Early Societies of Early Societies of the Indian the Indian

SubcontinentSubcontinent

Comparisons between Comparisons between India, Egypt, India, Egypt, MesopotamiaMesopotamia

SimilaritiesSimilarities Founded in river valleys – Founded in river valleys –

Indus and Ganges/Tigris, Indus and Ganges/Tigris, Euphrates/NileEuphrates/Nile

HierarchicalHierarchical PolytheisticPolytheistic Belief in afterlifeBelief in afterlife Conquered or overrun Conquered or overrun

many times many times (India/Mesopotamia) = (India/Mesopotamia) = cultural mixture AND cultural mixture AND search for stabilitysearch for stability

DifferencesDifferences India politically India politically

fragmented – hard to unitefragmented – hard to unite Indian caste system – Indian caste system –

much more rigid social much more rigid social classes/groupsclasses/groups

Indian beliefs in Indian beliefs in reincarnation after deathreincarnation after death

Indian beliefs in religious Indian beliefs in religious contemplation, self-denial, contemplation, self-denial, and nonviolenceand nonviolence

Harappan Society in the Harappan Society in the Indus River Valley Indus River Valley (7000-(7000-

1700 BCE)1700 BCE)

Harappan IndiaHarappan India

Early agricultural farming villages Early agricultural farming villages by 7000 BCEby 7000 BCE

Towns and cities by 3000 BCETowns and cities by 3000 BCE Large cosmopolitan cities – 2800 to Large cosmopolitan cities – 2800 to

1700 BCE1700 BCE Two main cities: Two main cities: HarappaHarappa (north) (north)

and and Mohenjo-DaroMohenjo-Daro (south) (south) Population of @30,000 eachPopulation of @30,000 each

Harappan GranaryHarappan Granary

Mohenjo-Daro: Ancient City Mohenjo-Daro: Ancient City on the Induson the Indus

© Borromeo/Art Resource, NY

Great Bath, Mohenjo-Great Bath, Mohenjo-DaroDaro

Note: Harappans were great city- planners with well-laid-out linear streets

5000 year old Harappan figure – possibly Maha Devi or the Great Mother Goddess

Harappan Priest-King,c. 2000 BCE

The Harappan peoples, like their contemporaries in Mesopotamia, The Harappan peoples, like their contemporaries in Mesopotamia, developed a writing system to record their spoken language. developed a writing system to record their spoken language. Unfortunately, it has not yet been deciphered. Most extant Unfortunately, it has not yet been deciphered. Most extant examples of Harappan writing are found on fired clay seals examples of Harappan writing are found on fired clay seals depicting human figures and animals. These seals have been depicting human figures and animals. These seals have been found in houses and were probably used to identify the owners of found in houses and were probably used to identify the owners of goods for sale. Other seals may have been used as amulets or goods for sale. Other seals may have been used as amulets or have had other religious significance. Several depict religious have had other religious significance. Several depict religious figures or ritualistic scenes of sacrifice.figures or ritualistic scenes of sacrifice.

© Scala/Art Resource, NY

Harappan Dancing Girl Bronze Figure, c. 2000 BCE

Vedic India & Vedic India & Arrival of the AryansArrival of the Aryans

Who are the Aryans? (1500-1000BCE) – Who are the Aryans? (1500-1000BCE) – pastoral nomads, sheep and cattle, horsespastoral nomads, sheep and cattle, horses

Moved into Indian subcontinent from northMoved into Indian subcontinent from north Conflict and connections with Harappan Conflict and connections with Harappan

descendentsdescendents Formed many small warring kingdoms led Formed many small warring kingdoms led

by warrior king rajahsby warrior king rajahs Vedas were sacred hymns of priests, finally Vedas were sacred hymns of priests, finally

written down by 800 BCEwritten down by 800 BCE

Aryans Invade from Aryans Invade from NorthNorth

Info in VedasInfo in Vedas Focused on war and battleFocused on war and battle PatriarchalPatriarchal PolytheisticPolytheistic Animal sacrificeAnimal sacrifice Life after deathLife after death Wine, food, gamblingWine, food, gambling Beginning of caste system: difference Beginning of caste system: difference

between Aryans (“noble”) and between Aryans (“noble”) and defeated people (“Dasa” – meaning defeated people (“Dasa” – meaning slave or subject)slave or subject)

