nobility the Mahabharata

The Iron Age: new sources the Vedas: passed on orally n the Brahamanas: interpretations on the Vedas n the Upanishads: interpretations and symbolic studies n – forerunners of later dissenting literature

Strain of change Iron Age change causes strain on the class system n blurring of lines between Aryans and Daas n – answered with the caste system

Caste System skin color n ritual purity n “Us vs. Them” feelings n divine order of four castes n

Caste System (“Varnas”) Brahmins: the priests n Kshatriyas: the warriors n Vaisyas: merchants and peasants n Sudras: non-Aryans n

Caste system, con’t produced by Brahmins n literature emphasized the divine order n hierarchical relationship n inheritance and marriage n

Caste system in practice warrior class did not always accept it n nor the other classes n the process of evolution is still going on n the most powerful organizer of Indian society n – thousand of castes today

Castes define a person’s social universe n define a person’s standard of conduct n define a person’s expectations n define a person’s future n define how a person deals with others n