1. Ancient Indian Civilization and Society
Global Studies I
Ancient Indian Civilization and Society

2. India’s First Civilizations
Harapa and Mohenjo-Daro
Broad streets, walled neighborhoods, public wells and sewage pits

3. India’s First Civilizations
Rulers and the Economy
Power based on belief in divine assistance
Religion and political power closely linked
Royal palace and temple combined
Economy based on farming and extensive trade

4. Arrival of the Aryans Who were the Aryans?
Indo-Europeans that invaded India
Eventually settled along the Ganges River

5. Arrival of the Aryans Aryan Ways of Life
Pastoral people with a strong warrior tradition
Gave up pastoral life to become farmers in India
Developed their first writing system, known as Sanskrit, around 1000 BC
Governed by Aryan princes called rajas

6. Society in Ancient India
India’s System
Caste system
a rigid set of social classes
Determined one’s occupation, economic potential, and position in society
Based, in part, on skin color

7. peasants with limited rights
The Caste System
Brahmans
priests
Kshatriyas
warriors
Vaisyas
Commoners/Merchants
Sudras
peasants with limited rights
Untouchables

8. Untouchables Given menial and degrading tasks 5% of India’s population
not treated as humans
harmful presence
lived in separate areas away from society

9. The Family in Ancient India
Extended family; patriarchal
Men
Could inherit property
Educated
Could take a second wife if first was infertile

10. The Family in Ancient India
Women
Marriages arranged by parents
Suttee required a wife to throw herself onto her dead husband’s flaming funeral pyre.