Harappan society and its Harappan society and its neighbors, ca. 2000 B.C.E.neighbors, ca. 2000 B.C.E.

Foundations of Harappan SocietyFoundations of Harappan Society

►The Indus River Silt-enriched water from mountain ranges

►Major society built by Dravidian peoples, 3000-2500 BCE Cultivation of cotton before 5000 BCE, early cultivation of

poultry Decline after 1900 BCE

►Major cities: Harrapa (Punjab region and Mohenjo-Daro (mouth of Indus River) 70 smaller sites excavated (total 1,500)

Mohenjo-Daro RuinsMohenjo-Daro Ruins

►Population c. 40,000►Regional center

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

►Standardized weights evident throughout region

►Specialized labor►Trade

Harapan Society and CultureHarapan Society and Culture

►Evidence of social stratification Dwelling size, decoration

►Harappan Civilization: matriarchal? Influence on later Indian culture

►Goddesses of fertility►Possible east/west distinctions

Mysterious End of Harappan Mysterious End of Harappan CivilizationCivilization

►Reasons for disappearance unclear Excessive deforestation, loss of topsoil Earthquakes? Flooding?

►Evidence of unburied dead

►Disappearance by 1500 BCE

The Early AryansThe Early Aryans

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

centuries later

►Religious and Literary works: The Vedas Sanskrit: sacred tongue Prakrit: everyday language, evolved into Hindi,

Urdu, Bengali Four Vedas, most important Rig Veda

►1,028 hymms to gods

The Vedic AgeThe Vedic Age

►Conflicts between Aryans and indigenous dasas (“enemies,” “subjects”) Aryans fighting Dravidians Also Aryans fighting each other

►Chiefdoms: Rajas►Early concentration in Punjab, migrations further

south Development of iron metallurgy Increasing reliance on agriculture

►Tribal connections evolve into political structures

Varna:Varna: The Caste System The Caste System

►Origins in Aryan domination of Dravidians Brahmin, Priest Kshatriya, Warrior Vaishya, Merchant Sudra, Commoner Harijan: “Untouchables; Pariahs”

►Jati subsystem of castes Related to urbanization, increasing social and

economic complexity

Aryan ReligionAryan Religion

►Major deity of Rig Veda: Indra, war god►Elaborate ritual sacrifices to gods

Role of Brahmins important

►C. 800 BCE some movement away from sacrificial cults Mystical thought, influenced by Dravidians

Teachings of the UpanishadsTeachings of the Upanishads

►Texts that represent blending of Aryan and Dravidian traditions

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

►Brahman: the Universal Soul►Samsara: reincarnation►Karma: accounting for incarnations►Moksha: mystical ecstacy►Relationship to system of Varna

The Mauryan and Gupta empiresThe Mauryan and Gupta empires321 B.C.E.-550 C.E.321 B.C.E.-550 C.E.

