Indus Valley Civilization

1. Indus Valley Civilization AMH Mr. Moran

2. Largest of the 4 Urban Civilization Mesopotamia Egypt China India It was not discovered until 1920’s The earliest people are called Harappans Named after the city of Harappa This was a highly complex culture Not much is know because we can not read their writing Ancient Indus Valley Civilization

3. The main source of water came from the Indus River. Provided fertile land Overflowed twice a year March/April & August The valley is larger than Mesopotamia or Egypt A second river, the Hakra, ran parallel to the Indus River A Civilization in India

4. Indus civilization remnants have been discovered from as far south as Mumbai [Bombay], in Maharashtra State, India To as far north as the Himalayas and northern Afghanistan. Major cities Harappa Mohenjo Daro Dholavira Geography

5. The land was very fertile and flooding allowed farmers to plant two crops a year. River brought nutritious to the land Monsoon season brought great amounts of rain Agricultural surplus existed These people spoke Dravidian Natural Environment

6. River Valley Civilization Indus River runs from Lake Mansarovar in Tibet to the Arabian Sea Indus River

7. Indus culture seems to have gradually spread from west to east, after Harappa and Mohenjo Daro had declined. The drying up of the ancient Saraswati or Ghaggar-Hakra River, east of and parallel to the Indus, may also have affected the civilization. There are numerous Indus sites along that river bed. Spread of Culture • Earlier scholars believe that Indo-Aryan invaders destroyed the Indus cities and pushed the remnant populations into southern India.

8. Well planned Wide Streets Public baths Private and public wells Drains Reservoirs For example the Great Bath of Mohenjo Daro Cities

9. First Street, DK-G Area

10. Narrow streets and drains

11. Great Bath and Granary, SD Area

12. Great Bath and Granary, SD Area, looking west from the stupa mound

13. Great Bath, SD Area, looking north

14. Indoor plumbing Excellent pottery Jewelry Ivory objects Cotton clothing Used High quality tools System of weights and measures A writing system Harappan Achievements

15. Aryans invaded from the West Used chariots and advanced weapons Skilled warriors By 1200 BCE-Aryan warriors had swept through the Hindu Kush Much of what we know come from the Vedas-collections of poems, hymns, myths, and rituals written by priests. Aryan Invasion

16. Government, Society, and Language • Aryans were nomads who settled in villages (became sedentary) • Small communities emerged based on family and cooperation • Each community had its own leader (usually a great warrior) • Communities soon grew into villages • Villages were governed by Rajas-Hindu ruler • Most Rajas were related • Rajas fought against each other but united against a common enemy • Aryans developed the language of Sanskrit • First an oral language then written

17. Aryan society became complex and divided 4 varnas or social divisions were created. Based on occupation The Vedas dictate the varnas Brahmin-priests Kshatriyas-rulers and warriors Vaisyas-farmers , cratspeople, traders Sudras-laborers and non-Aryans Interactions between the varnas were strict and became complex. The Caste system was created The Caste system divided people by birth, wealth, or occupation Determined one’s place in society Very rare occasions people changed caste Caste Rules Sutras or guides were created Listed rules for the caste system The Caste System

18. Caste Rules Sutras or guides were created Listed rules for the caste system People could not eat with members of different castes If you broke rules you could be banned from homes and castes Banning sent one to the untouchables A member of the class that is excluded from and considered unclean and defiling by the four Hindu castes. Caste Rules- Sutras

19. Aryan religion Brought into India The religion was based on the Vedas Rig Veda-Creation Story Aryan Brahmins (priests) created additional Vedas which provided reflection and rituals for the religion Sacrifices/ Offerings Secret rituals Reflection/ thoughts Brahmanism

