1. Ch. 4.1
Ancient India

2. BR: 10/5/16
HW Reminder: turn in your Hieroglyphic HO and anything else that may be late!
Which of the previous civilizations that we have studied would be your favorite to live in? Explain.

3. Geography of India
India is a large land mass, much like China, with varied climates and habitats.
In the Northwest, you’ll find the fertile Indus River Valley, where the first civilization arose in India.
To the east are the Himalayas, and south of those the Ganges river valley. It’s a very rich and wonderful land, so it should be no surprise that one of the earliest civilizations developed here.
One of the most important part of the geography of India is the monsoon season. VID

4. Beginnings of Civilization
The Indus Valley aka Harappan Civilization began roughly 5000 BCE. Vid
Cities and towns developed around BCE, about the same time as in Mesopotamia, and that they traded with each other.
We aren’t sure if they were independent city-states like in Mesopotamia, or united like in Egypt, because we can’t understand their writing…but they invented it themselves.

5. Main Cities:
The two most influential of the cities were Harappa and Mojenjo Daro. VID The Harappan civilization was known for its very advanced city planning.
The evidence suggests they had a highly developed city life; many houses had wells and bathrooms as well as an elaborate underground drainage system.
The social conditions of the citizens were comparable to those in Sumeria and superior to the contemporary Babylonians and Egyptians. These cities display a well-planned urbanization system.

6. The Aryan Invasion / Migration
From roughly 1800 BCE-1500 BCE, the Harappan civilization declined. We aren’t exactly sure why (of all the ancient civilizations, they are one of the most mysterious).
Historians speculate that the Sarawati River (a tributary of the Indus) dried up about this time, and there is evidence of massive flooding as well. Either event would have devastated the local economy.
By 1500 BCE, a group of nomads, the Aryans, from central Asia to the north, gradually infiltrated the area, bringing with them new weapons and chariots. Are they the reason the Harappan’s fell, or were they simply taking advantage of their absence / decline? We can’t be sure.
The Vedas, a group of ancient scriptures, include some details that may tell us the truth. Ancient Scriptures (to 7 min)

7. The Vedic Period  ( BC)
Hinduism is based originally on the Vedas (hence the name of the period), ancient scriptures that originated with the Aryans in the area.
Sanskrit, the language of the Aryans, has been shown to be very similar to Latin and other ancient languages. It is part of the Indo-European language family, indicating the same origins.
The Caste system is also believed to have developed during this period, but we don’t really know. Video

8. The Caste System
If a Hindu person were asked to explain the nature of the caste system, he or she might start to tell the story of Brahma — the four-headed, four-handed deity worshipped as the creator of the universe.
According to an ancient text known as the Rigveda, the division of Indian society was based on Brahma's divine manifestation of four groups.
Priests and teachers were cast from his mouth, rulers and warriors from his arms, merchants and traders from his thighs, and workers and peasants from his feet.

9. Caste System Distinctions
In ancient India, the ranked occupational groups were referred to as varnas, and the hereditary occupational groups within the varnas were known as jatis.
Many have immediately assumed that ascribed social groups and rules prohibiting intermarriage among the groups signify the existence of a racist culture. But this assumption is false. Varnas are not racial groups but rather classes.
Four varna categories were constructed to organize society along economic and occupational lines. Spiritual leaders and teachers were called Brahmins. Warriors and nobility were called Kshatriyas. Merchants and producers were called Vaishyas. Laborers were called Sudras.

10. The Untouchables
In addition to the varnas, there is a fifth class in Hinduism. It encompassed outcasts who, literally, did all the dirty work. They were referred to as "untouchables" because they carried out the miserable tasks associated with disease and pollution, such as cleaning up after funerals, dealing with sewage, and working with animal skin.
Brahmins were considered the embodiment of purity, and untouchables the embodiment of pollution. Physical contact between the two groups was absolutely prohibited. Brahmins adhered so strongly to this rule that they felt obliged to bathe if even the shadow of an untouchable fell across them.

11. Struggling against Tradition Today
Although the political and social force of the caste system has not disappeared completely today, the Indian government has officially outlawed caste discrimination and made widespread reforms. Particularly through the efforts of Indian nationalists such as Mohandas Gandhi, rules preventing social mobility and cross-caste mingling have been loosened.
Gandhi renamed the untouchables Harijans, which means "the people of God." Adopted in 1949, the Indian Constitution provided a legal framework for the emancipation of untouchables and for the equality of all citizens. Bio
In recent years, the Untouchables have become a politically active group and have adopted for themselves the name Dalits, which means "those who have been broken.“ Though their lives are improving, much needs to improve.

12. Assignment Options: #1 & #2
HW: Group assignment, looking at Ancient Indus Artifacts.
Pick your group (no more than 4 people), and go to my website, click the assignment link, and get started!
Presenting will happen next class (with 5 minutes to prep). Good luck!