Chapter 4 Early Civilizations in South Asia

Geography of South Asia Geographic Diversity --> Cultural Diversity Himalayan Mountains Himalayan Mountains Hindu-Kush Mts Hindu-Kush Mts Indus River Indus River Ganges River Ganges River Indian Ocean Indian Ocean Deccan Plateau Deccan Plateau Monsoons Monsoons Dry Dry Wet Wet

3 Harappan Society Challenges of Study Much of remains are inaccessible Unable to decipher written records Impact of Geography Indus River Unpredictable but critical Agriculture: Wheat, Barley Domestication: Sheep, Goats, Chicken

4 Complex Cities Harappa and Mohenho Daro Economic, Political and Cultural Centers What do the cities tell us about society? - City Walls - Citadel - Granary - Marketplaces - Temples - Urban Planning - Precise Grid - Indoor Plumbing - Sewage - Public Baths - Residential Districts - Standardized Weights and Measures

Harappa Overview of the north-south oriented brick wall (Feature 50) and doorway of the large Harappan building in Trench 39N. Note the earlier drain that runs east-west underneath the wall.

Harappa Early Drainage System An additional six copies of these tablets, again all with the same inscriptions, were found elsewhere in the debris outside of perimeter wall [250] including two near the group of 16 and two in debris between the perimeter and curtain walls. Here all 22 tablets are displayed together with a unicorn intaglio seal from the Period 3B street inside the perimeter wall, which has two of the same signs as those found on the tablets

Mohenjo-Daro

Mohenjo-Daro Granary and Great Bath

Mohenjo-Daro The central ornament worn on the forehead of the famous "priest-king" sculpture from Mohenjo-daro appears to represent an eye bead, possibly made of gold with steatite inlay in the center Jewelry from the Indus Valley Civilization

Trade Cotton Textile Industry Cotton Textile Industry Imports: Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead, Gems and Semiprecious stones Imports: Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead, Gems and Semiprecious stones Exports: Cotton, Copper, Ivory, Pearls and Semiprecious stones, Timber Exports: Cotton, Copper, Ivory, Pearls and Semiprecious stones, Timber Trading Partners: Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia, Anatolia Trading Partners: Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia, Anatolia

11 Early Harappan Religion Polytheistic Strong Connection to Government Importance of Fertility Many gods survive in Hindu Pantheon 11

12 Harappan Decline Gradual decline Ecological Degradation Deforestation --> Desertification Possible Geographic Catastrophe 12

Indo European Migrations The Aryans - More Pastoral Than Agricultural + role of iron - Cattle = Wealth - No Writing Political Structure - Chiefdoms  Regional Kingdoms Social Structure - Very Rigid - Lawbook of Manu - PATRIARCHAL (Ritual of Sati)

Religion in the Vedic Age ( BCE) HINDUISM HINDUISM Fusion of Aryan and Dravidian Beliefs Fusion of Aryan and Dravidian Beliefs Reincarnation/Karma/Dharma Reincarnation/Karma/Dharma Brahman - Moksha Brahman - Moksha ETHICS ETHICS Ritual Sacrifices Ritual Sacrifices

Evolution of Religious Beliefs/Practices Brahman – Moksha Brahman – Moksha Upanishads Upanishads Increased Spirituality Increased Spirituality Asceticism + Meditation Asceticism + Meditation Caste System Caste System Rigid Social Class Structure Rigid Social Class Structure Changed Over Time Changed Over Time Evolves with Society Evolves with Society Led to Great Social Stability Led to Great Social Stability

Shiva as Nataraja

Brahma

Vishnu

AUM

“All is Well”