Chapter 4: Early Societies of South AsiaKey Terms, Groups, People, Issues, Trends, Ideas, etc.

Dravidian peopleAryan people- Indo-EuropeansIndus Valley Civ.- Harappa- Mohenjo-DaroCaste system- Varna, jeti- UntouchablesVedasUpanishads

Who, what, where, when, how, and so what?

Indus River Valley- Home of Harappan Civilization - Named after Harappa main city- 7000 BC - Agriculture- 3000 BC Home to Dravidian peopleHapparan Society- Developed on the Indus River Valley - Modern day Pakistan, N. India - Larger than Mesopotamia, Egypt- 3000 BC Villages to cities- Little is known about IRV civilization - Earliest artifacts inaccessible due to aa,lying below the water table - Earliest artifacts 2500 BC, long aaa,,after Harappas establishment - Known some about peak of city, but aa,,,,no the early days - Lack of deciphered written records - Dravidian language based; ~400 aa,,,,symbols- Foundation of Harappan Society - Indus River similar to the Gift of the ,,,aNile - Flooding deposited silt; made aa,,,,agriculture possible in N. India - By 7000 BC, agriculture in N. India - Cultivated wheat, barley - First to domesticate chickens - Cotton textile industry by 2000 BC - Agricultural surplus led to cities - Food supply, larger pop, spec. work - Peak of power 2500 BC 1900 BC - Dominated Indus River Valley - Two large cities - Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro - Other smaller settlements - High degree of communication aa,,,,,,,,between the two cities - Standard brick size - over 900 mi. - Dependent on agriculture, trade - Trade w/ Hindu Kush, Persia, aaa,,,,,Mesopotamia - Harappan Culture/Society - Mohenjo-Daro 2500 BC 2000 BC - Pop. 40,000; economic wealth - Division of rich and poor; housing - All houses had showers, toilets that aa,,,,,,led to city sewage; most advanced aa,,,,,,in,the ancient world - Little known about beliefs/values - Lack of deciphered writing - Evidence of fertility cults - Specifics unknown; lack of writing - Thought to influenced Hinduism - Similar deities, emphasis on fertility - 1900 BC Beginning of decline - Possible natural disaster - 1700 BC Cities abandoned - 1500 BC Smaller cities abandonedIndo-European Migration, Early Aryans- Aryan people Indo-Europeans - 1500 BC Entered northern India - Entered around collapse of Harappans - Conflicted with Dravidians, natives - Post-1500 BC, intermarried DravidiansThe Aryans- Initially practiced limited agriculture, ,,depended on pastoral economy - Kept horses, cattle, goats - Horses for horse meat, warfare - Ate cow, not sacred for 100s of yearsThe Vedas- Daily tongue Prakrit - Evolved into Hindi, Urdu, etc.- Sacred tongue - Sanskrit- Did not use writing- Vedas orally transmitted - Religious text, written eventuallyThe Vedic Age- Conflict between Aryans, Dravidians - Dravidians dasas - Enemies, subject people- Indra, Aryan war god- Often had friendly relations - Learned about land, farming techniques - Desire for land, resources = Conflict- Aryans divided internally - Divided into chiefdoms w/ raja (king)

Aryan Migrations in India- During Vedic Age, settled Punjab - Upper Indus River- 1000 BC Settled foothills of a.Himalayas, Ganges River - Learned how to make iron tools, a,,established agricultural communities a,,along the Ganges- 750 BC First Aryan cities in Ganges a,River Valley- 500 BC On Deccan Plateau; 950 miles a,south of PunjabChanges in Political Organization- As populations grew, lost tribal political a,organization to formal organizations- Chiefdoms to regional kingdoms - Around 1000 BC 500 BCOrigins of the Caste System- Aryans developed defined social order - To maintain order, stability - Caste Unchangeable social status- Varna Major social classes - After 1000 BC - Brahmins Priests - Kshatriyas Warriors, governors - Vaishyas Farmers, artisans, merchant - Shudras Peasants - Centuries later, added Untouchable aa,class; dirty tasks, below caste system- As society grew more specialized, a,complex, subcastes known as jati were a,created - Based on occupation; Brahmins aadivided into about 1800 jati - Even Untouchables divided- Rigid social structure, only a,accommodated,to social change based a,on group effortsDevelopment of Patriarchal Society- Aryans established patriarchal class- Descent through male lineage- All priests, warriors, chiefs men- Women No public authority- Worked alongside Varna hierarchy- Lawbook of Manu Defined proper moral behavior; gender relationshipsReligion in the Vedic Age- Aryan religion highly adaptable to a,mobile, violent society - Adopted many Dravidian ideals they a,afound worthy- Fusion of Aryan and Dravidian religion a,paved foundations of HinduismAryan Religion- Rig Veda Oral religious text - Main god Indra; war god- Veruna Ethical god - Sky god, resides over all cosmic order- Ritual sacrifices common, livestock- Spirituality common, high in society - Dravidians believed in reincarnation - Sometimes plants, animals, humansBlending of Aryan and Dravidian Values- Upanishads a sitting in front of - Practice of disciples gathering before aa,sages for religious advice - Collection of religious texts, works - Dialogues of religious debate - Teachings - All humans connected in universal aa,,,,soul known as Brahman - World is chaotic, Brahman is eternal - Reincarnation; ultimate goal to join aa,,,,Brahman- Many doctrines to explain thoughts - Samsara Where people go after death aa,and before reincarnation - Karma Accounted for specific soul aa,reincarnations - Brhadaranyaka Upanishad - State of moksha eternal sleep, peace - Join Brahman, universal soul - Bad people reincarnate as animals - Doctrines justify hereditary elite- Influenced Indian culture, values - Encouraged high ethical standards - + Honesty, self-control, charity, mercy - - Envy, gluttony, vice - Respect for all living things; vegan - Ultimate goal for union with BrahmanNotes