Harappan Civilization on the Indus River/ Indus Valley Civilization c.3000-1600 BCE

Harappan Civilization on the Indus River/ Indus Valley Civilization c.3000-1600 BCE

Before Bronze Age –

Since the 6000s there have been rivers existing across India. 3000 BCE – there are already people traveling back and forth. This was already a unified empire. The two biggest city states was Mohenjo-Daro and the Harappa. They had at least 2-story buildings. They had grid roads (they planned out how and what to build). They had indoor plumbing. It reached its economic zenith between 2500-2000 BCE. They probably spoke the Dravidian Language. It was a spoken language in India.

2000-1500 BCE: The Aryan Invasion – these Aryans have been moving into India.

Indus River change courses. This means something catastrophic. This is an environmental change. This causes a shortage of water supply. They were Indo-European Speakers. They were a Pastoral Nomad. Most nomads are pastoral. This means that they have cattle that they are moving around. They spoke a language that was called Sanskrit. This is going to become the holy language of India and they focus on fire in their worship. They were a nomadic warrior culture. Most nomads support a warrior culture.

1700-600 BCE: The Vedic Age

Not much evidence on this period. The stories that were written down during the Early Videc Period were called The Vedas. Somebody told stories of the wars, gods, etc. Around the year 1100 some of them started becoming agriculturalists. When they started settling down, those signs started becoming a sign of wealth. They started forming Tribal Territories. Janapadas (genetic, family) – were the realms, republics and kingdoms of the Vedic period on the Indian subcontinent — late Bronze Age into the Iron Age — from about 1200 BCE to the 6th century BCE. Jenus – Genes or Genetics. This means family or tribe. Pedi means foot. This is the “foot of the tribe”. This means that these tribes had common roots. We start to see the emergence of Kings. Rajas – the Latin term for king was (‘rex’). During the late Vedas age, there were four Vedas written down. One of the important ones was the Rig Veda. It includes a lot of mythological narratives like gods interacting with this world. It includes tales of conquests. It talks about gods helping to conquer the Indus Valley Civilization. It includes mantras (chants).

1100-600 BCE: Late Vedic Period

“Creation Hymn” from the Rig Veda

The Yajur Veda – this had instructions on how to perform sacrifices properly.

The Sama Veda – this is essentially music

The Atharva Veda – this is about spells and magical rituals

India Part II 10/05/2017

The Vedic Tradition

The Hindus believed that the Vedas are true and holy. Hinduism

They are not going to believe the Vedas are authoritative.

Religions that come out of the Veda Tradition.

Brahmanism – Aryan Religion in the 1^st millennium BCE

They are following a priestly group called:

-Brahmins: these are Aryan priests. These are also the modern day priest of Hinduism. It is said that these priests are able to tap into the capable reality of Brahman. The composition of Brahmanas – these are a list of instructions on how Brahmans can tap into the power of ultimate reality and manipulate it. This means they have ultimate control. Ultimate control came before the gods. We also start to see the emphasized ideal of the immortal soul. Upanishads – It is these that become the handbooks to understand the practice of Hinduism. These are philosophical works. They are all about the metaphysical world. It is the first where they come up with the idea of transmigration of souls. This is the first of where Reincarnation comes from. Your soul migrates to another body (Samsara). Dharma – There is a natural order to things and this applies to individual humans. You have duties that are born as a natural station. Successfully following the Dharma/law earns you Karma. This then affects your rebirth (Samsara). They talk about the concepts of Atman (self/soul/reality you are in now). Yoga – the practice to develop yourself spiritually. To develop your Atman. Brahman is the ultimate reality. This is the reality that holds the universe together. Upanishads say that our experience is just an illusion. When one is trying to understand Brahman, one is trying to get rid of self (senses telling the whole story). When you die you will obtain Moksha (the escape of cycle of rebirth). Samsara is the cycle of moving souls. Brahmanism was polytheistic. It believed in multiple gods. Pantheism – is the belief that if you take everything in the universe from the beginning to end of time, then this is called God.

Mahajanapadas – japa (“gene”),

6^th to 4^th centuries BCE: These were the major foothold. The Mahajanapadas. We start to see the caste system arise from these people. If you are a certain class, you are also the same class. Father and son would usually be the same class. The Brahmins were the priests and they were more superior than the nobles and warriors. They would preserve Veda, give/receive gifts, and perform rituals. Kshatriya were the warrior class to protect the people, give away wealth, and perform rituals. They were supposed to be the best at it. Vaishya were people with skills and jobs like blacksmiths. Shudra were the laborer/servant. They serve the three other classes. Dalit were the untouchables and they were physically and spiritually unpure. They were subhuman.

People would buy into this system because they need karma. They can’t revolt or they will come back as something worse. Caste is a social organization.

