India – India – Emergence of Emergence of CivilizationCivilization

I.I. Location (Map of Indus River Location (Map of Indus River Valley)Valley)

II.II. Harappan Civilization (7000-6500 Harappan Civilization (7000-6500 BC)BC)

A. Political & Social StructuresA. Political & Social Structures

B. CultureB. Culture

Mohenjo-Daro: Ancient City Mohenjo-Daro: Ancient City on the Induson the Indus

© Borromeo/Art Resource, NY

The Harappan peoples, like their contemporaries in Mesopotamia, The Harappan peoples, like their contemporaries in Mesopotamia, developed a writing system to record their spoken language. developed a writing system to record their spoken language. Unfortunately, it has not yet been deciphered. Most extant Unfortunately, it has not yet been deciphered. Most extant examples of Harappan writing are found on fired clay seals examples of Harappan writing are found on fired clay seals depicting human figures and animals. These seals have been depicting human figures and animals. These seals have been found in houses and were probably used to identify the owners of found in houses and were probably used to identify the owners of goods for sale. Other seals may have been used as amulets or goods for sale. Other seals may have been used as amulets or have had other religious significance. Several depict religious have had other religious significance. Several depict religious figures or ritualistic scenes of sacrifice.figures or ritualistic scenes of sacrifice.

© Scala/Art Resource, NY

III.III. Arrival of the AryansArrival of the Aryans

A. Who are the Aryans? (1500-A. Who are the Aryans? (1500-1000BC)1000BC)

B. Mauryan Empire (342-301 BC)B. Mauryan Empire (342-301 BC)

First Dynasty in IndiaFirst Dynasty in India

The The Empire of Empire of

AshokaAshokaAshoka, the Ashoka, the greatest Indian greatest Indian monarch, reigned monarch, reigned over the Mauryan over the Mauryan dynasty in the third dynasty in the third century B.C.E. This century B.C.E. This map shows the map shows the extent of his extent of his empire, with the empire, with the location of the location of the pillar edicts that pillar edicts that were erected along were erected along major trade routes.major trade routes.

Carved Carved ChapelsChapels

Carved out of solid Carved out of solid rock cliffs during the rock cliffs during the Mauryan dynasty, rock Mauryan dynasty, rock chambers served as chambers served as meditation halls for meditation halls for traveling Buddhist traveling Buddhist monks. Initially, they monks. Initially, they resembled resembled freestanding shrines of freestanding shrines of wood and thatch from wood and thatch from the Vedic period but the Vedic period but evolved into evolved into magnificent chapels magnificent chapels carved deep into the carved deep into the mountainside, such as mountainside, such as this one at Karli.this one at Karli.

© age fotostock/SuperStock

C.C. Caste and ClassCaste and Class1. Priestly Class (Brahmins)1. Priestly Class (Brahmins)

2. Warrior Class (Kshatriya)2. Warrior Class (Kshatriya)

3. Commonor Class (Vaisya)3. Commonor Class (Vaisya)

4. Peasant Class (Sudras)4. Peasant Class (Sudras)

5. Untouchables (Pariahs)5. Untouchables (Pariahs)

Reasons for Survival of Caste System:Reasons for Survival of Caste System:1. provided an identity for individuals in a highly 1. provided an identity for individuals in a highly hierarchical societyhierarchical society

2. means for new groups to achieve recognizable place in 2. means for new groups to achieve recognizable place in broader communitybroader community

3. primitive welfare system3. primitive welfare system

4. provided an element of stability in society that was in a 4. provided an element of stability in society that was in a state of political anarchystate of political anarchy

Daily Life:Daily Life: family centered and religiously family centered and religiously

boundbound patriarchalpatriarchal culture for womenculture for women

IV.IV. Escaping the Wheel of Life: Escaping the Wheel of Life: ReligionReligion

Blend of Dravidian and Aryan Blend of Dravidian and Aryan CultureCulture

Sacred text known as the Sacred text known as the VedasVedas

(collection of hymns and ceremonies)(collection of hymns and ceremonies)

