Early South Asia

1
Early South Asia

• A WH1 Presentation
• by Mr. Hess

2
Harappan Civilization(2500 BC 1500 BC)

• Undiscovered until early 20th century.
• Located in the Indus River Valley (now in
  Pakistan)
• Major cities Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro
• Each city was planned in a grid pattern with a
  large citadel (fortress) overlooking the town.

3
(No Transcript)
4
Harappan Civilization, cont.

• Farmers grew wheat, barley, rice and cotton.
• Goods produced included metal tools, jewelry,
  clay figures and pots, and cotton cloth.
• Harappa traded with Mesopotamia.

5
Harappan Civilization, cont.

• Pictograms were used for writing they still
  have not been deciphered.
• Harappan civilization ended possibly due to
  flooding or invasion.

6
The Aryan Conquest (1500 BC)

• Aryan nomads moved into the Indus River Valley
  and the Ganges Plain from the northwest.
• Their civilization became present-day India.
• They became farmers and herders.

7
The Aryan Conquest, cont.

• There was no written language at first, but
  Sanskrit became a major language of India.
• Hymns, legends and religious rituals were
  collected into the Vedas (Books of Knowledge).

8
Aryan Culture

• System of four rigid social classes (varnas)
• Warriors were the most honored, followed by
  priests, skilled workers, and unskilled workers
  and servants.
• Priests would eventually become the highest varna.

9
Aryan Culture, cont.

• Varnas were each divided into smaller groups,
  called jati.
• Each jati had its own neighborhood and did not
  mix with others.
• People would always remain in the varna into
  which they were born there was no way to change
  varnas during their lives.
• The only way to change varnas was believed to be
  through reincarnation.

10
Aryan Culture, cont.

• People in each varna had very strict duties
  (dharma), which stated what path in life men
  could take women were responsible for the
  household.
• Aryan customs and religion eventually evolved
  into Hinduism.