Jati – divisions exist within varnas. There are hierarchies within jatis.

Jainism – In the 6^th century, founded by Nataputta Vardhamana. He came from the Kshatriya class. He spent a good portion of his time in his 20s living with the wild folk. He hung out with Dravidian speakers. He starts buying into the things they are sharing. At the age of 30, he goes and lives in the wilderness with Ascetic monks. Ascetic is the practice of not taking into worldly pleasure. He takes this practice of these wild folks and founded this religion. He still believes in Moksha, but wants to get out of it. They believe that our souls are trapped in matter. If you are able to turn away from mortal traditions, you tap into the power of God. There are no priests, so no orders. There are monks, but no priest at the top. They believe everything has a soul including plants. They believe there are microscopic organisms living in rocks, plants, etc. They have a strict approach to life. This is not an easy religion to follow. They are vegan. This is an enlightenment to them. There are about 3-4 million followers in India.

Ahisma – this means non-violence.

Buddhism – They reject the authority of the Brahmans. They were also founded by the Kshatriya class. There was a prince coming out of Nepal. The person that founded it was Siddhartha Gautama in the 6^th century BCE. According to this religion, anybody can get saved from Samsara. This becomes popular in India all the way up to 1200 CE. The only enlightenment is achieving Nirvana. They reject the caste system.

Carvaka – This is a philosophical school that is atheistic. The philosophers spoke of Brahmans as charlatans. They believe in no life after death. They don’t believe in the eternal soul. They are naturists. Nature is all there is. There is only the material world. “It is up to us to make it a better place for all people”.

*Documentary – 2 hours of Buddhism*

Know the four sites, the four things that he sees. You need to be aware of his enlightenment underneath the Bodhi tree. You need to know the four noble troops. You need to know Nirvana. Need to know part of the Buddhist teaching has Ahisma (non-violence). You need to know Sangha.

India Part III – The classical age

The late Vedic age is the Iron Age of India. Brahmanism was religion of the kingdoms. People questioned the social orders of Brahmans. Buddhism splits into two different sects during the 4^th century BCE. They split into sects like the Mahayana (greater vehicle) – they believe that everyone needs to have access to Buddhism even if you are a lay person (a regular folk). Within Mahayana Buddhism, they develop a belief called Bodhisattvas. They bring themselves to the age of enlightenment. They hold themselves back and help other people achieve enlightenment. They are essentially saints to get closer to god. The second sect is Theravada. This translates as “the way of the elders”. These people are more in line with the teachings of the Buddha. Anyone can become a monk. To achieve enlightenment, they would give gifts. Theravada Buddhism emphasizes attaining self-liberation through one’s own efforts. Meditation and concentration are vital elements of the way to enlightenment. … Meditation is one of the main tools by which a Theravada Buddhist transforms themselves, and so a monk spends a great deal of time in meditation.

Magadha – The Nanda Empire takes over (345-321 BCE). The Ganges River runs across India. The Indo-Gangetic plane is where the empires are located. The Nanda Dynasty gets more troops to try to fight off Alexander the Great even though they never fight his army.

Chandragupta Maurya was a successful warrior against the Greek states. He was raised by a Brahman. This Brahman was his guru (“instructor/master”). The name of this Brahman was Chanakya.  He pushes the Greeks out of the Punjab. In 322 BCE, he defeats the Nanda Empire. He founds the Mauryan Empire and this is the beginning of the Iron Age. He takes over most of the Indian subcontinent. By the time he is done conquering, he rules over the Sanskrit and Dravidians. He converts to Jainism. He becomes Ascetic.

Emperor Ashoka – he ruled from 269-232 BCE. He is ruthless. He expands and leads his armies. In 260 BCE, he converted to Theravadan Buddhism. He starts putting out edicts where you are not allowed to kill animals. The Brahmans can no longer do this. He converted to Theravada Buddhism specifically. Since he eliminates festivals of the Brahmans, there is no power. He gave Theravadan monks land. He paid them to go on missions to Sri Lanka. Buddhism becomes powerful of India because of this guy.

He is similar to Constantine in that he embraces Christianity. – Council of Nicaea

*Comparison between Emperor Ashoka and Constantine (religious and political hierarchy)

Dissolution of the Mauryans –

Brahmanism to Hinduism – The word Hindu comes from the same word India. Sindu River turns into Hindu then India.

Dynasty- family who passes down power from father to son.

Paper 2

Describe how the various societies of Bronze, Iron, and Classical Age South Asia and China organized themselves (political hierarchies, social roles, etc.). How did each of their cultures (e.g., religious beliefs, gender ideals, technology, trade policies, etc.) reflect and/or effect their social organization? What phenomena were most influential on the civilization as a whole (e.g., political leaders, religious leaders, beliefs, cultural practices, other civilizations, etc.)?