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Early Societies in South Asia
Chapter 4 Early Societies in South Asia Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Harappan Society and Its Neighbors, ca. 2000 B.C.E.
Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Foundations of Harappan Society
Indus River Silt-enriched water from mountain ranges Complex society emerged 3000–2500 B.C.E. Cultivation of cotton before 5000 B.C.E., early cultivation of poultry Decline after 1900 B.C.E. Major cities: Harappa (Punjab region) and Mohenjo-daro (mouth of Indus River) About 1,500 settlements found Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
Population of Mohenjo-Daro: 35,000–40,000 Population of Harappa slightly smaller Common features: City walls, fortified citadels, large granaries Marketplaces, temples, public buildings, residences, and streets on a grid Standardized weights, measures, architectural styles evident throughout region Specialized labor and trade Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Harappan Society and Culture
Evidence of social stratification Dwelling sizes, decorations Harappan civilization: influence on later Indian culture Statues, figurines, and illustrations reflect tradition of art and metallurgy Venerated goddesses of fertility Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Harappan Decline Reasons for disappearance unclear
Excessive deforestation, loss of topsoil Possibly earthquakes, flooding Evidence of unburied dead Almost complete collapse by 1500 B.C.E. Harappan traditions survived Agricultural practices, religious beliefs, urban traditions Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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The Early Aryans Pastoral economy: sheep, goats, horses, cattle
Cattle not sacred until many centuries later Religious and literary works: the Vedas Sanskrit: sacred language Prakrit: everyday language, evolved into Hindi, Bengali, Urdu Four Vedas (wisdom), most important Rig Veda 1,028 hymns to Aryan gods Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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The Vedic Age Conflicts between Aryans and indigenous dasas (“enemies” or “subject peoples”) Conflict but also friendly relations with Dravidians Aryans fighting amongst themselves Chiefdoms led by Rajas Early concentration in Punjab, later east and south Development of iron metallurgy Increasing reliance on agriculture Tribal connections evolved into political structures Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Caste and Varna Caste system’s origins in domination of Dravidians
Brahmins, priests Kshatriyas, warriors or aristocrats Vaishyas, cultivators, artisans, merchants Shudras, landless peasants, serfs “Untouchables” Jati system of subcastes Related to urbanization, increasing social and economic complexity Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Development of Patriarchal Society
Aryans constructed strongly patriarchal social order based on gender distinctions Stood alongside caste system and varna hierarchy Enforced in Lawbook of Manu Women to be subject to fathers, husbands, sons Women’s most important duties to bear children and maintain wholesome homes Practice of sati Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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Aryan Religion Major deity of Rig Veda: Indra, war god
Elaborate ritual sacrifices to gods Role of brahmins important From about 800 B.C.E., some movement away from sacrificial cults Mystical thought, influenced by Dravidians Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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The Upanishads Texts represent blending of Aryan and Dravidian traditions Composed 800–400 B.C.E., some later collections until fifteenth century B.C.E. Brahman: the universal soul Samsara: reincarnation Karma: accounting for incarnations Moksha: mystical ecstasy Relationship to system of Varna Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of McGraw-Hill Education.
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