Today’s Goal

• Understand the environmental, social, political, and religious characteristics of the Indus River Valley civilization

Civilizations of Ancient Civilizations of Ancient IndiaIndia

Indus River ValleyIndus River Valley

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Aryan TransformationAryan Transformation

Geography of Indian Subcontinent

• Mountains separate from rest of Asia• Indus & Ganges Rivers• Monsoons

3300 BCE - 2400 BCE

Earliest Civilization = Harappan

Harappan Planned Cities• Levees• Grid system• Fortified citadel• Oven-baked bricks of

standard sizes

• Plumbing & sewage system• Strong central gov’t!!!

Harappan Culture• Written language not deciphered• Social divisions• No weapons• Artifacts show prosperity• Polytheistic religion

– No temples– Theocracy

• Thriving trade

Unicorn seal

Bull figurine

Decline of Harappan Civ.???

• Cities fell into decay – but why?• Possible earthquakes & floods• Over-used soil• Invasion of Aryans

Aryans & The Vedic Age Aryans & The Vedic Age (1500-500 BC)(1500-500 BC)

Goal Goal How did the Aryans How did the Aryans change early Indian society & change early Indian society &

culture? culture?

Aryans & The Vedic Age (1500-500 BC)

• Indo-Europeans• Aryan Migration

- Pastoral cattle

- Warriors chariots

The Vedas• Sacred literature – four collections of

prayers, spells, & instructions– Rig Veda hymns to Aryan

gods

The Caste System Develops

• Aryan means “noble” (Sanskrit)• Viewed themselves as superior to

native “dasas”

Varna (Social Hierarchy)

ShudrasShudras

VaishyasVaishyas

Kshatriyas Kshatriyas

Pariahs [Dalits] UntouchablesPariahs [Dalits] Untouchables

BrahminsBrahmins

The Caste System

The mouth?

The arms?

The legs?

The feet?

WHO IS…

What is a JATI?

BrahminsBrahmins

Kshatriyas

Kshatriyas

VaishyasVaishyas

ShudrasShudras

Aryan Kingdoms Arise• At first, Aryan chiefs were elected by

the entire tribe• Minor kings struggled for land & power• As a result, the major kingdom of

Magadha developed & expanded

• One of the great epics of India, “Mahabharata”- Reflects the struggles that took place in India as the Aryans expanded south

• This epic indicates that a blending of cultures between Aryans & non-Aryans was taking place

Krishna was a semi-divine hero described as “dark-faced”, and

therefore non-Aryan

Statue of Krishna