Chapter Overview An agricultural economy and its accompanying Neolithic communities emerged on the Indian subcontinent sometime after 7000 B.C.E. Eventually some of the Neolithic villages further evolved into urban societies. The earliest such society was Dravidian and was known as the Harappan society. It flourished along the Indus River valley in the third millennium B.C.E. Coinciding with the decline of the Harappan society, large numbers of Indo-European migrants were moving into India from central Asia beginning around 1900 B.C.E. These peoples, known as Aryans, brought with them cultural traditions sharply different from the earlier societies. After a period of turmoil the Aryan and Dravidian cultures merged to generate a distinctive Indian society characterized by: Regional states with kingship (rajas) as the most common form of government. The caste system, a complex social class system that served as a vehicle for imparting a powerful sense of group identity, as a stabilizing influence in Indian society and as a foundation for the religious belief system. A distinctive set of religious beliefs encompassing the doctrines of samsara and karma along with the notion of a universal soul, or Brahman. A rich literary religious tradition based on centuries of oral transmission that included such classics as the Vedas and the Upanishads Reading Questions Directions: Answer the following questions on a separate sheet of paper. Highlight vocabulary terms throughout your responses. Remember, if you re not using vocab terms, you re not answering the questions correctly! 1. Identify features of Harappan society and culture and discuss theories behind Harappan decline. 2. Discuss Indo-European migrations and the development of early Aryan India. 3. Explain the main social and political differences between Harappan and Aryan society. How did these differences combine to create a distinctive Indian culture? 4. Recall from Chapter 1 that some scholars believe that highly militarized societies develop strong patriarchal structures because women s roles as mothers made it more difficult to serve as soldiers. Given the importance of war to early Aryan society, do you believe this accounts for women s deeply subordinate status? In what ways might this tradition of patriarchy have affected ideas about women in India in future centuries? 5. Identify the key elements of Aryan religious belief and practices and their blending with Dravidian values. 6. What continuities and changes in class distinction in India occurred before and after the Aryans migrated.
Directions: As you read the chapter, complete the SPICE chart below. (Vocabulary terms should be highlighted throughout outline AND you should talk about EACH topic listed in the left and right hand margins or your text) AP Themes SOCIAL Family/ kinship Gender roles/relations Social and economic classes Racial/ ethnic factors Entertainment Lifestyles Haves & have nots POLITICAL Leaders/groups Forms of government Empires State building/expansion Political structures Courts/laws Nationalism/nations Revolts/revolutions INTERACTIONS (WITH PEOPLE AND THE ENVINRONMENT) War/conflict Diplomacy/treaties Alliances Exchanges between individuals, groups, & empires/nations Trade/commerce Globalization Location Physical Human/environment Migration/movement Region Demography Neighborhood Urbanization Settlement patterns Disease Cities (2 major ones) CULTURAL Religion Belief systems and teachings Philosophy Holy books Conversion Key figures Deities Art Music Writing/literature Philosophy Math Science Architecture Technology Innovations Transportation ECONOMY Agricultural/pastoral Economic systems Labor systems/ organizations Industrialization Technology/industry Capital/money Business organizations
Directions: As you read the chapter, complete the SPICE chart below. (Vocabulary terms should be highlighted throughout outline AND you should talk about EACH topic listed in the left and right hand margins or your text) AP Themes SOCIAL Family/ kinship Gender roles/relations Social and economic classes Racial/ ethnic factors Entertainment Lifestyles Haves & have nots POLITICAL Leaders/groups Forms of government Empires State building/expansion Political structures Courts/laws Nationalism/nations Revolts/revolutions INTERACTIONS (WITH PEOPLE AND THE ENVINRONMENT) War/conflict Diplomacy/treaties Alliances Exchanges between individuals, groups, & empires/nations Trade/commerce Globalization Location Physical Human/environment Migration/movement Region Demography Neighborhood Urbanization Settlement patterns Disease Cities (2 major ones) CULTURAL Religion Belief systems and teachings Philosophy Holy books Conversion Key figures Deities Art Music Writing/literature Philosophy Math Science Architecture Technology Innovations Transportation ECONOMY Agricultural/pastoral Economic systems Labor systems/ organizations Industrialization Technology/industry Capital/money Business organizations
Term Aryans Vocabulary Terms Definition/significance Harappan Vedas Rig Veda Caste Upanishads Brahmin Ascetic Sati (Suttee) Dravidians Karma
Term Brahman Vocabulary Terms Definition/significance Jati Ecological degradation
Map Skills: Identify and locate the following places on the map below. Indus River Egypt Himalaya Mountains Sumer Arabian Sea Ganges River Mohenjo-daro Hindu Kush Mountains Mediterranean Sea Bay of Bengal Harappa Red Sea Persia Persian Gulf