Objectives

• Review the structure and development of early communities within the Indian subcontinent

• Understand how the early communities helped influenced religion

• Understand how the early cities ended and how the geography encouraged other groups to migrate there

• Understand how the Aryans transitioned from hunters to agriculturalists

Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro: two early cities within the Indian subcontinent

Were similar to Catal Huyuk (of Turkey) because they were well-planned out cities

How do these cities compare to Catal Huyuk?

Some of the characteristics of these two early India communities:

• These cities had streets; Catal Huyuk didn't

• Had thick walls around the city (protection); Catal Huyuk didn't

• Had about 35,000 people in each city; Catal Huyuk had about 6,000

• Some homes were 3 stories & made out of mud brick; Catal Huyuk were connected & most homes had one story

• They did develop an early writing system (even older than cuneiform)

• What would be some possible problems with having a really old writing system?

What would be the biggest problem with having an early writing system?

• The fact that the likelihood of there being a deciphering code of this type of writing is very low

• This is true!

• There was no deciphering code of this type of language

• So what does that mean?

What the city looks like right now

These cities were around about 4000 years ago, they had

• bathrooms

• toilets

• sewer system

• chutes for trash

• In addition, they also focused on cleanliness (soaps, medicine, combs)

• They even cared about dentistry-teeth were drilled

They worshipped many gods (polytheistic)

• each god/goddess represented something within life (even the "tree of life")

• they also worshipped animals-necessity to their life

• used yoga and meditation-this has impacted the culture of this region

• believed in rituals, charms and amulets

• originally buried their dead; then cremated them (ashes would be taken by the gods to the afterlife)

Had "The Great Bath"-used for religious functions/rituals (40ft x 23ft x8ft)

Overall, people of these cities were peaceful. What would make you think this?

• There was no weapons found anywhere in the city

• They also had bronze/cooper tools, clay pottery, cotton and jewelry

• They were active traders as many resources that were discovered were not native to that area

Possible cause to the decline of the people of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro

• earthquakes

• floods

• drought

• overtaken by outside invaders (remember they had no weapons)

• overuse of soil/resources

Overtime, the inhabitants of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro left. A new group migrated in and they were known as the Aryans (Indo-Europeans)

• Called the Aryans because India was originally known as Aryavarta

• These people are not direct descendants of present-day Indians

• This group were hunters, not farmers (nomadic)

• When they migrated to India, they no longer were nomads

• They raised cattle (not for food but for butter/milk)-deemed sacred

The Aryans

• developed iron plows to clear the jungles for farmland

• understood, built and used irrigation

• greater weapon technology-bronze/iron weapons & chariots (enemies had stone weapons & ox-carts)

• they developed strong tribes to fight off enemies

Yes! A constant power struggle

• Overall, they had one hereditary king who ruled over the 5 main tribes

• They also did sacrifices (animals, not humans)-to bring prosperity

• Bonus of animals sacrifices=they gained more knowledge of their anatomy

• Sacrifices would often end with them drinking "soma"-caused hallucinations

• They believed that drinking soma would also lead to immortality. What does immortality mean?

Like the people of Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro, the Aryans declined due to

• invasion, natural disasters & overuse of resources

• also believed that they abandoned the cities

Today, the term "Aryan" has a negative connotation or reference. How so?

• In ancient Hindu text, the caste system Arya was the highest

• It was believed that the Aryans were high class people with legitimate claim to rule all

• Late 1800's-Germans declared themselves descendants of the Aryans (those with the "right to be superior")

• German Nazis used this in their propaganda as the "master race"

• Used this as a message to "control the world"-agenda behind WW1/WW2 (blond hair, blue eyes, light skin)

• This is all ridiculous because it was believed the original Aryans didn't look like that

Review:

• The people of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro had a relatively developed & well-planned out cities

• The belief system of the early cities helped form Hinduism

• The early cities ended due to invasion, overuse of resources & natural disasters

• The Aryans transitioned from hunters to farmers and were successful due to their advancements (weapons, tools, metal)

• The Aryan term today is seen as a negative when historically it isn't

Your task:

• No assignment

• ​Be sure that your Mt. Everest worksheet is complete and turned in

• Work on completing any missing work from first semester-don't forget that deadline!

• Have a great weekend!