Indus River Valley Civilization Overview

Around 2000 BCE, the Indus Valley farmers abandoned their land, potentially due to natural disasters and invasions by nomadic groups. This led to the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization.

Around 1500 BCE, the Aryans, pastoral nomads from Central Asia, migrated into the Indus Valley. They gradually moved eastward, spreading their culture across India.

The Aryans advanced across the fertile plain of the Ganges River, spreading their culture further into India. This region became crucial for the development of Indian civilization.

Around 1500 BCE, a system of writing called Sanskrit was developed in India. It's an ancient language reflected in religious texts like the Vedas.

The Vedas are the oldest texts in the Sanskrit language, regarded as ancient religious documents from northern India.

Dravidian is a modern descendant of Sanskrit and is still spoken in southern India.

A chieftain, called a raja, led each Aryan tribe and was assisted by a council of elders.

The warrior class in Aryan society was known as the Kshatriya. The raja, being a protector of his people, belonged to this class.

The raja's power stemmed from his ability to protect his people from rival groups, a crucial skill in the warring kingdoms of early Aryan society.

As Aryan society grew, chieftains like the raja transitioned into kings, known as maharajas.

A set of laws called Dharma established behavioral standards for all individuals and classes in Indian society.

The Persian Empire, under rulers like Cyrus and Darius, was a powerful empire that rose to prominence west of India.

Alexander the Great, ruler of Macedonia, achieved regional dominance in the 4th century B.C.E. after centuries of rivalry.

Alexander's invasion of India in 326 B.C.E. brought Greek influence to the region, leaving behind administrators and cultural impact.

The Mauryan Empire, founded by Chandragupta Maurya, was the first dynasty to control much of the Indian region after Alexander's departure.

Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan Empire, drove out Greek administrators and established his capital at Pataliputra.

Pataliputra was the capital of the Mauryan Empire, located in the Ganges valley.

Kautilya was a brilliant court official who advised Chandragupta Maurya and wrote the Arthasastra.

The Arthasastra, written by Kautilya, described the Mauryan government as highly centralized and even despotic.

The Mauryan Empire was divided into provinces. Each province had a governor appointed by the king. The government structure was hierarchical, with the village at the base.

The social structure of ancient India was hierarchical, placing individuals into different classes based on their occupation and status.

The Aryan people, with their pastoral pursuits and emphasis on light skin, viewed the indigenous farmers with disdain. This influenced the development of a hierarchical social system.

The caste system (Varna) was a rigid social classification determined by birthright. It defined one's occupation, social status, and even salvation prospects.

The Sudras were a caste that represented the majority of the Indian population. They had limited rights in society.

The Untouchables were a caste that likely originated as slaves. They performed menial and degrading tasks that others wouldn't accept.

Jati refers to sub-castes within the larger Varna system. There are thousands of different Jatis in India.

Hinduism, originating around 1500 BCE, blends Aryan beliefs with indigenous Indian cultural practices. Hindus believe in one spiritual power present in everything and multiple gods and goddesses.

Early Aryan beliefs are known as Brahmanism, which later evolved into Hinduism.

Hinduism believes in reincarnation, where the soul is reborn based on Karma, the sum of one's actions in past and present lives.

In Hinduism, Dharma refers to a divine law of religious and moral duties unique to each individual. It involves fulfilling one's role in society and living a righteous life.

Yoga, believed to free the soul, and asceticism were originally parts of Hinduism. Asceticism became transformed into the practice of Yoga over time.