Ch. 4

Harappan Society

Foundations of Harappan Society The Indus River Political Organization Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro Specialized Labor & Trade Less predictable Agriculture possible In N. India Wheat & barley Cotton Agricultural surplus Led to pop. Growth to Cities & spec. labor No evidence of Harappan political System Economic & Political centers for Their own regions City walls Fortified citadel Granary Political authority Centers Collection/redistribution Of taxes in grain Marketplaces Temples Residential cities Streets Standardization:weights, Measures, brick size, Architectural design throughout Trade: domestic & foreign Export: pottery, Tools, decorative Items Import: gold, silver, Copper, lead, gems Traded with: Persia, Mesopotamia, Hindu Kush

 1. What do you think standardization infers about Harappan society?

Harappan Society and Culture Social DistinctionsHarappan Decline Fertility Cults No palaces, tombs Rulers ruled from A citadel Rich & poor had Different lifestyles From 1 bedroom Tenements to 2/3 Story houses w/several Rooms, courtyards Rich had wells and brick ovens Private bathrooms/ Showers Water/sewer systems very Advanced Representational art Gold, copper & Bronze experts Concern for Fertility Venerated gods/goddesses Associated w/creation & Procreation Animals & trees sacred due To association of vital forces Similarities w/Harappan & Hindu Deities. 1900bce decline Theory: ecological Degradation (deforestation For cultivation & firewood)

 2. Why do you think Harappan society was able to have such technological advancements (ex. Brick ovens, sewer systems)?  3. Why do you think Harappans maintained a closeness with the idea of fertility cults?

The Indo-European Migrations and Early Aryan India

The Aryans and India The Early Aryans The Vedas The Vedic Age limited agriculture pastoral economy (sheep, goats) Horses a commodity and imported Horse used to facilitate transportation and chariots Cattle=wealth Songs and poems. Preservation through memorization and oral transmission Collection of hymns, songs, prayers & rituals honored Aryan Gods Rig Veda-1028 hymns addressed to Aryan gods priestly perspective on affairs Veda means “wisdom”/ “knowledge”; needed to carry out priestly functions Dravidians and others living in India. indigenous people dasas “enemies”/“subject people”. Indra=Aryan war god Intermittent conflicts w/Dravidians Aryans fought amongst themselves No state or common gov’t, but chiefdoms. Rajas=chiefdom leaders

The Aryans and India Cont’d Aryan Migrations in IndiaChanging Political Organizations Settled in Punjab Est. communities through east sub- continent Make iron tools (cultivate, food surplus Support large communities agricultural communities Cultivated rice well defined social order Hereditary distinctions between individuals & groups according to their roles & occupation in society Foundation of caste system Caste =social class of heredity, usually unchangeable status

 4. Compare and Contrast Dravidians and Aryans.

Origins of the Caste System Caste & Varna Social Distinctions In the Late Vedic Age Subcastes & Jati Caste & Social Mobility Developed slowly And gradually Interactions w/ Dravidians led to refine social distinctions Varna=color Social distinctions Arose partly from Complexion Aryans & Dravidians mixed, mingled, intermarried, became difficult to distinguish Social distinction on Ancestry 4 main varnas: 1)brahmins (priests), 2)kshatriyas (warriors &aristocrats), 3)vaishyas (cultivators, artisans &merchants), 4) sudras (landless peasants & serfs) Untouchables= dirty or unpleasant tasks Varnas as a part of the creation of the early days Elaborate social Classification jati=people working at the same or similar tasks in a given area belong to the same subcaste Offspring joined Occupation & Membership Jati members Cared for each other rules and specific behavior Breaking jati rules could result in expulsion from the larger group Accommodated social change Higher castes members Could moved down socially Based more on groups than Individuals Social mobility eased tensions Allowance of foreigners in The system

 5. Do you think the varna would have developed into the caste system had the Aryans and Dravidians never interacted?  6. Why do you think that the jati had to move up as a group and could not move up individually?

Development of a Patriarchal Society The Lawbook of Manu Sati Women under authority of man Law Book dealt w/moral behavior & social relationships Respect & honor women, but women subject to guidance of man Woman’s duty according to the book was to bear children and maintain their homes. Widows voluntarily throws themselves on the funeral pyre of deceased husband to join him in death b. this ritual esp. for socially prominent women to show devotion to husbands

 7. Why do you think that sati was only for prominent women?

Religion in the Vedic Age

Aryan Religion Aryan Gods Ritual Sacrifices Spirituality Indra=war deity, chief deity Associated with weather, rain to water the crops Other deities, but Indra represents instability in early Vedic Age Varuna-sky god, oversaw behavior of mortal and preserved cosmic order Rituals more important than ethical concerns Believed gods came down to earth to join them in rituals Felt that sacrifice& pleasing gods would lead to military success, large families, long life & abundant herds Tired of sacrificial rituals (no real communication w/gods) Inspired by Dravidian connections w/natural spirits Believed human souls took on new physical forms after death (transmigration and reincarnation) idea that you could come back as a plant or animal or associate w/another body through a new birth

 8. Why do you think that the Aryan religion shifted from ritual sacrifice to more spirituality?

Blending of Aryan and Dravidian Values The Upanishads Brahman The Universal Soul Teachings of Upanishads Religious & Vedic Society a body of work ( bce) that refers to the practice of disciples gathering before a sage for discussion of religious issues Appearances are deceiving, we are not separate autonomous creatures We are a part of a larger cosmic order a universal soul, Brahman Brahman is eternal, unchanging, permanent foundations for all things Individuals souls were born into the physical world several times Highest goal of the soul was to escape the cycle of birth & rebirth enter into union with Brahman Samsara- souls go to the World of the fathers, return to earth in new incarnation Karma-live virtuous lives,fulfill duties expect rebirth more honorable existence, Did not fulfill duties,rebirth would be a harsher existence Moskha-deep, dreamless sleep,liberation from physical incarnation Yoga helps to concentrate on Brahman and relationship w/the soul Samsara and karma explain why individual were born into social groups Upanishads discourage all manner of vice that indicated attachment to the material world Encourage personal integrity and respect for all living things

 9. Why do you think Upanishads encouraged a detachment from material things?