Do Now: What are the cornerstones of Civilization

1. Objectives: Examine ancient Indus Valley Civilization Do Now: What are the cornerstones of Civilization

2. Indus Valley Civilization

3. Indus Valley Civilization • Many cities existed but we will focus on: • Mohenjo Daro • Harappa • Which countries does the Indus Valley Civilization Lie Within?

4. Harappa: (Another Name of the Civilization)Comparative Timeline • For timeline purposes=2500BCE • Early Harappa • 3300-2800BCE • Mature Harappa • 2500BCE • Late Harappa • Through 1700BCE

5. The Gateway to Harappa

6. The Story According to the Experts • Harappa (Indus Valley) Civilization • Settled in the Indus River Valley • Developed efficient agricultural methods • Cities built near irrigation systems • System of writing (seals have been found) • Never deciphered

7. Life Giving Floods • Farmers planted after the floods in mid to late summer and harvested in spring before drought. • Wheat, barley and other crops provided food. Goats were also domesticated • Stone walls (citadels) were erected to stop violent floods. These walls became the walls of densely populated cities.

8. Harappa

9. Mohenjo Daro

10. Cities • Well planned • Straight streets laid out in grid pattern to facilitate easy movement • Houses were well built and protected • Huge citadels protected the cities from floods • Hygiene was seen as important so the cities were clean.

11. Citadel of Mohenjo Daro

12. Indoor Plumbing • Cities pumped water from reservoirs and wells into houses. • Working plumbing drained from houses to central locations in the cities • This helped keep cities clean

13. Trading Extensive trading took place • Single mast small vessels were built • Metals, pottery and beads were traded • Internal trade was established • Food and Ornamental Objects

14. Government and System of Weights and Measures • Municipal governments provided order to the settlements • They established an amazingly accurate system of weights and measures that facilitated trade and provided a foundation for accurate architectural planning

15. Legacy • One of the most advanced civilizations of the period. • Declined in 1700BCE • Probably due to invaders and the cooling and drying of the land. The rivers began diverting and drying.

16. 1700bc—Declined due to • climate shift: the monsoon patterns • Flooding • destruction of the forests • migrations of new peoples: the Aryans

17. The Aryans • Not to be confused with Hitler’s “Aryans” • These Aryans speak an Indo-European dialect • Related to other languages like Greek and Latin

18. The Aryan “Invasion” • Aryans, lighter-skinned invaders from the north • Dravidians, darker-skinned sedentary inhabitants of Harappa • Color Bias • Socio-Economic Implications • Implications of Theory?

19. The Aryans • Restless, warlike people • Tall, blue-eyed, fair-skinned • Describe the indigenous population as • short, “black”, noseless, and slaves • villages and kingdoms constantly fighting • war chiefs and kings • aristocrats and freemen

20. Possible route of the Aryan invasions

21. The Aryans • They called themselves “Aryans” • Their land: “Aryavarta” • land of the Aryans

22. The Early Aryans • Pastoral economy: sheep, goats, horses, cattle • Vegetarianism not widespread until many centuries later • Religious and Literary works: The Vedas • Sanskrit: Sacred tongue • Prakrit: Everyday language, evolved into Hindi, Urdu, Bengali • Four Vedas, most important Rig Veda • 1,028 hymns to gods

23. Oral Tradition • Passed down from priests and singers • Written down in the 500’s • The Vedas • “Veda” means “knowledge”

24. The Vedas • Our primary source • early Aryan tradition • later Hindu religion • 4 “Vedas”=Literary works=foundation of Hinduism • the Rig Veda is the oldest

25. Varna=Caste • There are 4 castes • Brahmin– Priests and teachers • Kshatriya– Warriors and Nobility • Vaishya– Merchants and Agriculturalists • Shudra– Servants and Labor • Panchama=Dalits, Untouchables or Outcastes • More recently referred to as Harijans by Gandhi

26. Subcaste/Jati • Jati refers to a subcaste system • Members of Jati are linked to the group economically. • Determines who a person can exchange food with • Most importantly, it determines who you can marry. • Sanskritization– The ability to change jati. • Act like a Jati above your own— • Marry into that Jati

27. How did this take shape? No universally accepted theory • Aryan Invasion– Aryans put themselves on top and it developed from there • Vedas make little mention of Varna • Bhagavad Gita and the Manusmriti– Varna Originated from god

28. Life in the Caste System • Marry within caste and usually within Jati • Usually arranged marriages but children are often allowed input • Very important celebration that may last up to 3 days. • Couple takes 7 steps around flames to bond themselves together for life • Diet, Clothing and Employment

29. So What Negative • Social stratification • Unemployment • Human Rights? • Constitution Outlaws Caste System Positive • Provides structure and stability • It is the traditional way of life • Falls in line with Hindu beliefs of Samsara, Karma and Dharma • Determines Identity • Creates a Community of Support

30. Sanskrit • The earliest of the ancient languages • The language of the Vedas • Only studied by the upper castes • Used mostly in religious rituals

31. Temples, Symbols and Holidays • Temples were not important early but are now more common • Some important symbols • Om or Aum– Is a symbol and a sound of Brahman (god) often used in • Diwali- Hindu New Year • Holi- Spring celebration– the coming of Krishna

32. Hindu Trinity

33. Other Gods