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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