India Before the Mauryan DynastyIndia Before the Mauryan Dynasty

►520 BCE Persian Emperor Darius conquers north-west India

►Introduces Persian ruling pattern►327 Alexander of Macedon destroys Persian

Empire in India►Troops mutiny, departs after 2 years

Political power vacuum

Kingdom of MagadhaKingdom of Magadha

►Most significant remaining kingdom after Alexander’s departure

►Central Ganges plain►Economic strength

Agriculture Trade in Ganges valley, Bay of Bengal

►Dominated surrounding regions in north-eastern India

Chandragupta MauryaChandragupta Maurya

►Took advantage of power vacuum left by Alexander

►Overthrew Magadha rulers►Expanded kingdom to create 1st unified Indian

empire Mauryan Dynasty

Chandragupta’s GovernmentChandragupta’s Government

►Advisor Kautalya►Recorded in Arthashastra, manual of political

statecraft►Foreign policies, economics►Domestic policies

Network of spies

►Legend: Chandragupta retires to become a monk, starves himself to death

Ashoka MauryaAshoka Maurya

►Grandson of Chandragupta

►Represents high point of Mauryan Empire, r. 268-232 BCE

►Expanded empire to include all of Indian subcontinent except for south

► Positive rulership integrated Indian society

Decline of the Mauryan EmpireDecline of the Mauryan Empire

►Economic crisis follows death of Ashoka►High costs of bureaucracy, military not

supported by tax revenue►Frequent devaluations of currency to pay

salaries►Regions begin to abandon Mauryan Empire

Disappears by 185 BCE

Regional Kingdom: BactriaRegional Kingdom: Bactria

►Northwestern India►Ruled by Greek-speaking descendants of

Alexander’s campaigns►Intense cultural activity accompanies active

trade

Regional Kingdom: KushRegional Kingdom: Kush

►Northern India/Central Asia►C. 1-300 CE►Maintained silk road network

The Gupta DynastyThe Gupta Dynasty

►Based in Magadha►Founded by Chandra Gupta (no relation to

Chandragupta Maurya), c. 320 CE►Slightly smaller than Mauryan Empire►Highly decentralized leadership

Gupta DeclineGupta Decline

►Frequent invasions of White Huns, 5th c. CE►Gupta Dynasty disintegrates along regional

fault lines►Smaller local kingdoms dominate until

Mughal Empire founded in 16th c.

Trade in the Indian Ocean BasinTrade in the Indian Ocean Basin

►Seasonal sea trade expands Spring/winter winds blow from south-west,

fall/winter winds blow from north-west

►Trade from Asia to Persian Gulf and Red Sea, Mediterranean

Trade in the Indian Ocean BasinTrade in the Indian Ocean Basin

►Seasonal sea trade expands Spring/winter winds blow from south-west,

fall/winter winds blow from north-west

►Trade from Asia to Persian Gulf and Red Sea, Mediterranean

Society: Gender RelationsSociety: Gender Relations

►Patriarchy entrenched►Child marriage common (8 year old girls

married to men in 20s)►Women encouraged to remain in private

sphere

JainismJainism

►Vardhamana Mahavira, 540-468 BCE►Abandoned privileged family to lead ascetic

life►Promotes 7th c. movement based on

Upanishads►Emphasis on selfless living, concern for all

beings

AhimsaAhimsa

►Principle of extreme non-violence►Jainists sweep earth, strain water, use slow

movements to avoid killing insects►Ahimsa continues to inspire modern

movements (Ghandi, Martin Luther King Jr.)

Early BuddhismEarly Buddhism

►Siddhartha Gautama, c. 563-483 BCE►Encountered age, sickness, death, then

monastic life►Abandoned comfortable life to become a monk

The Buddha and his FollowersThe Buddha and his Followers

►Begins teaching new doctrine c. 528 BCE►Followers owned only robes, food bowls►Life of wandering, begging, meditation►Establishment of monastic communities

Buddhist Doctrine: The DharmaBuddhist Doctrine: The Dharma

►The Four Noble Truths all life is suffering there is an end to suffering removing desire removes suffering this may be done through the eight-fold path

(right views, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, concentration)

Ashoka’s Support of BuddhismAshoka’s Support of Buddhism

►Personal conversion to Buddhism►Disillusioned after violent war with Kalinga►Banned animal sacrifices, mandated

vegetarianism in court►Material support for Buddhist institutions,

missionary activities

Changes in Buddhist thoughtChanges in Buddhist thought

►3rd c. BCE – 1st c. CE Buddha considered divine Institution of Boddhisatvas (“saints”) Charitable donations to monasteries regarded as

pious activity

Spread of Mahayana BuddhismSpread of Mahayana Buddhism

►Mahayana (“greater vehicle”), newer development India, China, Japan, Korea, central Asia

►Hinayana (“lesser vehicle,” also Theravada), earlier version Ceylon, Burma, Thailand

Emergence of Popular HinduismEmergence of Popular Hinduism

►Composition of epics from older oral traditions Mahabharata Ramayana

►Emphasis on god Vishnu and his incarnations