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Indus Valley Civilization and Early Aryan Society

The Indus Valley civilization arose around 3000/2500 BCE along the Indus River valley. Two major cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, had fortified citadels, granaries, and standardized architecture. The society declined after 2000 BCE due to ecological degradation and natural disasters. Aryan tribes migrated into India around 1500 BCE, bringing iron tools and domesticated horses. They established kingdoms and a social hierarchy known as the caste system, dividing people into priestly, warrior, merchant, and laborer classes. Hinduism also developed during this period, emphasizing reincarnation and seeking liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

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66 views12 pages

Indus Valley Civilization and Early Aryan Society

The Indus Valley civilization arose around 3000/2500 BCE along the Indus River valley. Two major cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, had fortified citadels, granaries, and standardized architecture. The society declined after 2000 BCE due to ecological degradation and natural disasters. Aryan tribes migrated into India around 1500 BCE, bringing iron tools and domesticated horses. They established kingdoms and a social hierarchy known as the caste system, dividing people into priestly, warrior, merchant, and laborer classes. Hinduism also developed during this period, emphasizing reincarnation and seeking liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

Uploaded by

tiramisueater
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INDUS VALLEY

CIVILIZATION
AND EARLY ARYAN
SOCIETY

WHERE IS IT?

THE GEOGRAPHIC SETTING

Indian Subcontinent

Northern Plain of Indus, Ganges Rivers


Southern Deccan

To North: Impassable Himalayas


To East: Passable low hills
To Northwest: Passable Hindu Kush, Khyber Pass
To West: Arabian Sea

High plateau, extremely dry


Bordered on East and West by mountains
Separated from north by river, low mountains

The Monsoon Winds

Off the land October to April: Dry Season


Off the Indian Ocean May to September: Wet Season

THE INDUS RIVER


CIVILIZATION

HARAPPAN SOCIETY

The Indus River

Harappa and Mohenjo-daro

Runs through north India, sources at Hindu Kush, Himalayas


Rich deposits, but less predictable than the Nile
Wheat and barley were cultivated in Indus valley
Cultivated cotton before 5000 B.C.E.
Complex society of Dravidians, 3000/2500 B.C.E.
Possibly served as twin capitals
Each city had a fortified citadel and a large granary
Broad streets, market places, temples, public buildings
Standardized weights, measures, architecture, bricks

Specialized labor and trade

Domestic trade, items inc. pottery, tools, metals


Trading with Mesopotamians about 2300 to 1750 B.C.E.

HARAPPAN
SOCIETY/CULTURE

Social distinctions as seen from living styles


Religious beliefs strongly emphasized fertility

Many deities were feminine


In later Hinduism, Dravidian gods are blue-faced

Harappan society declined from 2000 B.C.E.


onward

Ecological degradation led to a subsistence crisis


Natural catastrophes - floods or earthquakes
Population began to abandon their cities by about
1700 B.C.E.
Almost entirely collapsed by about 1500 B.C.E
Evidence of warfare, invasion

INDO-EUROPEANS &
ARYANS

Indo-Europeans
Linguistic similarities among Europe, Persia, and India
Indo-European family of languages
Indo-Iranian including Aryans (India), Medes/Persians (SW Asia)
Greek, Balto-Slavic, Germanic, Italic, Celtic
Tocarian, possibly Shang of China
Migrations as the key to explain linguistic similarities
Indo-European origins
North of Black Sea, Caspian Sea, Aral Sea; Ukraine, Southern Russia
Common origins established through key vocabulary, traditions,
myths
Indo-European migrations
To Tarim Basin, fourth millennium B.C.E.
Shang of China appear to have been Indo-Europeans
To Anatolia (the Hittites), 3000 B.C.E.
By 2nd millennium, established communities in Europe
Around 1500 BCE, domesticated horse amongst Indo-Europeans

Often called the Chariot Peoples; introduced iron and horse technologies

ARYANS IN INDIA
The early Aryans

Depended heavily on a pastoral economy


No writing system, but orally transmitted works called the Vedas
Sacred language (Sanskrit) and daily-use language (Prakit)

The Vedic Age: 1500 to 500 B.C.E.

A boisterous period, conflict with indigenous peoples


Called indigenous people dasas - "enemies" or "subject people"
Indra, the Aryans' war god and military hero
Aryan chiefdoms fought ferociously among themselves

Aryan migrations in India

First settled in the Punjab, the upper Indus River valley


Spread east and south from their base
After 1000 B.C.E. settled between Himalayan foothills and Ganges
Used iron tools and developed agriculture
By 500 B.C.E. migrated as far south as the northern Deccan
Lost tribal organizations but established regional kingdoms

THE CASTE SYSTEM

Caste and varna

Caste:

Hereditary, unchangeable social classes

Sanskrit word varna, "color," referring to social classes


Social distinctions based on racial skin colors

Social distinctions in the late Vedic Age

Four main varnas, recognized after 1000 B.C.E.

brahmins (priests)
kshatriyas (warriors and aristocrats: rulers)
vaishyas (cultivators, artisans, and merchants)
shudras (landless peasants and serfs)
Later, the category of the pariah (untouchables) was added
Subcaste or jati

Represents more elaborate social classification, developed after 6th c. B.C.E.


Jati, or subcastes, were determined by occupations
The elaborate rules of jati life

Caste and social mobility

Caste system was capable of accommodating social change


Social mobility was very difficult but still possible
Foreign peoples could find a place in society of the castes

RISE OF PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY

Patriarchal, Patrilineal society

Source: The Lawbook of Manu

Original Aryan Society: women had rights, some were


chiefs
Changes occurred with change to sedentary civilization
Men served as priests, warriors, and tribal chiefs
Family lines based on male descendants (the patriline)
Only males could inherit property
Men learned the Vedas and received formal education
Prepared by an anonymous sage, 1st century B.C.E.
Dealt with moral behavior and social relationships
Advised men to treat women with honor and respect
Subjected women to the control and guidance of men
Women's duties: bear children, maintain the household

Sati as a social custom

ARYAN RELIGION

The Aryan gods


The war god, Indra
The gods of the sun, sky, moon, fire, health, etc.
The god Varuna - an ethical concern
Ritual sacrifices
Importance of ritual sacrifices
Horse sacrifice originally
Priests were specialists of the ritual sacrifices
Ritual sacrifices for rewards from the divine power
Spirituality
Many Aryans dissatisfied with ritual sacrifices in late
Vedic age
A shift to spiritual contemplation
Thoughtful individuals retreated to forests as hermits
Dravidian notions were coopted
Transmigration of soul
Reincarnation (nirvana)

THE RISE OF HINDUISM

The Upanishads

Brahman: the universal soul

Brahman was the only genuine reality


Highest goal: to escape reincarnation and join with Brahman

Atman: The individual self-soul that is part of Brahman


Teachings of the Upanishads

Works of religious teachings, 800 to 400 B.C.E.


The religious forums: dialogues between disciples and sages

Samsara: An individual soul was born many times


Dharma: Caste duties
Karma: specific incarnations that a soul experienced
Moksha: permanent liberation from physical incarnation

Religion and Vedic Society

Samsara and karma reinforced social hierarchy


Upanishads were also spiritual and intellectual contemplations
Taught to observe high ethical standards
Respect for all living things, a vegetarian diet

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