Odyssey Through the Ages: Chapter 4 (pp...
Transcript of Odyssey Through the Ages: Chapter 4 (pp...
IndiaOdyssey Through the
Ages: Chapter 4 (pp 94-128)
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Goal: To study the two most enduring and ancient civilizations: India.
Objectives:
Discuss the Indus Valley civilizations
Describe the Vedic age and Buddhist period.
Examine and Mauryan Empire and the Formative period.
Outline the importance of the Gupta Empire.
Discuss the Regional Kingdoms, the Mughal Emperor, and Hindu-Muslim interactions.
Chapter Outline
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South Asia
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Geography - (Physical)
Located in Asia
Bound by Southeast Asia in the east, the Himalayas in the north, the Middle East in the west and the Indian Ocean in the south.
Himalayan run-off and monsoons feed the rivers.
2 major river systems: Indus (Pakistan) and Ganges (India/Bangladesh)
IndusGanges
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Geography - 3 Anthropological Zone Types (p.96)
Nuclear Zones:
Self-contained, socio-cultural regions
Located in the plains and river basins
Provided stable source of agriculture and food
Supported large populations
The most important of the three
Zones of Relative Isolation:
Secondary cultural centres (distanced from the main centres)
Route Zones
Areas of trade traffic between nuclear zones.
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QuestionsWhat are the two main rivers of India?
What are the three zones of India?
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Indus Valley
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Indus CivilizationBeginning: Early Harappa on Ravi River (Indus tributary)
Pirak has pre-Harappan layers
Maturity: spanned from Baluchistan( Pakistan) to Rajastan (India) and Punjab(Pakistan) to Gujarat (India)
First large urban settlements in India ca. 2500 BCE
First ones discovered: Harappa and Mohen-jo-Daro
Others: Dholavira known for sophisticated water management systems
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Infrastructure & Urban PlanningUsed baked bricks for wells, baths, and drains
Resulted in good drainage and sewage management
Average home: nine rooms surrounding courtyard
Large home: up to 30 rooms
Some had second floors
Implemented grid system
Cities were efficient and easy to govern
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CultureSteatite Seals - (soft rock/soapstone)
revealed many insights into Harappan culture.
had pictures and scripts
script code has not been deciphered
told stories with the pictures, such as animals, hybrids, sacrifices, worship.
later found in India religions
some seals indicated Mesopotamian contact such as the “Gilgamesh” seal and the seals found in Ur
Art: includes the seals as well as jewelry, pottery, and statues.
Medium used: steatite, terra cotta, clay, and gold
terra cotta dog
gold bead
terra cotta goddess
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Steatite Seals
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QuestionsName the two main cities of the Harappan Civilizations
What were the Harappan cities known for?
What are steatites seals?
What do the seals tell us?
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Harappan Decline - Aryan ArrivalHarappan culture remained static (art, weaponry, tools, script and so forth) for 800 years.
Started to decline ca. 1700 BCE.
Decline expedited by forces beyond their control: floods, invasions, changes in climate and geology.
Eventually dissolved into the incoming cultures.
Left India open for the Aryans.
Aryans:
Nomadic people from Central Asia
Responsible for the India’s Vedic Age
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Vedic Age - VedasVedas: ancient Aryan oratories held sacred by modern-day Hindus.
4 Vedas: Rigveda, Yajurveda, Samaveda, and Atharvaveda
Each Veda has four sections:
Mantra/Samhita (hymn)
Brahmana (ritualistic teachings)
Aranyaka (theological)
Upanishads (philosophical)
They were eventually written down in the C14th CE.
Verses from the Vedas are used for special occasions such as births and marriages.
Basis for Hinduism
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Veda - RigvedaQuestions and answers the questions of the origins of the universe and humans.
Creation story of Purusha:
Head: Brahmin - the thinkers - white = purity and calmness
Arms: Kshatriya - defenders and protectors - red = activity, war, and blood
Thighs: Vaishya - the producers - yellow = gold and corn
Feet: Shudra - the labourers - black = soil
Resulted in a rigid class system.
Ascribed position in society. No mobility whatsoever.
Only BKV were allowed to recite the Vedas
To be a shudra is not dignified
The Law Code of Manu attests to this class system.
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Brahmins- the eliteBrahmins memorized and orated the Vedas to preserved them.
For most of the Vedic texts, only Brahmins were allowed to recite them.
Brahmins received fees as well as land grants and gifts for their services.
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Early Vedic Society - 1500-1000 BCEArrival of the Aryans - the noble or respectable
Travelled on chariots
Aryans were still semi-nomadic during the early Vedic period.
Worship several nature gods:
Varuna: god of sky, rain, oath, celestial ocean, law, and the underworld
Agni: god of fire
Aditi: Mother of all celestial gods
Indra: king of the gods/warrior and weather god
Mitra: god of oath
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What are the four Vedas?
Describe each section of a Veda
What is significant about the Law Code of Manu?
Questions
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Describe the social structure according to the Vedas.
What is the controversy about Aryan invasion theory?
Questions
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Hinduism - TenetsPurushartha: the goals of human life
Kama: sensual pleasure
Artha: wealth, prosperity, glory
Dharma: ethics/duties
Moksha: liberation from Samsara
Other tenets:
Samsara: birth, life, death and rebirth cycle
Karma: action and reaction
Yoga: paths or practices to achieve goals
Ahimsa: non-violence/ everything is divine
Ashrama: the four life stages
Brahmacharya: celibate student under the guidance of a Guru
Grihastha: househould stage (time to fulfill kama and artha)
Vanaprastha: retirement from the material world
Sannyasa: asceticism (complete detachment from the material
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Hinduism - Sacred TextShruti: what is heard = The Vedas
Smriti: what is remembered = The epics (Puranas)
The Epics
Mahabharata (Mbh): http://web.utk.edu/~jftzgrld/MBh1Home.html
Battle between the Kauravas and the Pandavas
Bhagavad Gita (Mbh extract): http://vedabase.net/bg/
“Song of God” Krishna teaches Arjuna philosophy and his duty as a warrior.
Ramayana: http://www.valmikiramayan.net/
Valmiki credit with Compiling ca. 400-200 BCE
Details the journey of Rama
Wife, Sita, abducted by Ravana, Rakshasa king of Lanka.
The story explores human existence and concept of dharma
Krishna and Arjuna
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Hinduism - PantheonBrahma (Supreme god)>>Avatars of Brahma>>Deva/Devis
Trimurti gods: Brahma (creator), Vishnu (preserver), and Shiva (destroyer)
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