1. Early Societies in South Asia
Chapter 4
Early Societies in South Asia

2. What is a civilization and what are defining characteristics of a civilization? How did they develop and grow more complex before 600 BCE? What were the effects of this increasing complexity?
The society, culture, and way of life in a particular area
No evidence of political or imperial authority in the Harappan
Harappan society had generated wealth because of their professional jobs
After 1900 BCE, Harappan society began to collapse
By 1500 BCE, nomadic people called the Aryans arrived
The Aryans depended heavily on pastoral economy
Aryans had formal political institutions
Aryans established a patriarchal social order
The Aryans took religion very seriously from gods to ritual sacrifices

3. 2. Where did the early civilization of your chapter develop (geography) and why did they develop in those locations?
Harappan society developed in Mesopotamia and Egypt
Developed near the Indus river for easy access to water for crops
Aryans developed throughout northern India
We don’t know the real reasons for the Aryans migrations

4. 3. What is a state. Who ruled over these early states
3. What is a state? Who ruled over these early states? Which segments of society usually supported the ruler?
A state is a politically organized body of people usually occupying a definite territory
The Harappan had two chiefs
The rich would favor the chiefs because they had more privileges
The Aryans were nomadic and traveled throughout India

5. 4. Was your state able to expand & conquer neighboring states
4. Was your state able to expand & conquer neighboring states? Why/Why not?
The Harappan expanded from the Indus river to Mesopotamia and Egypt
They did not conquer any neighboring states
The Aryans didn’t have a state but they most likely clashed with the Dravidians going through the Indo-European migrations

6. 5. What role did the pastoral civilizations play in regards to building empires in your chapter?
-agriculture in India increased, domesticated flocks of chicken
-the increase led to the development of temples, marketplaces, public buildings in Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
-the pastoral civilization led to increase in trade which contributed to building large architectural styles

7. 6. How did culture play a role in unifying populations?
The Harappa and Mohenjo-daro cities shaped the larger society from architectural styles, that stretched out the Harappan society
The wealthy cities influenced all parts of the Harappa
The Aryans had collections of religious and literary works orally to their sacred language
Vedas was a collection of hymns, songs, prayers and rituals
Aryans developed the caste system which organized them into well- defined groups, which were social groups (priests, warriors and aristocrats, merchants, artisans, peasants)

8. 7. What architectural forms produced?
The Happaran Society developed city sewage systems
Harappa and Mohenjo Daro had city walls, fortified citadel and a large granary
Both cities had temples, public buildings, broad streets, and marketplaces

9. 8. Which social class encouraged the development of art?
The Harappan society had statues, figurines, and illustrations that were carved onto seals
Also experts in metallurgy, involving bronze, gold, and copper

10. 9. What form of writing developed?
In the Harappan society no writing was found except for 400 symbols to represent sounds and words
The symbols were thousands of clay seals, and copper tablets
The early Aryans contained no writing
Aryans developed orally transmitted works called Vedas
Vedas contained hymns, songs, prayers, rituals

11. 10. What was the relationship between literature and culture in your ancient civilization?
-the Lawbook of Manu, which was written after the Vedic age showed:
-proper behavior and social relationships that included sex and relationships
-encouraged men to treat women with respect, but women must stay under the authority of men
-the book reflected the society constructed under the Aryan influence

12. 11.What pre-600 BCE religions strongly influenced later eras?
-Aryan and Dravidians set the base for Hinduism which is popular today in India
-Religious values in India reflected in Mesopotamia,Egypt,and other lands
-Aryan and Dravidians later composed Upanishad which held doctrines known today as samsara and karma
-Upanishad influenced Indians on nature and ethical standards

13. 12.What trade routes and outside peoples did your early civilization utilize?
-used Harappa and Mohenjo-daro all the way to the Indus Valley
-some may have traded through the Iranian plateau, but mostly by ship on the coastline of the Arabian Sea between the Indus River and the Persian Gulf
-neighboring people were in Persia and the Hindu Kush mountains
-Harappans traded with Mesopotamians which included exchanging Indian copper, beads, ivory and stones

14. 13.How did social and gender identities develop pre-600 BCE in your early civilization?
-the poor and riched lived different lifestyles.From where they slept to food they ate
-In Mohenjo-daro people lived in one room tenements
- larger houses had their own wells brick ovens, multiple rooms bathrooms,etc
-gender roles showed how men were in charge
-men could only inherit properties
-women did not learn the Vedas and were not formally educated
- women were under the authority of men

15. Isabella Alzamora
Cynthia Dam
Briana Ruelas
Period 6