CHAPTER 4CHAPTER 4

EARLY SOCIETIES INEARLY SOCIETIES IN

SOUTH ASIASOUTH ASIA

Indus River Valley GeographyIndus River Valley Geography

The Indus RiverThe Indus River Floods twice yearlyFloods twice yearly

Silt-enriched water from Pamir and Himalayas Silt-enriched water from Pamir and Himalayas mountain ranges (March and April)mountain ranges (March and April)

August monsoonsAugust monsoons Punjab (five waters) feeds the main stream of the IndusPunjab (five waters) feeds the main stream of the Indus

MountainsMountains Hindu Kush (north)Hindu Kush (north) Himalayas (northeast)Himalayas (northeast) Sind Region (modern day Pakistan)Sind Region (modern day Pakistan)

Harappan society c. 2000 B.C.E.Harappan society c. 2000 B.C.E.

Foundations of Harappan Foundations of Harappan SocietySociety

Major society built by Dravidian peoples, 3000-Major society built by Dravidian peoples, 3000-2500 BCE2500 BCE Cultivation of cotton and agriculture before Cultivation of cotton and agriculture before

5000 BCE 5000 BCE Early cultivation of poultryEarly cultivation of poultry Decline after 1900 BCE (mystery)Decline after 1900 BCE (mystery) 70 smaller sites excavated (total ~1,500)70 smaller sites excavated (total ~1,500)

Harappan and Mohenjo-DaroHarappan and Mohenjo-Daro

Central location early societyCentral location early society Advanced TechnologyAdvanced Technology Evidence of social stratificationEvidence of social stratification

Dwelling size, decorationDwelling size, decoration Harappan Civilization: matriarchal?Harappan Civilization: matriarchal?

Influence on later Indian cultureInfluence on later Indian culture Goddesses of fertilityGoddesses of fertility Writing system contained more than 400 signs Writing system contained more than 400 signs

most inscriptions can not be decipheredmost inscriptions can not be deciphered

Harappan and Mohenjo-DaroHarappan and Mohenjo-Daro Regional centerRegional center

Layout, architecture suggests public purposeLayout, architecture suggests public purpose Broad streets, citadel, pool, sewageBroad streets, citadel, pool, sewage

Standardized weights evident throughout regionStandardized weights evident throughout region Specialized laborSpecialized labor Smaller towns on the coast engaged in trade Smaller towns on the coast engaged in trade

with Sumer and areas around the Persian Gulfwith Sumer and areas around the Persian Gulf Fishing communities and gathering seashellsFishing communities and gathering seashells

What does standardization tell us about early What does standardization tell us about early Indus Valley culture?Indus Valley culture?

What does standardization tell us about early What does standardization tell us about early Indus Valley culture?Indus Valley culture? Extensive exchange of goods within the Extensive exchange of goods within the

region.region.

What does standardization tell us about early What does standardization tell us about early Indus Valley culture?Indus Valley culture? Extensive exchange of goods within the Extensive exchange of goods within the

region.region. Strong central authority (regional)Strong central authority (regional)

Decline of Harappa and Decline of Harappa and Mohenjo-DaroMohenjo-Daro

Abandoned 1900 BCEAbandoned 1900 BCE The cause is not known.The cause is not known. SpeculationSpeculation

Cultural BreakdownCultural Breakdown Natural DisastersNatural Disasters Geographical ImpactGeographical Impact

Resort to village based lifestyleResort to village based lifestyle Farming and herding increaseFarming and herding increase

Lack of interactionLack of interaction Lack of leadershipLack of leadership Elites merge with common population.Elites merge with common population.

ARYAN INVASIONARYAN INVASION Aryans (noble), lighter-skinned invaders from the northAryans (noble), lighter-skinned invaders from the north

Migrated into northwest India c. 1500 B.C.E. Migrated into northwest India c. 1500 B.C.E. Vedic Age (1500 – 500 B.C.E.) Vedic Age (1500 – 500 B.C.E.)

Dravidians (also called Dasas), darker-skinned sedentary Dravidians (also called Dasas), darker-skinned sedentary inhabitants of Harappainhabitants of Harappa

Early conflictEarly conflict Caste (Varna)Caste (Varna)

Color BiasColor Bias Socio-Economic ImplicationsSocio-Economic Implications Difficulty of theory: no evidence of large-scale military Difficulty of theory: no evidence of large-scale military

conquestconquest

Varna:Varna: The Caste System The Caste System

Origins in Aryan domination of DravidiansOrigins in Aryan domination of Dravidians Brahmin, PriestBrahmin, Priest Kshatriya, WarriorKshatriya, Warrior Vaishya, MerchantVaishya, Merchant Sudra, CommonerSudra, Commoner Harijan: “Untouchables; Pariahs”Harijan: “Untouchables; Pariahs”

Jati subsystem of castesJati subsystem of castes Related to urbanization, increasing social and economic Related to urbanization, increasing social and economic

complexitycomplexity

The Early AryansThe Early Aryans

Pastoral economy: sheep, goats, horses, cattlePastoral economy: sheep, goats, horses, cattle Vegetarianism not widespread until many Vegetarianism not widespread until many

centuries latercenturies later Religious and Literary works: The VedasReligious and Literary works: The Vedas

Sanskrit: sacred tongueSanskrit: sacred tongue Prakrit: everyday language, evolved into Hindi, Prakrit: everyday language, evolved into Hindi,

Urdu, BengaliUrdu, Bengali Four Vedas, most important Rig VedaFour Vedas, most important Rig Veda

1,028 hymms to gods1,028 hymms to gods

Aryan ReligionAryan Religion Major deity of Major deity of Rig Veda: Rig Veda:

Indra, war godIndra, war god Elaborate ritual sacrifices to Elaborate ritual sacrifices to

godsgods Role of Brahmins Role of Brahmins

importantimportant C. 800 BCE some C. 800 BCE some

movement away from movement away from sacrificial cultssacrificial cults Mystical thought, Mystical thought,

influenced by Dravidiansinfluenced by Dravidians

Patriarchy in Ancient Indian Patriarchy in Ancient Indian SocietySociety

““rule of the father”rule of the father” Enforced in the Enforced in the The Lawbook of ManuThe Lawbook of Manu Overwhelmed Harappan matriarchy?Overwhelmed Harappan matriarchy? Caste, Jati, inherited through male lineCaste, Jati, inherited through male line

Teachings of the Teachings of the UpanishadsUpanishads

Texts that represent blending of Aryan and Texts that represent blending of Aryan and Dravidian traditionsDravidian traditions

Composed 800-400 BCE, some later collections Composed 800-400 BCE, some later collections until 13until 13thth century CE century CE

Brahman: the Universal SoulBrahman: the Universal Soul Samsara: reincarnationSamsara: reincarnation Karma: accounting for incarnationsKarma: accounting for incarnations Moksha: mystical ecstacyMoksha: mystical ecstacy Relationship to system of VarnaRelationship to system of Varna