© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee A Comprehensive History of India Lecture – 2 – 9-25-2011 Diversity Maharaj Mukherjee

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee

A Comprehensive History of A Comprehensive History of IndiaIndia

Lecture – 2 – 9-25-2011Lecture – 2 – 9-25-2011DiversityDiversity

Maharaj MukherjeeMaharaj Mukherjee


Why do we study Why do we study History of India - RecapitulationHistory of India - Recapitulation

• India and USA are both democracies

• They both have diverse population

• They both have large natural resources

• They both are naturally protected


Diversity in US and India - Diversity in US and India - RecapitulationRecapitulation

• Unity in Diversity

• United we Stand Divided we Fall

• If we do not hang together we will hang separately


Our world has all kind of peopleOur world has all kind of people


India is a very diverse countryIndia is a very diverse country


The our first ancestor came from The our first ancestor came from Africa Africa

Her Name is Lucy


People Slowly Migrated from Africa People Slowly Migrated from Africa to All over the Worldto All over the World

About 20000 Years Ago the Whole World was Populated with Human


Why do people migrate?Why do people migrate?

• Basic Needs for Survival– Food and Water– Climate and Weather– Population pressure and Competition– Freedom

• Pursuit of Happiness


The Early Population of the World The Early Population of the World were Hunter - Gathererswere Hunter - Gatherers

They are also the first inhabitants of India


Hunter Gatherer-s Hunter Gatherer-s 10000 years back10000 years back(There were exceptions)(There were exceptions)

• They would hunt animals, fish for food• They would collect fruits or roots• They also knew some farming• They knew how to use fire• They had dogs for pets that they used in hunting

– May be they also had cats

• They lived in huts made of branches or woods or in caves

• They knew how to draw pictures


Hunter Gatherer-s Hunter Gatherer-s 10000 years back10000 years back (There were exceptions)(There were exceptions)

• They did not know how to bake clay to make pots or bricks– They need to stay close to water

• They did not have cows, or horses, pigs or chickens– In India some ancient people had horses or horse like

animals

• They did not know how to melt metals to make tools

• They did not know how to use wheels


Hunter Gather LifeHunter Gather Life

• 10000 years ago the life of human did not impact nature as much as it does now– There are exceptions


Something Happened 10000 Years BackSomething Happened 10000 Years Back

• They learned how to farm for food• They learned how to bake clay and make clay pots and

bricks– They started building cities

• They learned how to use animals – bulls and cows for farming

• They learned how to use copper and mix it with tin to make bronze– They made metal tools and weapons

• They learned how to use wheels to make carts and pulleys

• They could dig for water and • They could mine minerals for metals


Where it all Started?Where it all Started?The Fertile CrescentThe Fertile Crescent

• 10000 Years Ago: The Human Civilization Started in the Fertile Crescent

• 5000 Years Ago: The Civilization Reached the Western Part of India and the South Eastern Europe


Social DevelopmentsSocial Developments

• The society could now support all other kind of professions:– Rulers and soldiers– Traders– Thinkers and Educators

• They developed early form of religion

• They also developed war and fighting– This also started the first slavery


World’s First Temple – World’s First Temple – Gobekli Tepe (in Turkey)Gobekli Tepe (in Turkey)

12000 years ago12000 years ago

• The pillars stand for gods who are accompanied by animals


India 5000 Years BackIndia 5000 Years Back• A spread of Fertile Crescent Spread to the

Indus Valley

• Discovered by – Rakhal Das Banerjee and Daya Ram Sahani


Map of IndiaMap of India

Himalayas

Bay of BengalArabian Sea

Indian Ocean

Bindhya

Western

Gh

at

Eastern

G

hat

Indu

s R

iver

Ganges River


Some Artifacts from the Indus ValleySome Artifacts from the Indus Valley


Some Link from Ancient Religion to Some Link from Ancient Religion to Modern Day ReligionsModern Day Religions


Questions about Early Civilization:Questions about Early Civilization:

• Why didn’t it spread east of the Indus river?– Climate– Different seasons– Main crop of fertile crescent was wheat – which did not survive

in too much rain– It was difficult to cross glacier fed river like Indus which never

dried up.

• Why didn’t it spread only East-West and not North-South? – Climate and Weather

• What happened to these early civilizations?– Some of the people remained - some migrated to other parts


Example QuizExample Quiz

• Where did the first human come from?– Africa

• What kind of people were the first inhabitants of India?– Hunter Gatherers

• Where did the first human civilization start?– The Fertile Crescent in Turkey/Iraq

• Where did the first civilization start in India?– The Indus Valley

• When did the first human civilization start in India?– About 5000 years back

• Give One Reason why People Migrate– Basic Needs and Pursuit of Happiness

Documents

© 2011 Maharaj Mukherjee A Comprehensive History of India Lecture – 2 – 9-25-2011 Diversity Maharaj Mukherjee