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Early Societies of South Asia 1500 B.C.E. to 500 B.C.E.

Early Societies of South Asia 1500 B.C.E. to 500 B.C.E. Harappan Society (Indus Civilization) and Its Neighbors, ca. 2000 B.C.E . Mysterious End of Harappan Civilization. Reasons for disappearance unclear Excessive deforestation, loss of topsoil Earthquakes? Flooding?

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Early Societies of South Asia 1500 B.C.E. to 500 B.C.E.

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  1. Early Societies of South Asia1500 B.C.E. to 500 B.C.E.

  2. Harappan Society (Indus Civilization) and Its Neighbors, ca. 2000 B.C.E.

  3. Mysterious End of Harappan Civilization • Reasons for disappearance unclear • Excessive deforestation, loss of topsoil • Earthquakes? • Flooding? • Evidence of unburied dead • Disappearance by 1500 B.C.E. • Harappan traditions survived – agricultural practices, religious beliefs, and urban traditions

  4. The Early Aryans • Pastoral economy: sheep, goats, horses, cattle • Cattle not sacred until many centuries later • Religious and literary works: the Vedas • Sanskrit: sacred tongue • Prakrit: everyday language, evolved into Hindi, Urdu, Bengali • Four Vedas (wisdom), most important Rig Veda • 1028 hymns to Aryan gods

  5. The Vedic Age • Conflicts between Aryans and indigenous dasas(“enemies,” “subjects” “Dark-skinned”) • Aryans fighting Dravidians • Also Aryans fighting each other • Chiefdoms: rajas • Early concentration in Punjab, migrations further south • Development of iron metallurgy • Increasing reliance on agriculture • Tribal connections evolve into political structures

  6. Varna: The Caste System • Origins in Aryan domination of Dravidians • Brahmin, priest • Kshatriya, warrior • Vaishya, merchant • Shudra, serf • “Untouchables”

  7. Patriarchy in Ancient Indian Society • “Rule of the father” • A social order that stood alongside the caste system, and varna hierarchy • Enforced in the Lawbook of Manu • Women to be subject to fathers, husbands, sons • Women’s most important duties to bear children and maintain wholesome homes

  8. Aryan Religion • Major deity of Rig Veda: Indra, war god • Elaborate ritual sacrifices to gods • Role of brahmins important • Ca. 800 B.C.E. some movement away from sacrificial cults • Mystical thought, influenced by Dravidians

  9. Teachings of the Upanishads • Texts that represent blending of Aryan and Dravidian traditions • Composed 800-400 B.C.E., some later collections until thirteenth century C.E. • Brahman: the universal soul • Samsara: reincarnation • Karma: accounting for incarnations • Moksha: mystical ecstasy • Relationship to system of Varna

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