Indus Developed c. 3000/2500 BCE and ends c BCE Mysterious because language still undeciphered Polytheistic Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro – walled cities

Technology and Economy – Traded pottery, tools, decorative items, and obtained gold, silver, and copper from Persia and wool, leather and olive oil from Meso. – Metal tools of bronze and copper – Cotton c BCE – Writing of 400 symbols

Aryans Nomadic people of Indo-European origin enter through Khyber Pass c BCE Est. racial mix Vedas reveal hierarchical, male-dominated society Polytheistic with nature gods Social structure: The Caste System

Mauryans India developed by 6 th c. BCE into small regional kingdoms fighting each other, most often remaining decentralized One example of centralized rule was the Mauryans in 320s BCE Chandragupta Maurya fill power-vaccuum left after Alexander the Great withdraws from India

Ashoka His grandson Ashoka (Asoka) continued conquering until bloody campaign convinced him to rule by moral example Tightly organized bureaucracy, built roads, hospitals and rest houses which facilitated trade Rock Edicts After his death, the empire declined and India returned to regional kingdoms…but order and stability remained with increase in trade

Gupta India united again c. 320 CE by Chandra Gupta South remained out of his control Left local government and administration in power Invasion of the White Huns weakened the empire and India returned to regional rule

India in Foundations Economy – Benefited from expansion of agriculture and increase in trade – Ashoka promoted trade by building roads, wells, and inns – Silk Roads connected India with China – Indian sailors master monsoon winds, sailing to Indonesia and Southeast Asia – Their cotton and black pepper made it all the way to Rome

Social Structure and Gender Roles – Women forbidden to read Vedas and were legally minors – To marry well, a woman needed a large dowry – Women couldn’t inherit and widows could not remarry – Women had property rights but declined in status during Gupta – Ritual of sati for wealthy women – Strict social hierarchy with caste system, occupation dictated by caste

Culture, Arts, Science, Technology – Ashoka helps spread Buddhism – Hinduism gradually eclipses Buddhism – Indian art stressed symbolism – Geometry and algebra flourish: circumference of earth and value of pi calculated, concept of zero, decimal system and “Arabic” numbers developed – Chess and playing cards

Other Early Migrations Out of Africa Bantu – 2000 BCE to 1000 CE, spread from West Africa thru Sub-Saharan Africa, spread iron and language, bananas furthered migration, increased Africa’s population Phoenicians – Seafaring people of eastern Mediterranean Sea, colonies in N Africa and S Europe, alphabet, spread maritime skills and spread alphabetic language to Greece, Rome, and on

Polynesia – Australia around 60,000 years ago, 2000 BCE spread to other Pacific islands like Fiji, Samoa, Hawaii, planned colonization?, distinct development Israelites – Originated about 2000 BCE with Abraham, settled in Canaan, monotheism distinct, migration to Egypt led to slavery and freed by Moses, formed kingdom of Israel, no conversion, basis of Christianity and Islam, Jewish Diaspora