Chapter 4: Early Societies of South Asia

Key Terms,
Groups, People,
I ssues, Trends,
I deas, etc.

Dravidian people
Aryan people
- Indo-Europeans
Indus Valley Civ.
- Harappa
- Mohenjo-Daro
Caste system
- Varna, jeti
- Untouchables
Vedas
Upanishads

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 people
Happaran 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
Notes

- 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 abandoned
Indo-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 Dravidians
The 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 years
The Vedas
- Daily tongue Prakrit
- Evolved into Hindi, Urdu, etc.
- Sacred tongue - Sanskrit
- Did not use writing
- Vedas orally transmitted
- Religious text, written eventually
The 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 Punjab
Changes in Political Organization
- As populations grew, lost tribal political
a,organization to formal organizations
- Chiefdoms to regional kingdoms
- Around 1000 BC 500 BC
Origins 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 efforts
Development 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 relationships
Religion 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 Hinduism
Aryan 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, humans
Blending 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 Brahman