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Importance of ideological control of a populace. Development of Indus River Valley Civilization. INDUS RIVER VALLEY. IMPORTANT GEOGRAPHY. Protected by mtns to the north Dependent on monsoons for their weather (monsoon = seasonal wind) Indus River was very unpredictable.
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Importance of ideological control of a populace Development of Indus River Valley Civilization
IMPORTANT GEOGRAPHY • Protected by mtns to the north • Dependent on monsoons for their weather • (monsoon = seasonal wind) • Indus River was very unpredictable
HARAPPAN CIVILIZATION(emerged around 2600 BC) EARLIEST EXAMPLE OF INDIAN CULTURE URBAN SOCIETY – VERY COMPLEX NO LARGE MONUMENTAL ARCHITECTURE (NO EVIDENCE OF PALACES OR TEMPLES) FIRST INDOOR SANITATION SYSTEMS STANDARD WEIGHTS AND MEASURES BY 1700 BC, THEY HAD DISAPPEARED
OTHER INDIAN CULTURES • CEMETERY H CULTURE(cremation, breakdown of trade networks) • GANDHARA CULTURE(terracotta figurines, simple dot designs) • OCHRE COLOURED POTTERY CULTURE(may be the last remains of Harappan culture or entirely separate – who knows?)
Cemetery h culture Ochre coloured pottery
VEDIC PERIOD • EMERGED AROUND 1700 BC • ASSOCIATED WITH THE ARYAN INVASIONS OF INDIA • VEDAS WERE THEIR SACRED LITERATURE • ARYANS - tall, light skinned, different language, no writing, heroic gods, wealth = cows • DASAS – dark skinned, town dwellers, life-giving gods
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CASTES Brahmins(priests) - MOUTH Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors) – ARMS Vaishyas (peasants and traders) – LEGS Shudras (laborers) – FEET “Untouchables” Made impure because of their work (grave diggers, butchers, trash collectors)
BRAHMINS KSHATRIYAS VAISHYAS SHUDRAS UNTOUCHABLES (NOT PICTURED)
Mauryan Empire (321 – 184 BC) • Chandragupta Maurya • Raised a large army due to heavy taxes • Defeated the Macedonians and united the Indian subcontinent by the age of 20 • Bureaucracy – modeled after the Persians • Asoka • Devout Buddhist – promoted religion & tolerance • Benevolent ruler • Extensive public works builder (roads, rest stops)
Gupta Empire (AD 320 – 535) • Founded by Chandra Gupta I who was not related to Chandragupta Maurya • 1st three emperors of this empire saw great achievements in art, literature, and religion • The Guptas extended control to the western coast of India, thus enabling maritime trade with the Mediterranean
Indian Culture • Writing academies • Traveling drama groups • Astronomy • Seven day week • Invented zero and calculated pi (π) • Middlemen along the Silk Road • Rise in banking