1. Early Societies in South Asia
Chapter 4

2. 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??

3. 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

4. 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??

5. 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

6. The Indo-European Migrations and Early Aryan India
c 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

7. 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)

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

9. 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)

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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)