20. Hinduism emerges with the blending of the Vedas and Persian cultures Beliefs Many gods Brahma the creator, Siva the Destroyer, and Vishnu the Preserver All gods are part of a single universal spirit called Brahman The different gods represent the different aspects of Brahman Life and Rebirth Everyone has a soul or atman Soul holds a person’s personality (qualities) Person’s goal is to reunite one’ soul with Brahman Souls will eventually be reunited because our world is an illusion and Brahman is the only reality To obtain this one needs to look through the illusion and may take multiple lifetimes Reincarnation Karma- actions that determine future state Hinduism

21. Not everyone agreed with Hinduism Jainism was based on the teachings of Mahavira (a Kshatriya) Born 559 BC Believed the Brahmins put too much emphasis on rituals Gave up his life of luxury and became a monk. 4 Principles of Jainism Injure not life Tell the truth Do not steal Own no property Jainism Ahimsa- nonviolence

22. Ahimsa- nonviolence • Everything is alive and part of the cycle or rebirth • Humans, animals, insects, or even plants • No animal sacrifice • Vegetarians

23. In the late 500s BCE Siddhartha Guatama began to ask his won questions about life and religion He too was dissatisfied with Hinduism His quest for the answer created the following of Buddhism Born 563 BCE in northern India Prince (Kshatriya) Discovered the suffering of others Questioned the meaning of human life Traveled all of India looking for the answer to his questions Buddhism

24. In an effort to free his mind from daily concerns Did not wash himself Fasting Meditation Legend tells of 6 years of wandering and meditation Came to Gaya, near the Ganges River After 7 weeks of deep meditation, he became enlightened and had the answers to what he had been looking for (tree of wisdom) Humans suffer comes from 3 things Wanting what we like but do not have Wanting to keep what we like and already have Not wanting what we dislike but have Enlightenment

25. 4 Noble truths Suffering and unhappiness are a part of human life. No one can escape sorrow Suffering comes from our desires for pleasure and material goods. People cause their own misery because they want things they cannot have People can overcome desire and ignorance and reach nirvana-a state of perfect peace. Reaching nirvana frees the soul from suffering and from the need for further reincarnation. People can overcome ignorance and desire by following an eight-fold path that leads to wisdom, enlightenment, and salvation. Teachings of Buddhism

26. 4 Noble truths Control feelings and thought Goodness and kindness Proper meditation No lies or gossip Steal or cause harm Do good prevail evil Reject work that harms others

27. In 320 BC a military leader – Candragupta Maurya seized control of northern India Founded the Mauryan empire Mauryan rule lasted 150 years Used spies and 600,000 + army Thousands of elephants and chariots 301 BC gave up throne to become a Jainist monk 270 BC Asoka (grandson of Candragupta) extended rule over most of India Strongest of all Mauryan emperors Increase power and wealth Improved lives of India after converting to Buddhism Dug wells, built roads, planted trees, rest homes for travelers, sent missionaries spreading Buddhism Mauryan Empires

28. Fall of Mauryan Empire • After Asoka’s death (223 BC) the Empire fell apart • Sons fought each other for power • Invaders threatened the empire • By 184 BC, the last Mauryan King was killed by one of his own generals. • India was divided into small states

29. After 500 years of division- a new dynasty emerged Gupta Dynasty too over India around 320 AD Gupta Empire United most of India Became prosperous Candra Gupta I- not Mauryan Built Hindu temples Promoted Hinduism Tolerated Buddhism and Jainism Built Universities (Nalanda) Society Under Candra Gupta II India hit another high point All of the North was unified Strong economy Fine works of art and literature Wealth and beauty was admired by foreigners Gupta rule remained strong in India until the late 400s Gupta Empire

30. Religious Art Temples Hindu Buddhist Jainist Painting and sculpture Jewelry Paintings Sculptures Gods, daily life, ceremonies Literature Sanskrit Religious epics Mahabharata and Ramayana Pachatantra (poetry) Scientific Metallurgy Iron pillars Mathematics Hindu-Arabic numerals First to create the “zero” Medical Sciences Medicines from plants and minerals Inoculation Surgery Astronomy Seven planets Earth was a sphere Overall Indian Achievements