Persian and Greek Persian and Greek InfluencesInfluences

Invasions of northwest India by Persians Invasions of northwest India by Persians (518 BCE) and Greeks (326 BCE)(518 BCE) and Greeks (326 BCE)

Brought wider connections with other Brought wider connections with other culturescultures

Increased tradeIncreased trade Affected political alignments within Affected political alignments within

continentcontinent Caused rise of Mauryan Empire out of Caused rise of Mauryan Empire out of

many different states/kingdomsmany different states/kingdoms

Indian Political Indian Political Consolidation, Consolidation, 44thth Century BCE Century BCE

Mauryan Empire (342-301 BC) Mauryan Empire (342-301 BC) Led by Chandragupta MauryaLed by Chandragupta Maurya United various kingdoms into first Indian United various kingdoms into first Indian

empireempire 321-184 BCE321-184 BCE Combined govt., military, religions of Persia, Combined govt., military, religions of Persia,

Macedonia, and IndiaMacedonia, and India First Dynasty in IndiaFirst Dynasty in India

Ashoka, Chandragupta’s grandsonAshoka, Chandragupta’s grandson Converted to Buddhism and led paternalist Converted to Buddhism and led paternalist

state state Spread religion and controlSpread religion and control

The The Empire of Empire of

AshokaAshokaAshoka, the Ashoka, the greatest Indian greatest Indian monarch, reigned monarch, reigned over the Mauryan over the Mauryan dynasty in the third dynasty in the third century B.C.E. This century B.C.E. This map shows the map shows the extent of his extent of his empire, with the empire, with the location of the location of the pillar edicts that pillar edicts that were erected along were erected along major trade routes.major trade routes.

Carved Carved ChapelsChapels

Carved out of solid Carved out of solid rock cliffs during the rock cliffs during the Mauryan dynasty, rock Mauryan dynasty, rock chambers served as chambers served as meditation halls for meditation halls for traveling Buddhist traveling Buddhist monks. Initially, they monks. Initially, they resembled resembled freestanding shrines of freestanding shrines of wood and thatch from wood and thatch from the Vedic period but the Vedic period but evolved into evolved into magnificent chapels magnificent chapels carved deep into the carved deep into the mountainside, such as mountainside, such as this one at Karli.this one at Karli.

© age fotostock/SuperStock

Caste and ClassCaste and Class1. Priestly Class (Brahmins)1. Priestly Class (Brahmins)

2. Warrior Class (Kshatriya)2. Warrior Class (Kshatriya)

3. Commoner Class (Vaisya)3. Commoner Class (Vaisya)

4. Peasant Class (Sudras)4. Peasant Class (Sudras)

5. Untouchables (Pariahs)5. Untouchables (Pariahs) Reasons for Survival of Caste System:Reasons for Survival of Caste System:

1. provided an identity for individuals in a highly hierarchical 1. provided an identity for individuals in a highly hierarchical societysociety

2. means for new groups to achieve recognizable place in 2. means for new groups to achieve recognizable place in broader communitybroader community

3. primitive welfare system3. primitive welfare system

4. provided an element of stability in society that was in a 4. provided an element of stability in society that was in a state of political anarchystate of political anarchy

Escaping the Wheel of Escaping the Wheel of Life: Religions of IndiaLife: Religions of India

Group WorkGroup Work Break up into groups of 3 peopleBreak up into groups of 3 people Wait to be assigned an Indian religionWait to be assigned an Indian religion Assignment:Assignment:

Using your textbook, Using your textbook, what are the major beliefs what are the major beliefs of your assigned religion?of your assigned religion?

