Ancient Asia India and Pakistan: early societies in South Asia o Early and Paleolithic Cultures Ancestors of the human species Homo erectus ( java man and peking man ) o Used stone axes to chop Homo sapiens o Very few differences among branches of homo sapiens based on geography Early Culture o Use of fire and weapons o Creation of cave painting Adaption to environmental changes New fishing and hunting techniques. o The Neolithic Revolution Elements of civilization Permanent settlements (cities), increases in population, accumulation of surpluses, writing, and specialization Early cradles of civilization Southwest asia in the tigris Euphrates region of Mesopotamia, the nile delta, coastal peru, and coastal southeast asia o Large scale agriculture generally based on grain o Domestication of animals o Foundations of Harappan Society The indus river Silt enriched water from mountain ranges Major society built by Dravidian peoples, 3k-2500 BCE Cultivation of cotton before 5k bce, early cultivation poultry Decline after 1900 bce Major cities: harrapa (Punjab region and Mohenjo-daro (mouth of the indus river) 70 smaller sites excavated o Mohenjo Daro Ruins Population c. 40k Regional center Layout, architecture suggests public purpose Broad streets, citadel, pool, sewage Standardized weights evident throughout region Specialized labor Trade o Lustration: ritual bathing o Harpan Society and Culture
Evidence of social stratification Dwelling size, decoration Toys o Women Harappan Civilization: matriarchal? Influence on later Indian culture Goddesses of fertility o Shiva God of creation and destruction o Mysterious End of Harappan Civilization Reasons for disappearance unclear Excessive deforestation, loss of topsoil Earthquakes Flooding o Evidence of unburied dead Disappearance by 1500 BCE o The Aryan invasion Aryans, lighter skinned migratory people of the north Indo Europeans Dravidians, darker skinned sedentary inhabitants of Harappa Color Bias Socioeconomic implications o Caste system (varna) o The early Aryans Pastoral econmy: seep, goats, horses, cattle Vegetarianism not widespread until many centuries later Religious and Literary works: The Vedas Sanskrit: scared tongue Prakrit: everyday language, evolved into Hindi, Urdu, Bengali Four Vedas, most important Rig Veda o 1028 hymns to gods o Language Sanskrit Prakrit Aryo = noble o Varna: The Caste System Origins in Aryan domination of Dravidians Brahmin, Priest Kshatriya, Warrior Vaishya, Merchant Sudra, Commoner Harijan: Untouchables; Pariahs Jati subsystem of castes
Related to urbanization, increasing social and economic complexity o Conflicts between Aryans and indigenous dasas (enemies, subjects) Aryans fighting dravidians Also Aryans fighting eachother o Cheifdoms: rajas o Early concentration in Punjab, migrations further south Development of iron metallurgy Increasing reliance on agriculture o Tribal connections evolve into political structures o Patriarchy in Ancient Indian Society Rule of the father Enforced in the Law book of Manu Lay out the virtues and duties of a woman and man o Eldest man has duties like arranging marriage o Doing business Overwhelmed Harappan matriarchy Caste, Jati inheritance through male line o Women in Aryan Groups Women not allowed to read sacred texts Child Marriage Married off after first period Around 1-14 years old Infanticide 1-2 girls but more is bad Honor/Shame Virginity o Sati Expectation that women of certain social castes will throw themselves on the funeral pyre If they don t do that, the wife could be forced to burn by relatives o Aryan Religion Major diety of Rig Veda: Indra, war god Elaborate ritual sacrifices to gods Role of Brahmins important o Puja Daily prayer of some sort o Early Theology Gods created the universe Purusa dismembered and formed the cosmos and society Agni and Soma Fire and transformation Immortality
Indra Warrior God Vishnu God of art and humanities Can be a warior Shiva God of destruction and creation Isn t good or evil, just is. Yogi Dancing to create and destroy Durga Mother goddess Slays demons Protect families Protects mothers, fertility Kali Goddess of destruction and death Anddd kinda of creation Ganesha Remover of obsticles Bringer of good luck Worship of the true Krishna Krishna the source of all avatars of God Supreme personality of the godhead Radha Krishna s divine consort represents love Individul soul in an eternal personal identity Rejects monism o Trend towards Monism: Upanishads Ritural interiorized The trend toward monism Brahman Brahman and He She/it Manifest and unmanifest brahman o Sagun and narguna Atman o Your atman is a little spark of brahman. Sacred energy Maya Gurus Early Society in East Asia o Ying and Yang Balance. Dark and light, man and woman (every man needs a little bit of woman), etc.
o The Yellow river 3000 Miles: Tibet to the yellow Sea Deposits fertile, light colored soil Periodic flooding: China s sorrow Tian Heaven, god figure. o Prehistoric society: Yangshao 5k-3k bce Banpo Village Painted pottery Bronze tools o The earliest dynasties Xia 2200 bce Organized thorugh village network Hereditary monarchy x o Father son Flood control Shang 1766-1122bce writing developed Zhou 1122-256 bce o Origins of chinese martial arts Kung Fu Gongfu or Washu Developed in Xia, further developed in Shang and Zhou Leaping, tumbling, kicking attacks for defense, hunting attack, but also health and self maintenance Reduces stress o Shang Dynasty Bronze metallurgy from 1200 BCE State monopoly Horse drawn chariots, other wheeled vheicles Large armies Political organization: network of fortified cities, loyal to center 1k cities Capital moved six times o Impressive architecture at Ao, yin Other regional kingdoms coexist: Sanxingdui o Social Order Ruling classes great advantage Palatial compounds, luxurious lifestyle Supported by agricultural surplus, tax revenues Defended by monopoly on bronze weaponry Hereditary privilege