CHAPTER 4 EARLY SOCIETIES IN SOUTH ASIA

Indus River Valley Geography The Indus River The Indus River Floods twice yearly Floods twice yearly Silt-enriched water from Pamir and Himalayas mountain ranges (March and April) Silt-enriched water from Pamir and Himalayas mountain ranges (March and April) August monsoons August monsoons Punjab (five waters) feeds the main stream of the Indus Punjab (five waters) feeds the main stream of the Indus Mountains Mountains Hindu Kush (north) Hindu Kush (north) Himalayas (northeast) Himalayas (northeast) Sind Region (modern day Pakistan) Sind Region (modern day Pakistan)

Harappan society c B.C.E.

Foundations of Harappan Society Major society built by Dravidian peoples, BCE Major society built by Dravidian peoples, BCE Cultivation of cotton and agriculture before 5000 BCE Cultivation of cotton and agriculture before 5000 BCE Early cultivation of poultry Early cultivation of poultry Decline after 1900 BCE (mystery) Decline after 1900 BCE (mystery) 70 smaller sites excavated (total ~1,500) 70 smaller sites excavated (total ~1,500)

Harappan and Mohenjo-Daro Central location early society Central location early society Advanced Technology Advanced Technology Evidence of social stratification Evidence of social stratification Dwelling size, decoration Dwelling size, decoration Harappan Civilization: matriarchal? Harappan Civilization: matriarchal? Influence on later Indian culture Influence on later Indian culture Goddesses of fertility Goddesses of fertility Writing system contained more than 400 signs Writing system contained more than 400 signs most inscriptions can not be deciphered most inscriptions can not be deciphered

Harappan and Mohenjo-Daro Regional center Regional center Layout, architecture suggests public purpose Layout, architecture suggests public purpose Broad streets, citadel, pool, sewage Broad streets, citadel, pool, sewage Standardized weights evident throughout region Standardized weights evident throughout region Specialized labor Specialized labor Smaller towns on the coast engaged in trade with Sumer and areas around the Persian Gulf Smaller towns on the coast engaged in trade with Sumer and areas around the Persian Gulf Fishing communities and gathering seashells Fishing communities and gathering seashells

What does standardization tell us about early Indus Valley culture? What does standardization tell us about early Indus Valley culture?

Extensive exchange of goods within the region. Extensive exchange of goods within the region.

What does standardization tell us about early Indus Valley culture? What does standardization tell us about early Indus Valley culture? Extensive exchange of goods within the region. Extensive exchange of goods within the region. Strong central authority (regional) Strong central authority (regional)

Decline of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro Abandoned 1900 BCE Abandoned 1900 BCE The cause is not known. The cause is not known. Speculation Speculation Cultural Breakdown Cultural Breakdown Natural Disasters Natural Disasters Geographical Impact Geographical Impact Resort to village based lifestyle Resort to village based lifestyle Farming and herding increase Farming and herding increase Lack of interaction Lack of interaction Lack of leadership Lack of leadership Elites merge with common population. Elites merge with common population.

ARYAN INVASION Aryans (noble), lighter-skinned invaders from the north Aryans (noble), lighter-skinned invaders from the north Migrated into northwest India c B.C.E. Migrated into northwest India c B.C.E. Vedic Age (1500 – 500 B.C.E.) Vedic Age (1500 – 500 B.C.E.) Dravidians (also called Dasas), darker-skinned sedentary inhabitants of Harappa Dravidians (also called Dasas), darker-skinned sedentary inhabitants of Harappa Early conflict Early conflict Caste (Varna) Caste (Varna) Color Bias Color Bias Socio-Economic Implications Socio-Economic Implications Difficulty of theory: no evidence of large-scale military conquest Difficulty of theory: no evidence of large-scale military conquest

Varna: The Caste System Origins in Aryan domination of Dravidians Origins in Aryan domination of Dravidians Brahmin, Priest Brahmin, Priest Kshatriya, Warrior Kshatriya, Warrior Vaishya, Merchant Vaishya, Merchant Sudra, Commoner Sudra, Commoner Harijan: “Untouchables; Pariahs” Harijan: “Untouchables; Pariahs” Jati subsystem of castes Jati subsystem of castes Related to urbanization, increasing social and economic complexity Related to urbanization, increasing social and economic complexity

The Early Aryans Pastoral economy: sheep, goats, horses, cattle Pastoral economy: sheep, goats, horses, cattle Vegetarianism not widespread until many centuries later Vegetarianism not widespread until many centuries later Religious and Literary works: The Vedas Religious and Literary works: The Vedas Sanskrit: sacred tongue Sanskrit: sacred tongue Prakrit: everyday language, evolved into Hindi, Urdu, Bengali Prakrit: everyday language, evolved into Hindi, Urdu, Bengali Four Vedas, most important Rig Veda Four Vedas, most important Rig Veda 1,028 hymms to gods 1,028 hymms to gods

Aryan Religion Major deity of Rig Veda: Indra, war god Major deity of Rig Veda: Indra, war god Elaborate ritual sacrifices to gods Elaborate ritual sacrifices to gods Role of Brahmins important Role of Brahmins important C. 800 BCE some movement away from sacrificial cults C. 800 BCE some movement away from sacrificial cults Mystical thought, influenced by Dravidians Mystical thought, influenced by Dravidians

Patriarchy in Ancient Indian Society “rule of the father” “rule of the father” Enforced in the The Lawbook of Manu Enforced in the The Lawbook of Manu Overwhelmed Harappan matriarchy? Overwhelmed Harappan matriarchy? Caste, Jati, inherited through male line Caste, Jati, inherited through male line

Teachings of the Upanishads Texts that represent blending of Aryan and Dravidian traditions Texts that represent blending of Aryan and Dravidian traditions Composed BCE, some later collections until 13 th century CE Composed BCE, some later collections until 13 th century CE Brahman: the Universal Soul Brahman: the Universal Soul Samsara: reincarnation Samsara: reincarnation Karma: accounting for incarnations Karma: accounting for incarnations Moksha: mystical ecstacy Moksha: mystical ecstacy Relationship to system of Varna Relationship to system of Varna