A. Hinduism (Reincarnation)A. Hinduism (Reincarnation)

Dancing Dancing ShivaShiva

The Hindu deity Shiva is The Hindu deity Shiva is often presented in the form of often presented in the form of a bronze statue performing a a bronze statue performing a cosmic dance in which he cosmic dance in which he simultaneously creates and simultaneously creates and destroys the universe. While destroys the universe. While his upper right hand creates his upper right hand creates the cosmos, his upper left the cosmos, his upper left hand reduces it in flames, and hand reduces it in flames, and the lower two hands offer the lower two hands offer eternal blessing. Shiva’s eternal blessing. Shiva’s dancing statues visually dancing statues visually convey to his followers the convey to his followers the message of his power and message of his power and compassion.compassion.

© William J. Duiker

The Three Faces of ShivaThe Three Faces of ShivaIn the first centuries C.E., Hindus began to adopt Buddhist rock art. One outstanding In the first centuries C.E., Hindus began to adopt Buddhist rock art. One outstanding example is at the Elephanta Caves, near the modern city of Mumbai (Bombay). example is at the Elephanta Caves, near the modern city of Mumbai (Bombay). Dominating the cave is this 18-foot-high triple-headed statue of Shiva, representing Dominating the cave is this 18-foot-high triple-headed statue of Shiva, representing the Hindu deity in all his various aspects. The central figure shows him in total the Hindu deity in all his various aspects. The central figure shows him in total serenity, enveloped in absolute knowledge. The angry profile on the left portrays him serenity, enveloped in absolute knowledge. The angry profile on the left portrays him as the destroyer, struggling against time, death, and other negative forces. The right-as the destroyer, struggling against time, death, and other negative forces. The right-hand profile shows his loving and feminine side in the guise of his beautiful wife, hand profile shows his loving and feminine side in the guise of his beautiful wife, Parvati.Parvati.

© Charles & Josette Lenars/CORBIS.

B.B. Buddhism (Middle Path)Buddhism (Middle Path)

Achieve Nirvana (Paradise)Achieve Nirvana (Paradise)1. life is suffering1. life is suffering

2. suffering is caused by desire2. suffering is caused by desire

3. the way to end suffering is to end desire3. the way to end suffering is to end desire

4. the way to end desire is to avoid the 4. the way to end desire is to avoid the extremes of a life of vulgar materialism and a extremes of a life of vulgar materialism and a life of self-torture and to follow the Middle Pathlife of self-torture and to follow the Middle Path

8-fold way to Middle Path8-fold way to Middle Path

1. right knowledge1. right knowledge2. right purpose2. right purpose3. right speech3. right speech4. right conduct4. right conduct5. right occupation5. right occupation6. right effort6. right effort7. right awareness7. right awareness8. right meditation ….. Becomes a 8. right meditation ….. Becomes a Philosophy!Philosophy!

Buddha Indonesia & Thailand

Female Earth Female Earth SpiritSpirit

This earth spirit, sculpted on a This earth spirit, sculpted on a gatepost of the Buddhist stupa gatepost of the Buddhist stupa at Sanchi 2,200 years ago, at Sanchi 2,200 years ago, illustrates how earlier illustrates how earlier representations of the fertility representations of the fertility goddess were incorporated goddess were incorporated into Buddhist art. Women into Buddhist art. Women were revered as powerful were revered as powerful fertility symbols and fertility symbols and considered dangerous when considered dangerous when menstruating or immediately menstruating or immediately after giving birth. Voluptuous after giving birth. Voluptuous and idealized, the earth spirit and idealized, the earth spirit could allegedly cause a tree to could allegedly cause a tree to blossom if she merely touched blossom if she merely touched a branch with her arm or a branch with her arm or wrapped a leg around the wrapped a leg around the tree’s trunk.tree’s trunk.© Atlantide Phototravel (Massimo Borchi)/CORBIS

C.C. Jainism – extreme simplicityJainism – extreme simplicity