Topic 4 – Civilizations of India

3 Major rivers in the subcontinent

• Indus River

• Ganges River

• Brahmaputra River

Monsoons – Subcontinent tends to be dry throughout winter months, followed by intense periods of heat and monsoon rains in summer/fall. These rains represent the life source for agriculture and civilizations, bringing floods that enrich the soil.

Indus River / Valley

• Dry arid climate in region

• Home to first civilizations in the subcontinent, Est. 7000 BCE

• By 1700 BCE, long establish cities faded and civilization along the valley disappeared.

Indus Valley Cities

• 2 of the largest = Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro

• Built with mud bricks using an organized grid pattern, had citadels around territory for protection.

• Built in drain systems prepared for monsoons or floods.

• Built in sewage system, most homes and buildings had bath and toilets with drainage to the rivers/tributaries.

• Farmers used irrigation channels to divert water to fields – Why?

• Dry Climate

• Cotton was grown and used for cloth, one of the 1st to do so.

• Trade – known to have traded with many outside regions, found seals from Indus area all over the western sites.

Harappa

• Exactly measured bricks

• Town grid

• Wide roads

• Drain & sewer system

Mohenjo-Daro

Mysteries of the Indus Valley

Despite having found many cities, archeologists have found little to no examples of social, political, or religious structures.

• Due to the well organized nature of city grids, it is assumed there was a strong central government. Yet not much is known of its structure, it was probably not a monarchy – why?

• No evidence of structures or monuments

• No evidence of organized religion either, no temples. Artifacts found suggests early Hindu practices/beliefs developed.

• Writing samples found have not been translated, scholars have not been able to decipher the texts.

• No weapons found – peaceful governments?

Collapse: these cities were abandoned around 1700 BCE. The peoples of this area fled to surrounding valleys and territories, like the Ganges and lower India.

Not much is known as to why, but there is some speculation –

• Natural disaster (earthquake)

• Climate change (draught / flood / deforestation)

• Mass migration to the Ganges, due to regular droughts and arid climate.

Indo-Aryans

• Nomadic peoples, migrating from North-Western Asia around 1700 BCE.

• Used Iron weapons and chariots, possibly overpowered local populations.

• Eventually mixed with local populations, Indo-Aryan language/cultural traits become dominant.

• These groups composed the original versions of theVedas.

The Vedas = Vedic Period

• These sacred poems & hymns were composed by early Indo-Aryan society in Sanskrit language.

• There are 4 groups of Vedas – each with a separate purpose.

Rigveda / Samaveda / Yajurveda / Athravaveda

• Rigveda is the Oldest and most significant.

• Originally the Vedas were only passed down verbally, being memorized by individuals (usually priests) and taught to others.

• Composed in the Sanskrit language – now considered sacred.

• They were later written down in Sanskrit.

• Hinduism developed from the teachings in the Vedas.

• Much of what is known about life during the early Vedic period is because of the information from the Vedas.

Caste system - a fixed social class system that people are born into

• Varnas – social group divisions mentioned in the Vedas

• A person is born in to a particular social group, or Varna

• Within groups, a person is also born into a Jati – a specific occupation based on family

• It was not impossible to move from Varna/Jati groups, but very unlikely.

• Originally only 4 Varnas we described in the Vedas. By 500 BCE a 5th group was established known as Dalit, or untouchables.

• Dalits are assigned Jatis that were considered horrible by the rest of society, therefore they are strictly separated and banned from participating in regular society.

In modern times, the Varna/Jatisystems have been strictly interpreted and it is nearly impossible to move out of a particular group. This situation was solidified during the British Raj, when the British Empire had political/economic control of India 1858 – 1947 AD.

• India gained independence from British rule in 1947, but the caste system was by then ingrained in society.

• The Indian Independence Movement was led by civil activist, Mahatma Gandhi.

• Currently the Indian government has made discrimination based on caste illegal, but it is widely ignored and the system is very widely practiced throughout the country.

Hinduism• Originated from teachings in the Vedas.• Attempts to answer philosophical

questions of the origins and purpose of life.

• Polytheism – Many Deities (god/godess) worshipped as symbols of various things.

• Brahman – The Creator, all other deities are it’s Avatars

Main Texts – explain principles of life and universe through stories• Upanishads – Holy stories connecting

‘heavenly forces and people’• Ramayana – Epic Poem, story of King

Rama and his wife, Sita• Mahabharata – Longest Epic Poem,

includes Bhagavad-Gita – a popular story

2 schools of Buddhism

• Theravada – Strict interpretation of Buddha's teachings, focus on enlightenment.

• Mahayana – Focus on compassion through works and sharing wisdom with others.

Jainism

Originating alongside Buddhism, but puts focus on nonviolence.

Jains pursue Nirvana through nonviolence towards all living things.