1. Today’s Goal Understand the environmental, social, political, and religious characteristics of the Indus River Valley civilization

2. Civilizations of Ancient India Indus River Valley & Aryan Transformation

3. Geography of Indian Subcontinent Mountains separate from rest of Asia Indus & Ganges Rivers Monsoons

4. 3300 BCE - 2400 BCE Earliest Civilization = Harappan

5. Harappan Planned Cities Levees Grid system Fortified citadel Oven-baked bricks of standard sizes Plumbing & sewage system Strong central gov’t!!!

6. Harappan Culture Written language not deciphered Social divisions No weapons Artifacts show prosperity Polytheistic religion – No temples – Theocracy Thriving trade Unicorn seal Bull figurine

7. Decline of Harappan Civ.??? Cities fell into decay – but why? Possible earthquakes & floods Over-used soil Invasion of Aryans

8. Aryans & The Vedic Age (1500-500 BC) Goal  How did the Aryans change early Indian society & culture?

9. Aryans & The Vedic Age (1500-500 BC) Indo-Europeans Aryan Migration - Pastoral  cattle - Warriors  chariots

10. The Vedas Sacred literature – four collections of prayers, spells, & instructions – Rig Veda  hymns to Aryan gods

11. The Caste System Develops Aryan means “noble” (Sanskrit) Viewed themselves as superior to native “dasas”

12. Varna (Social Hierarchy) Shudras Vaishyas Kshatriyas Pariahs [Dalits]  Untouchables Brahmins

13. The Caste System  The mouth?  The arms?  The legs?  The feet? WHO IS… What is a JATI? Brahmins Kshatriyas Vaishyas Shudras

14. Aryan Kingdoms Arise At first, Aryan chiefs were elected by the entire tribe Minor kings struggled for land & power As a result, the major kingdom of Magadha developed & expanded

15. One of the great epics of India, “Mahabharata” - Reflects the struggles that took place in India as the Aryans expanded south This epic indicates that a blending of cultures between Aryans & non-Aryans was taking place

16. Krishna was a semi-divine hero described as “dark-faced”, and therefore non-Aryan Statue of Krishna