ANCIENT INDIA: INDUS VALLEY

CIVILZATION

UNIT 2.1 – GEOGRAPHY & TIMELINE OF ANCIENT INDIA

WEEK 2
 Learning Objectives

01 Discuss the Geography and Timeline of Ancient India.

MAP
Timeline of Ancient India
Indus and Ganges River Valleys
 Geography
• Indian sub-continent surrounded by Arabian
Sea, Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal.
• Three geographical regions of India:
the Himalayas, the Indo-Gangetic Plain, and
the Deccan Plateau.
• Indo-Gangetic Plain: largest alluvial plain
irrigated by Indus, Ganges and Brahmaputra
Rivers.
 Resources and References
• Reading material
- Glance of World History Across Time, The Early Ages – Kentucky Edition,
Chapter 6: Early India
- Ancient Civilizations – India by Wendy Conklin
- World History: Ancient Civilizations, Chapter 7: Ancient India
- The Culture and Civilization of Ancient India in Historical Outline by D.D. Kosambi

• Web
https://www.ancient.eu/timeline/india/

• YouTube Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APm0hW_EvLU
ANCIENT INDIA: INDUS VALLEY CIVILZA
TION

UNIT 2.2 – INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION

WEEK 2
 Learning Objectives

Identify the Indus Valley Civilization’s extent, achievements in

01 art, architecture, and assess their impact on society
 Indus Valley Civilization
• Also known as Harappa civilization
• Flourished between 2500 BC – 1700 BC.
• Started declining in 1700 BC and disappeared arou
nd 1400 BC.
• Spread around today’s Pakistan, Afghanistan and
India.
• Popular cities: Mohenjo-Daro, Harappa, Kalibangan
and Lothal.
• Established along the line of river Indus.
• Approximate population 40-50,000
 Architecture of Indus Valley
• All the cities were carefully planned and had major simila
rities, which suggest central authority
• Embodiment of exquisite urban planning.
• Planned cities. One square mile in size. Rectangular
layouts.
• No palaces found.
• Both cities had 2 distinct sections: A walled citadel and
Lower town.
• Citadel: administrative buildings, bathhouses, religious
centers and granaries.
• Lower town: residential area.
 Indus Valley Civilization
• Lower town protected by walls for protection
from floods.
• Streets were laid out in grids.
• One room houses as well as houses with
multiple rooms and stories.
• Some houses had inner courtyard and brick
staircases to reach upper floors.
• Houses’ layout was unique, rectangular and
about 200 x 400 yards.
 Indus Valley Civilization
• Buildings were made from baked bricks.
• Wide main street and proper small lanes.
• Straight streets meeting at right-angles
• Excellent civic organization which never
found in other civilizations.
Houses
Houses and Public Well
House’s Inner View
Street
INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION
• They are popular for their advanced plumbing.
• The houses had bathrooms which included both toilets
and baths.
• Excellent drainage system for managing rain water and
clearing of sewage.
• Houses used to acquire their water supply either from
their own well in the courtyard or from public well.
• Drainage system was underneath the streets and covered
by stone slabs.
• Public bathhouses and bathing is normally linked with
religious activities.
DRAINAGE SYSTEM
Drainage
Drainage
Public Well and Drainage
 Citadel
• Citadel literally means a raised platform or
a high ground. In ancient civilizations like the
Harappan culture, these high grounds were
used for building structures like granaries to
protect grains from floods and rodents.
• In Mohen jo Daro, it was based on
administrative buildings, bathhouses,
religious centers and granaries.
Granaries
Great Bath in Citadel
Stupa in Mohen jo Daro
Map of Mohen jo Daro
 End of Indus Valley Civilization
• Disappeared around 1700 BC
• Probable cause is a natural catastrophes like
various floods, earthquakes and change in
course of river Indus, along with certain
invasion.
• Archaeologist believe that the people have
moved to south which later led to ruin of
economy and end of civilization.
 Resources and References
• Reading material
- Glance of World History Across Time, The Early Ages – Kentucky Edition,
Chapter 6: Early India
- Ancient Civilizations – India by Wendy Conklin
- World History: Ancient Civilizations, Chapter 7: Ancient India
- The Culture and Civilization of Ancient India in Historical Outline by D.D. Kosambi
- The Hindu Traditions Part 1- India’s early Cultures, Chapter 1: The Indus Valley
Civilization
- The Indus Civilization by A. H. Dani and B.K. Thapar

