Indus River Valley Civilization & Aryan Influence

Indus River Valley Civilization

• Flourished from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE, contemporary with ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
• Major cities: Harappa and Mohenjo-daro.
• Harappa ruins discovered in 1826, UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021.
• Mohenjo-daro ruins discovered in 1922, UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, meaning "mound of the dead men" in modern Sindhi.
• First site in South Asia.
• Cultural hearth, with early trading and knowledge sharing.

Aryan Influence

• Nomadic people, potentially from southern Russia/Central Asia, arrived in the 2nd millennium BCE.
• Mixed with the native Dravidian civilization.
• Cultural exchange and development.

Status of Cows

• Highly revered in Hinduism; considered sacred but not worshipped.
• Killing cows is banned in some parts of India.
• Vegetarianism is common among many Hindus due to practical reasons (milk, fuel, labor).
• Some temples house sacred animals.

Economic Activity

• Indian Ocean trade connected India to Africa.

Mauryan Empire (321-185 BCE)

• First pan-Indian empire.
• Covered large parts of the Indian subcontinent.
• Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna).
• Chandragupta Maurya, founder, consolidated power.
• Ashoka the Great expanded further but later embraced Buddhism following the Kalinga War, transitioning to non-violence.
• Empire declined after Ashoka's rule and dissolved in 185 BCE.

Caste System (Varna)

• Framework for social classes in Vedic Indian culture, consolidated during the Mauryan Empire.
• British Raj heightened distinctions; India's constitution banned caste-based discrimination in 1950.
• Still prevalent in modern India, causing social segregation and discrimination, especially against Dalits (formerly untouchables).
• Significant wealth gap persists.
• Classes: Brahmins (priests), Kshatriyas (rulers/warriors), Vaishyas (merchants/farmers), Shudras (laborers), Dalits (outcasts such as tanners, butchers, and sanitation workers).

Holy City of Varanasi

• Significant Hindu pilgrimage site.
• Considered the abode of Lord Shiva.
• Represents the confluence of the Ganges River, often called "The Jerusalem of India".

Ashoka the Great

• Third Mauryan emperor (c. 268-232 BCE).
• Large empire, spanning from modern Afghanistan to Bangladesh.
• Known for initial conquest, then conversion to Buddhism and promotion of non-violence.
• Commissioned rock and pillar edicts promoting Buddhist teachings.
• Linked to India's national flag design.

Gupta Empire (320-550 CE)

• "Golden Age" of India.
• Notable figures: Kalidasa (poet), Aryabhata (astronomer/mathematician).
• Advances in mathematics, science, and the arts.
• Canonization of Hindu epics (Mahabharata and Ramayana).
• Capital: Pataliputra.
• Sanskrit as official language; Hinduism dominant.
• Empire eventually fragmented into smaller kingdoms.

Ajanta Caves

• 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments (2nd century BCE - 480 CE).
• Considered masterpieces of ancient Indian art (paintings and sculptures).
• Predate the Gupta Empire.

Kalidasa

• Renowned Sanskrit poet and playwright ("Shakespeare of India").
• Known for works like Shakuntala.

Aryabhata

• Significant Gupta-era mathematician and astronomer.
• Contributed to mathematics, calculating values of pi, area of geometrical figures, and astronomy.
• Discoveries included the rotation of the earth, eclipses of the sun and moon, and more.

Mughal Empire (1526-1857)

• Large, wealthy Muslim dynasty ruling over a predominantly Hindu population.
• Initially tolerant of different religions.
• Significant leaders: Babur, Akbar the Great (known for tolerance), Shah Jahan (patron of the arts, builder of the Taj Mahal).

Taj Mahal

• Famous ivory-white marble mausoleum in Agra.
• Built by Shah Jahan for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.
• Also houses Shah Jahan's tomb.

Peacock Throne

• Luxurious jeweled throne in the Mughal empire, later carried to the British crown jewels.
• Extremely elaborate workmanship, commissioned by the Mughal Empire.

Koh-i-Noor Diamond

• Large diamond, part of the Mughal and later British crown jewels.

Batik

• Indonesian wax-resist dyeing technique, spread to South Asia and other regions.
• Recognized by UNESCO as a cultural heritage.

Explore the rich history of the Indus River Valley Civilization and the subsequent Aryan influence on early Indian society. This quiz covers the cultural, economic, and religious aspects that defined these ancient peoples. Test your knowledge of major archaeological findings and cultural practices central to India's heritage.