Great Traditions : Hinduism Indus Valley Civilization Harappa, Mohenjo Daro, and Dholivara

Geography/Languages/Origins India is located in the South Asian Subcontinent. The Himalayas divide the Eurasian plates from the Himalayas plates. Three main languages were spoken during the Indus Valley Civilization.

Religion The Rig Veda is believed to be the most primitive Indian religion dominant at that time. In the later centuries(1000-850B.C.) or the Brahmanic Period, the Aryans migrated further south towards the Ganges, and the Brahmanas or the priestly books became the dominating religion. Other three important Vedas are the Sama Veda, Yajur-Veda and the Atharva Veda:- [1] The seer, our father, sacrificing all these worlds, sat on the high priest's throne: Pursuing wealth by [offering] prayer, he made away With what came first, entering into the latter things.

Religions.. This period is also known as the Great Epic Age, since the two most famous Hindu Epics, the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana formulated. Shiva is one of the Hindu trinity that comprises the creator Brahma, the protector Maha Vishnu, and the destructor Shiva whose primary responsibility is maintaining the life cycle Other religions such as Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism also play equal part in Hindu festivals such as Diwali, Raksha Bandhan, Navratri, Utran, Ganesh Chatruthri, Janmashtami, Dassera, Padusan, Mahavira Jayanti, Baisakhi, Ramzan.

Spirituality Most of the people were superstitious, and believed in certain astrological events. For example, the farmers would look at the location of specific stars to predict farming activities, and rainfall. The use of Hand astrology is still common in today’s contemporary culture. Priests and other religious classes believed in God reincarnation Belief in life after death.

Political-Scale Culture A well-known minister Kautilya Arthasastra. Administrative duties An organized kingdom Government officials Most of these villages and towns were located near the river Indus or Saraswati. Law was based on dharma. The political and law system has been well-known and has been the implemented into the modern democratic system.

Economy Basically the kingdom was divided into four Varnas to better perform the administrative tasks: - Brahmans. - Kshatriyas. - Vaishyas. - Sudras. Agriculture was the most dominant mode of food production till the early Indus Valley Civilization, but slowly the later rulers, the Aryans also adopted the horticulture mode of production. Trade flourished between cities, and also between different culture, such as the Mesopotamia and Indus. This was justified by the seals found in Egypt, and other cities.

Social Power The Indus Valley Civilization was a less egalitarian society. Men as well as women had equal sex status, but administrative duties and roles were biased. There were distinction in the duties performed based on the Varna system. The Indus people thought this as an advantage, as the lower-level job such as sweeping, cleaning, and maintaining the drainage system were performed by the Shudras, and so on. This way the King could concentrate on his administrative and political duties, and responsibilities towards the people.

Caste Basically the caste or creed, was determined at the time of birth. The higher castes were considered as the pure, and the lower castes were considered as the impure due to their association with impure occupations. Kings were not allowed to associate themselves with the lower caste. It is believed that the caste system were created by Lord Brahma (the creator god) who because of their ‘superiority and eminence of birth’, were entitled to ‘whatever exists in the universe’.

Architecture/Art Trade using carnelian seals. Stone of the priestly king. Undeciphered script The architecture of the city was constructed using the Arthasastra Drainage. Great Bath, and wells. Ruins of city Dholivara. Taj Mahal, Ajanta and Ellora Caves, and more.

Decline of the Civilization Mystery. Probably the most common causes are: - Destruction by foreign invasions specially from the West such as the Aryans. - The most important reason or hypothesis is the drying of the rivers such as the Indus, and the Saraswati. Also, the rivers may have changed the course. - Natural destruction such as floods are other known causes, since the Indus cities had frequent flooding due to it’s vicinity near the rivers.