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Indus River Valley. Saya Wenhold, Lydia Seip, and Noah Thomas. Social Structures. occupational sub-/caste, or varna, system four main castes, millions of subcastes (jati) later a fifth caste was added a person’s jati give them specific rules possible, but hard, to move up caste or jati
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Indus River Valley Saya Wenhold, Lydia Seip, and Noah Thomas
Social Structures • occupational sub-/caste, or varna, system • four main castes, millions of subcastes (jati) • later a fifth caste was added • a person’s jati give them specific rules • possible, but hard, to move up caste or jati • easier to drop castes or jatis • Sati, social custom in which widow throws self on funeral pyre
Politics • There is no evidence of a Harappan political system, it is possible that Harappan cities had their own economic and political centers. • When the Aryans moved into India they did not have a government, but created Chiefdoms. • The Lawbook of Manu dealt with moral behavior and social relationships, including sex and gender relationships.
Interaction • The Aryans had an advanced plumbing system. • The Harappans obtained gold, silver, copper, lead, gems and semi precious stones from Persia and the Hindu Kush mountains. • Archaeologists found little evidence of weapons. • From about 2,300 to 1,750 B.C.E., they also traded with Mesopotamia, exchanging Indian copper, ivory, pearls, and semi precious stones for Sumerian wool, leather and olive oil. • Standardized weights, measures, architectural styles, and brick sizes
Cultures • Samsara and Karma reinforce caste system and social hierarchy • Upanishads lead spiritual contemplation - taught to observe ethical standards - respect for all living (veg. diet)
Economics • When the Harappans were in the Indus River valley, irrigation was available for crops, and once agriculture took off, so did the population. • The Aryans practiced a limited amount of agriculture. • Aryans had a pastoral economy, they kept sheeps, goats, horses and cattle. • Cattle became a staple in every Aryans diet, they consumed dairy and beef products. • Cattle were also a symbol of wealth. • Trade from the main cities, Harappa and Mohenjo-daro made their way to all corners of the Indus valley. • Trade with Mesopotamia mostly occurred by ships that traveled along the coastline of the Arabian sea.
WARNING! • Follow the laws in the law book of Manu if you want to go unpunished. • Be careful because in Harappan societies there was no central form of government.
Discussion Questions • The Aryans have many qualities of the neolithic society, what are some specific examples that show that they belong in the neolithic era? • The Aryans had their own religious system before merging with the dravidians. What were some changes that the religion had experienced and what happened to cause these changes to happen? • Large deposits of silt have prevented scientists, archeologists, and paleontologists from examining the earliest remains for the indus river valley civilizations. How would the earlier civilizations have differed from the neolithic civilizations scientists know about? • In the Aryan society it was expected to treat women with respect and honor, yet they seemed to have fewer rights. What in the Aryan society caused women to go from equals to having their only jobs be to bear children and maintain the household?
