Early Societies in South Asia

Chapter 4

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Harappan Society

c. 3000/2500 BCE – 1900 BCE - Dravidian people Indus River Valley: agriculture -> pop. -> cities – Limited evidence: early remains inaccessible and writing is undeciphered – 2 major cities: Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, plus smaller cities – Political organization – city-states??

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Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro

City walls, citadel, large granary (taxes??), marketplaces, temples, public bldgs., gridded streets, sewer system, pool Standardized weights and measures, architectural styles, brick sizes Trade: long distance and local

Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro

• • • Social classes: no palaces, but variation in house size and decor Beliefs??: representational art on seals, fertility (mother goddess and horned fertility god, sacred nature) Proto-Hindu??

Harappan Decline

• • • C. 1900 BCE Cause unclear, but: – Ecological degradation (deforestation, erosion, drought) – Natural catastrophes (flooding, earthquakes) By 1500 BCE, gone, but live on in Hindu culture

• • • • • The Indo-European Migrations and Early Aryan India c. 1500 BCE: Aryans begin migrating into N. India Pastoral (horse culture, cattle = wealth) Clashes with the Dravidians and other Aryans Formed chiefdoms with rajas Spread E and S, to Ganges: pop. grew -> cities and became regional kingdoms or states with councils

Caste and Varna

• Social stratification developed gradually based on occupation (plus skin color) – Early – 4 varnas: • Brahmin (priests) • Kshatriyas (warriors) • • Vaishyas (merchants, farmers) Shudras (serfs)

More about Castes

• • • Subcastes (jatis) formed with specialization Ate together and intermarried, had specified behavior Not completely rigid but allowed degree of social stability

• • • The Development of Patriarchal Society Men dominated early on Only men could inherit property, rule the family Women were illiterate; function = housekeeping and child-bearing (Law Book of Manu); practice of sati (suttee)

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Religion in the Vedic Age

Aryan Religion: – Oral literature in Sanskrit (sacred lang.) = Vedas (Rig Veda) – hymns to gods (Indra = chief god, war) – Ritual sacrifices performed to please the gods (animal slaughter, chanting priests, hallucinating worshippers) – Later, sacrifices stopped; some left to become hermits

• • The Blending of Aryan and Dravidian Values The Upanishads: dialogues – Universal soul (Brahman) is permanent and unchanging (unlike this life) Doctrines: – Samsara: temporary place for souls – Karma: behavior determines rebirth – Moksha: permanent liberation from this cycle through asceticism and meditation

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Religion in Vedic Society

Doctrines reinforce social order (caste system) and world view Encouraged ethical behavior, personal integrity, and respect for all living things (-> vegetarianism)