Importance of ideological control of a populace

Protected by mtns to the north

Dependent on monsoons for their weather

(monsoon = seasonal wind)

Indus River was very unpredictable

•EARLIEST EXAMPLE OF INDIAN CULTURE•URBAN SOCIETY – VERY COMPLEX•NO LARGE MONUMENTAL ARCHITECTURE (NO EVIDENCE OF PALACES OR TEMPLES)•FIRST INDOOR SANITATION SYSTEMS•STANDARD WEIGHTS AND MEASURES•BY 1700 BC, THEY HAD DISAPPEARED

CEMETERY H CULTURE(cremation, breakdown of trade networks)

GANDHARA CULTURE(terracotta figurines, simple dot designs)

OCHRE COLOURED POTTERY CULTURE(may be the last remains of Harappan culture or entirely separate – who knows?)

CEMETERY H CULTURE OCHRE COLOURED POTTERY

EMERGED AROUND 1700 BC

ASSOCIATED WITH THE ARYAN INVASIONS OF INDIA

VEDAS WERE THEIR SACRED LITERATURE

ARYANS - tall, light skinned, different language, no writing, heroic gods, wealth = cows

DASAS – dark skinned, town dwellers, life-giving gods

Brahmins (priests) - MOUTH

Kshatriyas (rulers and warriors) – ARMS

Vaishyas (peasants and traders) – LEGS

Shudras (laborers) – FEET

“Untouchables” Made impure because of their work (grave diggers, butchers, trash collectors)

BRAHMINS

KSHATRIYAS

VAISHYAS

SHUDRAS

UNTOUCHABLES(NOT PICTURED)

Chandragupta Maurya Raised a large army due to heavy taxes Defeated the Macedonians and united the

Indian subcontinent by the age of 20 Bureaucracy – modeled after the Persians

Asoka Devout Buddhist – promoted religion &

tolerance Benevolent ruler Extensive public works builder (roads, rest

stops)

Founded by Chandra Gupta I who was not related to Chandragupta Maurya

1st three emperors of this empire saw great achievements in art, literature, and religion

The Guptas extended control to the western coast of India, thus enabling maritime trade with the Mediterranean

Writing academiesTraveling drama groupsAstronomySeven day weekInvented zero and calculated pi (π)

Middlemen along the Silk RoadRise in banking