Ancient India Geography • The highest mountains in the world, the Himalayas, are in the north. • Two rivers: – Ganges – Indus • The rest of India is the Deccan Plateau. – Hilly and Dry interior – Lush coastal plains Climate • India’s climate is dominated by the monsoon cycle. – Seasonal winds that bring heavy rains. • Farmers depend on the monsoons. – If they come too early or late, or bring too much or too little rain, crops are destroyed and thousands starve. Indus Valley Civilization • There were thousands of settlements in the Indus Valley. – Two major cities: • Harrapa • Mohenjo Daro • Between 3000BC and 1500BC – Sumer? – Egypt? – China? Harappa and Mohenjo Daro • Populations: – Harappa – 35,000 – Mohenjo Daro – 40,000 • Cities were highly organized: – Built in a grid pattern – Public wells supplied water for all – Wastewater and garbage systems took water and garbage out to the streets. Public Well in Harappa Sewer System in Harappa Mohenjo Daro Rendition of Mohejo Daro Government • Theocracy – Royal palace and holy temple were combined in the same fortress • Economy was based on farming and trade. – Later, will trade as far away as Mesopotamia. Citadel in Mohenjo Daro Disappearance and Immigration • Indus Valley cities began to gradually decay around 1800BC. – Floods – An earthquake – Course of the Indus River changes. • Final blow was an influx of new people called Aryans. – Bring major changes to India’s culture A New Way of Life • Indus Valley had a simple language. – Aryans develop Sanskrit in around 1000BC. • Record all oral legends and traditions in the Vedas. – Holy text of Hinduism • Indus Valley and Aryan religions blended together. Aryan Government and Life • India was broken into many small kingdoms. – Led by rajas (maharajas). • Society was centered around the family. – Extended family all under the same roof. • Patriarchal – Ritual of Suttee – Arranged marriage Social Structure in India • The Social Structure reflected the Aryan ideas of an ideal society. – Caste System • Every Indian is born into a caste. – Determines… • What job people could have. • Whom they could marry. • What groups they could socialize with. Social Structure in India • A persons caste is based on beliefs about religious purity. – Greater religious purity = higher caste. – Bottom castes = impure • Connects to beliefs about reincarnation • Lowest level – “untouchables” – So impure, they are outside the caste system completely. – Were given degrading tasks like collecting trash and handling dead bodies. Social Structure in India Classified Ads for Brides • Trichy R Seshasayee family settled in USA invites proposals for son, Physician USMD, CPA, never married, 38/180, US Citizen, Uthra Star, slim, fair, strikingly handsome, teetotaler, non- smoker from Brahmin girl of respectable family, vegetarian, never married, slim, fair, teetotaler, good-looking, professional, below 34, currently in USA. Please send recent photo and bio-data Classified #2 • INDIAN BORN Australian citizen Roman catholic well settled family, seeks alliance for son 26 years commercial Pilot trainee from good catholic family Doctors Engineers height 165 09391170006/ 04027017048 Classified #3 • NAIR BOY Anizham, 31 years, handsome fair, 175cm, employed in USA California for 7 years as a Software Engineer, hailing from an Aristocratic family, seeks alliance from well qualified, beautiful smart girls. Boy is an innocent divorcee, seperated two months after marriage and later got legal divorce. Father Engineer in a reputed Refinery in Middle East, Mother VRS opted Bank Officer and only younger brother Software Engineer in USA. Parents respond with Biodata, Grahanila and Photograph. Box No.: KA-519, THE HINDU, Kochi-682019. Classified #4 • ALLIANCE INVITED BY Cosmopolitan upper caste South Indian (Bunt) well placed & respected parents for their only daughter 32/168 slim fair, goodlooking convent educated, double graduate smart artistic professional homemaker from ages (32-37 never married) smart goodlooking well placed business/ professional boys/ family in India or Overseas Hindu upper caste no bar. BHS Caste System ? ? ? ? ? BIG QUESTION: Is there a “Caste system” at BHS? – Things to think about: • Who is where in the hierarchy? • Can a student move from one “varna” to another? • Can students interact/date with other “varnas?” • Can students join clubs or sports viewed as being outside of their “varna?”