HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 1 Early Societies in South Asia & East Asia (3) Foundations of Harappan Society ~ The Indus River Harappan society & its neighbors, ca. 2000 HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 2 Early Societies in South Asia (3) Foundations of Harappan Society, Dravidian peoples, BCE Political Organization Cultivation of cotton before 5000 BCE, Early cultivation of poultry Decline after 1900 BCE Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro Layout, public purpose? Broad streets, citadel, pool, sewage Specialized Labor & Trade Granary / Palace? at Harappa HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 3 Early Societies in South Asia (3) Harappan Society Harappan Society & Culture Social Distinctions Fertility Cults Harappan Decline Reasons for disappearance unclear Excessive deforestation, loss of topsoil Earthquakes? Flooding? Evidence of unburied dead Disappearance by 1500 BCE Ancient Indus seals HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 4 Early Societies in South Asia (3) The Indo-European Migrations & Early Aryan India Aryans, lighter-skinned invaders from the north Dravidians, darker-skinned sedentary inhabitants of Harappa Color Bias Socio-Economic Implications Difficulty of theory: no evidence of large-scale military conquest HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 5 Early Aryan India The Aryans & India Pastoral economy: sheep, goats, horses, cattle Vegetarianism not widespread until many centuries later Religious and Literary works: The Vedas Sanskrit: sacred tongue Prakrit: everyday language, evolved into Hindi, Urdu, Bengali Four Vedas, most important Rig Veda 1,028 hymns to gods The Vedic Age - Political Organization Chiefdoms: Rajas Early concentration in Punjab, migrations further south Development of iron metallurgy Increasing reliance on agriculture Tribal connections evolve into political structures HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 6 Aryan India Origins of the Caste System - Varna 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 Castes & Social Mobility The Development of Patriarchal Society The Lawbook of Manu Sati HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 7 Religion in the Vedic Age Major deity of Rig Veda: Indra, war god Elaborate ritual sacrifices to gods HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 8 Teachings of the Upanishads Texts represent blend of Aryan & Dravidian traditions Composed BCE, some later collections until 13 th century CE Brahman: the Universal Soul Samsara: reincarnation Karma: accounting for incarnations Moksha: mystical ecstasy Relationship to system of Varna HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 9 The Upanishads That which is the subtle essence, in it all that exists has its self. It is the True. It is the Self, and you, Svetaketu, are it. - The Upanishads HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 10 The Rig Veda The Rig Veda on the Origin of the Castes The brahmin was his mouth, of both his arms the kshatriya made. His thighs became vaishya, from his feet the shudra was produced. - The Hymns of the Rigveda HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 11 Early Society in East Asia: China HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 12 Early Agricultural Society & the Xia Dynasty The Yellow River 3000 Miles: Tibet to the Yellow Sea Deposits fertile, light colored soil Periodic flooding: Chinas sorrow Yangshao Society & Banpo Village The Xia Dynasty Political Organization in Early China The Xia, Shang, & Zhou dynasties, B.C.E. HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 13 Xia ~ C BCE Village networks Hereditary monarchy Flood control Shang BCE Zhou BCE Early China The Xia, Shang, & Zhou dynasties, B.C.E. HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 14 The Shang Dynasty Bronze Metallurgy & Horse-Drawn Chariots Shang Political Organization The Shang Capital at Ao The Shang Capital at Yin Beyond the Yellow River Valley Political Organization in Early China Shang Bronzes HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 15 The Zhou Dynasty The Rise of the Zhou The Mandate of Heaven Political Organization Weakening of the Zhou Iron Metallurgy Political Organization in Early China China during the Period of the Warring States, B.C.E. HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 16 Shang ritual vessels HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 17 Cowries storage vessel with Yaks HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 18 The Social Order Ruling Elites, Aristocracy, Merchants & traders, Peasants Daily life Devotion to family, ancestor veneration Connection of spirit world to physical world Ritual sacrifices Father ritual head of family rites Earlier prominence of individual female leaders fades in later Shang, Zhou dynasties Society & Family in Ancient China HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 19 Sources From the Past: Peasants Protest Early Society in East Asia Large Rats! Large Rats! Do not eat our millet. Three years have we had to do with you. And you have not been willing to show any regard for us - The Book of Songs HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 20 Society & Family in Ancient China Family & Patriarchy Veneration of Ancestors Loving union with wife and children Is like the music of lutes. But it is the accord of brothers That makes happiness and harmony lasting. - Book of Songs Early Society in East Asia HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 21 Early Chinese Writing and Cultural Development Oracle Bones Bronze Inscriptions Early Society in East Asia Shang Era Oracle bone Second Millennium B.C. E. HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 22 Early Chinese Writing & Cultural Development Early Chinese Writing Oracle Bones Characters Early Society in East Asia The Evolution of Chinese Characters from the Shang Dynasty to the Present HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 23 Thought & Literature in Ancient China Zhou Literature Book of Changes Book of History Book of Etiquette (Book of Rites) Book of Songs Little survived Often written on perishable bamboo strips Many destroyed by Emperor of Qin dynasty in 221 BCE The Book of Songs Destruction of Early Chinese Literature Early Chinese Writing & Cultural Development Eastern Zhou bell (Warring States Era) HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 24 Nomadic Peoples of Central Asia Steppe nomads Poor lands for cultivation, extensive herding activities Horses domesticated c BCE, bronze metallurgy in 2900 BCE Extensive trade with sedentary cultures in China Tensions: frequent raiding The Southern Expansion of Chinese Society The Yangzi Valley The State of Chu HIST2321/ IDST2372 Dr. C. Keller 25 Key Words & Terms (3) Samsara Karma Moksha Sati Lawbook of Manu Rig Veda Upanishads Dravidian Indo-European Aryans Caste Brahmins Kshatriyas Vaishyas Shudras Indra Varuna Xia Dynasty Mandate of Heaven Shang Bronze Age Book of Songs oracle bones Scholar-bureaucrat Warring States period Mandate of Heaven Yangzi River Zhou dynasty Oracle bones The State of Chu