Early Indian History

Indus River Valley Civilization

Vedic (Indo-Aryan) Civilization

Indus River Valley Civilization – 2000 BCE

Indus River Valley

The Indus River Silt-enriched water from mountains Cultivated cotton before 5000 BCE

Writing

Good News Literate culture

Bad News We can’t read it

Writing on bricks Similar to

cuneiform

Reasonable Generalizations

Developed rapidly Existed with Egypt and Mesopotamia Developed agriculture Domesticated animals Changed from village to city life

Mohenjo-Daro Ruins

Population roughly 40,000 Regional center

Layout and architecture suggests well-developed government

Broad streets, citadel, pool, sewage system Specialized labor (Artisans) Trade (Merchants)

Mohenjo-Daro : Aerial view

Citadel

The Great Bath

Well

Granary

TorsoMohenjo-Daro Third millennium BCE

http://www.harappa.com/figurines/1.html

The Aryan Invasion

Aryans, lighter-skinned invaders from the north Not to be confused with Hitler’s

“Aryans” These Aryans spoke a dialect,

related to Greek and Latin

The Aryans

Fond of: Fighting Drinking Chariot racing Gambling Chasing women Bragging about their

spears A psychedelic drug

called soma

Caste system Polytheistic

Basis for Hinduism

The Vedas

“Knowledge” Sanskrit Sacred, oral poetry

Rituals/Sacrifice Many Gods

Sacred Texts

Rig Veda 1028 hymns to Gods

Upanishads Epic, mystical poems Right & Wrong

Two Great Epics Mahabharata Ramayana

Vedic CivilizationSocial Status of Women

Equal access to learning

Right to speak in public Right to inherit property

Vedic CivilizationSocial Status of Women

Marriage was the main institution

Patriarchal family structure

Could choose husband Emphasis on reproduction

Vedic CivilizationSocial Status of Women

Eventually social status declined: Organized state Caste system Women barred from

religious ritual