Chapter 4 Early Civilizations in South Asia. Geography of South Asia Geographic Diversity -->...

Chapter 4Chapter 4

Early Civilizations in South Early Civilizations in South AsiaAsia

Geography of South AsiaGeography of South AsiaGeographic Diversity --> Cultural Geographic Diversity --> Cultural

DiversityDiversity Himalayan Himalayan

MountainsMountains Hindu-Kush MtsHindu-Kush Mts Indus RiverIndus River Ganges RiverGanges River Indian OceanIndian Ocean Deccan Plateau Deccan Plateau MonsoonsMonsoons

DryDry WetWet

33

Harappan Society Challenges of Study

Much of remains are inaccessible Unable to decipher written records

Impact of Geography Indus River

Unpredictable but critical Agriculture: Wheat, Barley Domestication: Sheep, Goats, Chicken

44

Complex CitiesHarappa and Mohenho Daro

Economic, Political and Cultural Centers What do the cities tell us about society?

- City Walls- Citadel- Granary- Marketplaces- Temples- Urban Planning- Precise Grid

- Indoor Plumbing- Sewage- Public Baths- Residential Districts- Standardized Weights and Measures

HarappaHarappa

Overview of the north-south oriented brick wall (Feature 50) and doorway of the large Harappan building in Trench 39N. Note the earlier drain that runs east-west underneath the wall.

HarappaHarappa

Early Drainage System

An additional six copies of these tablets, again all with the same inscriptions, were found elsewhere in the debris outside of perimeter wall [250] including two near the group of 16 and two in debris between the perimeter and curtain walls. Here all 22 tablets are displayed together with a unicorn intaglio seal from the Period 3B street inside the perimeter wall, which has two of the same signs as those found on the tablets

Mohenjo-DaroMohenjo-Daro

Mohenjo-DaroMohenjo-Daro

Granary and Great Bath

Mohenjo-DaroMohenjo-Daro

The central ornament worn on the forehead of the famous "priest-king" sculpture from Mohenjo-daro appears to represent an eye bead, possibly made of gold with steatite inlay in the center

Jewelry from the Indus Valley Civilization

TradeTrade Cotton Textile IndustryCotton Textile Industry

Imports: Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead, Imports: Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead, Gems and Semiprecious stonesGems and Semiprecious stones

Exports: Cotton, Copper, Ivory, Pearls Exports: Cotton, Copper, Ivory, Pearls and Semiprecious stones, Timberand Semiprecious stones, Timber

Trading Partners: Egypt, Mesopotamia, Trading Partners: Egypt, Mesopotamia, Persia, AnatoliaPersia, Anatolia

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Early Harappan Religion Polytheistic Strong Connection to Government Importance of Fertility Many gods survive in Hindu

Pantheon

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1212

Harappan Decline Gradual decline Ecological Degradation Deforestation --> Desertification Possible Geographic Catastrophe

1212

Indo European MigrationsIndo European MigrationsThe AryansThe Aryans

- More Pastoral Than Agricultural- More Pastoral Than Agricultural+ role of iron+ role of iron- Cattle = Wealth- Cattle = Wealth- No Writing- No Writing

Political StructurePolitical Structure- Chiefdoms - Chiefdoms Regional Kingdoms Regional Kingdoms

Social StructureSocial Structure- Very Rigid- Very Rigid- Lawbook of Manu- Lawbook of Manu- PATRIARCHAL (Ritual of Sati)- PATRIARCHAL (Ritual of Sati)

Religion in the Vedic Age Religion in the Vedic Age (1500-500 BCE)(1500-500 BCE)

HINDUISMHINDUISM Fusion of Aryan and Dravidian BeliefsFusion of Aryan and Dravidian Beliefs Reincarnation/Karma/DharmaReincarnation/Karma/Dharma Brahman - MokshaBrahman - Moksha ETHICSETHICS Ritual SacrificesRitual Sacrifices

Evolution of Religious Evolution of Religious Beliefs/PracticesBeliefs/Practices

Brahman – MokshaBrahman – Moksha UpanishadsUpanishads

Increased SpiritualityIncreased Spirituality Asceticism + MeditationAsceticism + Meditation

Caste SystemCaste System Rigid Social Class StructureRigid Social Class Structure Changed Over TimeChanged Over Time

Evolves with SocietyEvolves with Society Led to Great Social StabilityLed to Great Social Stability

Shiva as Nataraja Shiva as Nataraja

BrahmaBrahma

VishnuVishnu

AUMAUM

““All is Well”All is Well”