Ancient India

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Ancient India
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Demography

• No such thing as India until the British arrive
  in the 1700s.
• Indian subcontinent divided between several
  groups of peoples often in opposition to one
  another Dravidians were main group.
• Sanskrit was the primary language/writing system
  employed after Indo-Aryan invasion.

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Important Periods of Indian History

• Indus River Valley (2600-1900 B.C.E.)
• The Indo-Aryan Invasion (c. 1500 B.C.E.)
• Greek Invasions (326 B.C.E.)
• Age of the Mauryans (324-183 B.C.E.)
• Reign of Asoka (269-232 B.C.E.)
• Islamic Invasions (979 C.E.)

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Harappa
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Mohenjo-Daro
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Indus River Valley Civilization

• Similar civilizations as Mesopotamia emerge in
  the Indus River Valley around 2600 B.C.E.
• Cultivation of agriculture was key.
• Dominated by two major city-states (that we know
  of)
• Harappa
• Mohenjo-Daro

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Ruins of the city-state (?) Harappa in modern-day
Pakistan.
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Modern rendering of what ancient Harappa might
have looked like.
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Ruins of Mohenjo-Daro in modern-day Pakistan.
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Harappan seals found in the ruins of Harappa.
The seals feature livestock and Harappan writing
system. What do you think it says?
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Indo-Aryan Invasion

• End of Indus civilizations a mystery.
• Some believe its fall coincides with natural
  disaster and the arrival of the Aryans from
  Central Asia.
• Nomadic people skilled at warfare
• Became settled people shortly after their
  arrival.
• Rig-Veda

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Indo-Aryan Ruling Structure

• Each Aryan tribe ruled by a raja (prince), or
  chieftain.
• Rajas were members of a warrior class called the
  kshatriya.
• As Aryan power grew, rajas ruled more land until
  finally maharajas (great princes), kings.
• Maharajas did not rule as absolute rulers, but
  had to follow dharma.

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Modern descendants of Indo-Aryans.
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Mauryan Empire

• Founded by Chandragupta Maurya (324-301 B.C.E.).
• Expelled Greeks in North India.
• Little is known of Maurya or his early empire.

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Extent of the Mauryan Empire under Chandragupta
Maurya.
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Reign of Asoka

• Ruled Mauryan Empire 273-232 B.C.E.
• Expanded empire into South India.
• Buddhist emperor, responsible for its spread and
  preservation through written edicts and
  monuments.
• Also known as Devaanaampriya, Beloved of the
  Gods

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The Mauryan Empire after the reign of Ashoka.
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Emblem at the pinnacle of one of Ashokas
pillars. This is the symbol of modern-day
India. This monument, among others, once marked
the site where the Buddha delivered his first
sermon.