• Web
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Indus-civilization

• YouTube Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUng-iHhSzU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhDY4KJuvc0
 Resources and References
• Web
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Indus-civilization
• YouTube Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUng-iHhSzU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhDY4KJuvc0
ANCIENT INDIA: INDUS VALLEY CIVILZA
TION

UNIT 2.3 – GROWTH OF ARYANS

WEEK 2
 Learning Objectives

Discuss the civilization of Aryans and its impact on

01 sub-continent.
Ganges Valley Civilization/
The Vedic Period/Aryans:
1500 BC – 500 BC
Forerunners of Hinduism and
Buddhism
 Ganges Valley Civilization (The Vedic Period):
1500 BC – 500 BC
• Also called as Age of Aryans.
• Early Vedic Period: 1500 BC – 1200 BC
• Later Vedic Period: 1100 BC – 500 BC
• Aryans: Indo-European peoples
• Migrated from Central Asia to India in 1500 BC.
• Defeated the Dravidians of Indus valley and
settled along with Indus river.
• Later spread themselves in Gangetic valley
• First divided into many tribes which was also
a political unit.
 Social Life
• Patriarchal
• Profession division not religious

Division of
Society

Vaisiyas
Brahmans Kshatriyas Sudra
Cultivators,
Priest: religious Princes and Laborers and
traders and
learning warriors serfs
artisans
 Culture
• Class was not determined by birth but by
profession
• Inter-marriages and inter-mixing was common
• Mostly lived in villages
• Chief occupation was agriculture
• Excelled in handicraft and jewellery arts
• Developed industry and commerce: pottery,
weaving, metal-work, boat-making and
chariot-making etc.
 Religious Life
• Polytheism
• Worshipped many features of nature as
gods
• Idol-worship was not there and also no
temples.
• Purohita (Brahman priest) used to conduct
religious rituals.
• Surya – sun god, Vishnu – sky god, Varuna –
god of rain, Indra – god of light, Agni – god of
fire.
 Vedas
• Vedas are most prominent feature of Aryan
age.
• Religious books and fine pieces of
literature in Sanskrit.
• Collection of prayers and chants in poetry
and prose.
• Veda divided into two parts: Vedenta and
Upanishads.
• Vedenta developed in early Vedic period
Early Vedic Age
 Vedas
• Monistic beliefs and ideal life style
• Upanishads: Emerged in later Vedic period
• Deals with religious philosophy of Aryans.
• Gave concepts of Brahama (Universal Soul),
Maya (material life as illusion), Samsara (rebirth
of individual soul), Karma (actions and deeds),
and Nirvana (attainment of eternal bliss).
• Vedas provided the foundation for Buddhism and
Hinduism
Upanishad Age
 End of Aryans

• Around 500 BC, the age of Aryans

ended in India and followed by
beginning of two major religions; Hinduism
and Buddhism.
 Resources and References
• Reading material
- Glance of World History Across Time, The Early Ages – Kentucky Edition,
Chapter 6: Early India
- Ancient Civilizations – India by Wendy Conklin
- World History: Ancient Civilizations, Chapter 7: Ancient India
- The Culture and Civilization of Ancient India in Historical Outline by D.D. Kosambi
- The Hindu Traditions Part 1- India’s early Cultures, Chapter 1: The Indus Valley
Civilization
- The Indus Civilization by A. H. Dani and B.K. Thapar
 Resources and References

• Web
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Aryan
https://www.ancient.eu/Aryan/
https://www.eurocanadian.ca/2019/02/the-decline-and-f
all-of-aryan.html
• YouTube Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LYioyRKZT0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCzulW_kGMk
ANCIENT INDIA: INDUS VALLEY CIVILZA
TION
UNIT 2.4 – GROWTH OF HINDUISM
WEEK 2
 Learning Objectives