What is the relationship between your religion What is the relationship between your religion and the caste system?and the caste system?

Your information should be synthesized and Your information should be synthesized and organized to fit on one or two Powerpoint slidesorganized to fit on one or two Powerpoint slides

Designate one person from your group to send Designate one person from your group to send me your information in an email; I will add to me your information in an email; I will add to the PP.the PP.

Vedic Religion or Vedic Religion or BrahminismBrahminism

(page 55)(page 55)Sacred text known as the Sacred text known as the VedasVedas

JainismJainism(pages 55-56)(pages 55-56)

Buddhism (Middle Path)Buddhism (Middle Path)(page 56)(page 56)

Mahayana BuddhismMahayana Buddhism(pages 62-63)(pages 62-63)

Theravada BuddhismTheravada Buddhism(page 63)(page 63)

HinduismHinduism(pages 56-57, 63-64)(pages 56-57, 63-64)

Dancing Dancing ShivaShiva

The Hindu deity Shiva is The Hindu deity Shiva is often presented in the form of often presented in the form of a bronze statue performing a a bronze statue performing a cosmic dance in which he cosmic dance in which he simultaneously creates and simultaneously creates and destroys the universe. While destroys the universe. While his upper right hand creates his upper right hand creates the cosmos, his upper left the cosmos, his upper left hand reduces it in flames, and hand reduces it in flames, and the lower two hands offer the lower two hands offer eternal blessing. Shiva’s eternal blessing. Shiva’s dancing statues visually dancing statues visually convey to his followers the convey to his followers the message of his power and message of his power and compassion.compassion.

© William J. Duiker

The Three Faces of ShivaThe Three Faces of ShivaIn the first centuries C.E., Hindus began to adopt Buddhist rock art. One outstanding In the first centuries C.E., Hindus began to adopt Buddhist rock art. One outstanding example is at the Elephanta Caves, near the modern city of Mumbai (Bombay). example is at the Elephanta Caves, near the modern city of Mumbai (Bombay). Dominating the cave is this 18-foot-high triple-headed statue of Shiva, representing Dominating the cave is this 18-foot-high triple-headed statue of Shiva, representing the Hindu deity in all his various aspects. The central figure shows him in total the Hindu deity in all his various aspects. The central figure shows him in total serenity, enveloped in absolute knowledge. The angry profile on the left portrays him serenity, enveloped in absolute knowledge. The angry profile on the left portrays him as the destroyer, struggling against time, death, and other negative forces. The right-as the destroyer, struggling against time, death, and other negative forces. The right-hand profile shows his loving and feminine side in the guise of his beautiful wife, hand profile shows his loving and feminine side in the guise of his beautiful wife, Parvati.Parvati.

© Charles & Josette Lenars/CORBIS.

Buddha in Indonesia & Thailand

Female Earth Female Earth SpiritSpirit

This earth spirit, sculpted on a This earth spirit, sculpted on a gatepost of the Buddhist stupa gatepost of the Buddhist stupa at Sanchi 2,200 years ago, at Sanchi 2,200 years ago, illustrates how earlier illustrates how earlier representations of the fertility representations of the fertility goddess were incorporated goddess were incorporated into Buddhist art. Women into Buddhist art. Women were revered as powerful were revered as powerful fertility symbols and fertility symbols and considered dangerous when considered dangerous when menstruating or immediately menstruating or immediately after giving birth. Voluptuous after giving birth. Voluptuous and idealized, the earth spirit and idealized, the earth spirit could allegedly cause a tree to could allegedly cause a tree to blossom if she merely touched blossom if she merely touched a branch with her arm or a branch with her arm or wrapped a leg around the wrapped a leg around the tree’s trunk.tree’s trunk.© Atlantide Phototravel (Massimo Borchi)/CORBIS