Indus Valley Civilization Ancient Roots

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Society n 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

Trade n with lower Mesopotamia n but gradually declined

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Caste system in practice n 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 – thousand of castes today

Castes n 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