Transcript 3 India Notes S14

Ancient and Classical India
World History
Early Society in South Asia
• Indus Valley Civilization centered around twin
fortified cities: Harapan & Mohenjo-daro,
declined > 2000 BCE
• Aryans – Indo-European Migrants from the
Caspian Sea area arrived - 2000 BCE
~ pastoral nomads, light-skinned, warrior
culture
~ clashed with dark-skinned Dravidians
(sedentary, agricultural)
~ established a society that was male dominated,
dev. Sanskrit language, est. local kingdoms, dev.
a social class system, & Hinduism
Hinduism
• Evolved from native and Aryan polytheistic beliefs
• No one single Holy Book – many books called the Vedas
• Brahman - supreme being – creator of the universe (not
worshipped directly by the masses)
• Vishnu – the sustainer – protects humanity
• Shiva – the destroyer – destroys the universe so that the
cycle may begin again
• Hindus believe the universe has been created and
destroyed many times
• Dharma: the duties of a person according to their Varna
• Follow your dharma – achieve good karma
• Your Karma in this life determines your form
in the next life (higher or lower Varna)
• Reincarnation – cycle of life and rebirth
• Goal: to escape this cycle and be reunited
with Brahman
• Effects of Hinduism on Society
~ reinforced social hierarchy
~ promoted high ethical standards
~ respect for all living things
~ promotes a vegetarian diet and honors the
sacred cow
Around and
Around it goes,
Like Shiva, the
Cosmic dancer.
Reincarnation
Social Classes (Varnas)
Brahmans:
priests
Kshatriyas:
warriors,
rulers
Viasyas: common
people, merchants,
artisans, farmers
Sudras: unskilled
laborers, servants
Pariahs: untouchables, slaves
•Castes determined by the
previous life
•caste system is a rigid social
system that allows for NO social
change
•Occupation, marriage, education,
even diet is determined by
hereditary caste
•Promoted social harmony –
everyone followed rules of
behavior
•Pariahs are not part of the
system and are called
untouchables b/c they are
considered dirty
• Women subservient in the home but
are allowed property rights and could
divorce under certain conditions.
Political
• Identically planned cities
and construction suggests
a strong
central
government
Economic
• Traded long distances
–Artifacts show they traded with the
Sumerians
Religious
• Links to modern
Hindu Culture
– Shiva- is a major
Hindu god
• Cows were
sacred
Social
• Civilization was generally
stable
• Same kinds of houses
suggests little social
differences
• Toys were found for
children – this shows
prosperity since they can
make things they do not
NEED to survive
Intellectual
• Advanced plumbing
–Private bath and toilet for every house
–Toilets made of brick with wooden
seats
–Pipes connected underground sewer
system
Achievements
• Sophisticated city planning – very
detailed and organized
– Used a grid system
• Citadel – a fortified area surrounded by
a wall that protected the major buildings
in the city
– Public buildings, granaries and religious
quarters
Harappa
Mohenjo Daro
Geography
• Wall of Mountains- sepereated India from the
rest of Asia
– Hindu Kush
– Himalaya
– Karakoram
• This created an Indian Sub-Continent
• Monsoons – trade winds that brought rain in the
summer and dry wind in the winter
• Major Rivers– Indus
– Ganges