Explain ideals, practices, and historical developments of major

01 belief systems in India i.e. growth of Hinduism.
 Growth of Hinduism
• After Vedic age, Hinduism began to flourish.
• Simple polytheism of Aryans converted into
complex religion.
• Increase in number of gods and thousands of
rituals and ceremonies.
• 3 prominent gods emerged.
• Brahama (Creator of Universe), Vishnu
(Preserver of Universe), Shiva (Destroyer of
Universe)
 Epic Age: Hinduism in Ancient
India
• Epic Age: 600 BC – 200 AD
• Great literary works have developed:
Ramayana, Mahabharata, and
Bhagvad-Gita
 Epic Work of Hinduism
• Ramayana: Story of Ram and Sita.
• Author: Valmiki
• Sita: An ideal of womanhood, devotion and chastity
• Mahabharata: War between Pandavas and
Kauravas.
• It reflected social changes after Vedic period.
• Author: Vyasa
• Bhagvad Gita: Also called as Lord’s Song. A
conversation between Krishna and Arjuna
 Epic Work of Hinduism
• Believed in reincarnation --- which is
determined by KARMA
• Individual Paths to connect to God ---
Paths are Jobs of People which are
determined by CASTE SYSTEM
• Spiritual Practices: Meditation and
Practice of Yoga
 Epic Work of Hinduism
• During this time, the caste system strongly
established on the basis of birth.
• Brahmans received religious and social
supremacy.
• Temples were built and images of gods and
goddesses installed.
• The beginning of idol-worship
 Resources and References
• Reading material
- Glance of World History Across Time, The Early Ages – Kentucky Edition,
Chapter 6: Early India
- Ancient Civilizations – India by Wendy Conklin
- World History: Ancient Civilizations, Chapter 7: Ancient India
- The Culture and Civilization of Ancient India in Historical Outline by D.D. Kosambi
- The Hindu Traditions Part 1- India’s early Cultures, Chapter 1: The Indus Valley
Civilization
- The Indus Civilization by A. H. Dani and B.K. Thapar
 Resources and References
• Web
https://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/alexander-the-great
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alexander-the-Great
https://www.britannica.com/place/Mauryan-Empire
• YouTube Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmV2Wd8bOcc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW_awN9uV6w
ANCIENT INDIA: INDUS VALLEY CIVILZA
TION
UNIT 2.5 – GROWTH OF BUDDHISM
WEEK 2
 Learning Objectives

To understand how Buddhism spread in India and to discuss the

01 .
role of Mauryan ruler; Ashoka in growth of Buddhism
 The Beginning of Buddhism
• Founder: Buddha/Siddhartha/Gautama
• Gautama born in 566 BC – 483 BC
• In ruling family of Kapilavastu, a tribal state in
Nepal.
• Got married at the age of 16 to Yashodhara.
• He had a son, named Rahula.
• Sensitive man and did not like the religious and
social dominance of Brahmans and suffering of
people.
• Left his palace at the age of 29.
• For several years kept wandering from one
place to another.
• Also learnt Hindu philosophy with Brahmans but
was not satisfied.
• Also practiced asceticism, but got nothing from
it.
• Disappointed sat under Bo tree near Gaya,
where finally he got enlightenment, answers of
his questions.
• That tree now called as Bodh-Gaya
• Gautama came to known as Buddha
(The Enlightened).
• For 40 years he preached his ideas to
princes and peoples of Ganges valley
• Died at Kusinagar in Gorakhpur district
at age of 80.
Ashoka Maurya’s Role in Growth of Buddhism
• Ashoka Maurya (272 BC – 232 BC)
• Grandson of Chandragupta Maurya.
• First to unite Indian subcontinent except
extreme south.
• Later started hating war and converted to
Buddhism.
• Wanted to establish dharmma (the law of
justice) everywhere in India.
 Ashoka Maurya’s Role in Growth of Buddhism

• Believed on ahimsa (non-violence) and

cooperation among religions.
• He never sent armies to Sri Lanka
rather sent Buddhist missionaries.
• Erected several Stupas of Buddha,
monasteries, established Buddhist
council at Patna.
 Resources and References
• Reading material
- Glance of World History Across Time, The Early Ages – Kentucky Edition,
Chapter 6: Early India
- Ancient Civilizations – India by Wendy Conklin
- World History: Ancient Civilizations, Chapter 7: Ancient India
- The Culture and Civilization of Ancient India in Historical Outline by D.D. Kosambi
- The Hindu Traditions Part 1- India’s early Cultures, Chapter 1: The Indus Valley
Civilization
- The Indus Civilization by A. H. Dani and B.K. Thapar
 Resources and References
• Web
https://www.ancient.eu/Ashoka_the_Great/
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ashoka
• YouTube Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0zrLZrlyko