PYQ discussion from IVC (5:08 PM)

• To what extent has the urban planning and culture of the Indus Valley Civilization provided inputs to present-day urbanization? Discuss. (10 Marks/150 Words).

The decline of IVC (5:23 PM)

• The civilization declined around 1800 BC.
• By 1700 BC most of the cities were abandoned.
• An earlier theory suggested a nomadic Indo-European tribe called Aryans invaded and conquered IVC.
• However, this theory has been rejected by most historians.
• The most accepted theory is that IVC declined because of Climate change.
• For example, the sifting of monsoon winds, drought in the Saraswati river, and in general a prolonged drought led to migration towards east and south directions, Gradually civilization declined.

Profile of Major cities of IVC (5.31 PM)

• Harappa: 
• The first city that was discovered.
• It is situated on the banks of the Ravi river now in Pakistan.
• Many potteries and sandstone statues of Human Anatomy, Copper bullock carts, terracotta figures, and granaries have been found.
• Railways engineers found bricks that were used in the construction of railways in the 19th century.
• Mohenjodaro:
• 2nd a city is to be discovered.
• Many features such as a great bath, granaries, a unicorn seal, and dancing girl statute of bronze, a Pashupati seal, and a statue of the Philosopher king.
• It is located on the Indus river now in Pakistan.
• Dholavira:
• Recently inducted in UNSECO world heritage site.
• It is located in Gujarat.
• It is known for its efficient water management system with a giant water reservoir.
• It is the only city to be divided into 3 parts, other cities are mainly divided into 2 parts.
• Banawali:
• It is in Haryana.
• A well-planned township in a radial pattern.
• A terracotta plough model has been discovered here.
• A large amount of Barley grains has also been found.
• Surkotada:
• A coastal city currently located in Gujrat.
• Very famous for hours bones.
• Lothal:
• It is located in Gujarat.
• It was a port town with a dockyard, fire altars, a game similar to chess, Rice husk amount others been discovered here.
• Kalibangan:
• Located in  Rajasthan on the bank of river Ghaggar.
• It has fire laters, animal bones, and evidence of earthquakes has also been found here.
• Chanhudaro:
• Located in Pakistan.
• Known for bangles factory.
• Shorthughai:
• It was a trading outpost near the Oxus river.
• It has been discovered here a mine of Lapis Lazuli.
• Manda:
• The northernmost site of IVC is located in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Suktagandor:
• It is the westernmost site of IVC.
• Kot diji:
• It is in pakistahn, opposite to mohanjudaro.
• Alamgirpur:
• It is the easternmost site of IVC.

Vedic Age (6:12 PM)

• Sources about the Vedic age:
• The only written source available is the Vedas.
• Vedas have the status of shruti(which has been heard).
• Compared to shruti, the smriti text includes Puranas, Epics, Dhramshartas, and Vedangas.
• Rig Veda:
• It is the oldest and contains the world's oldest surviving poetry.
• It is a collection of Hymns(a collection of mantras) arranged in 10 books(mandalas).
• Sam Veda:
• Borrows from Rig Veda and arrange them with Musical notation.
• However many of the original Melodies are lost.
• Yajurveda:
• It deals with the performance of rituals.
• Atharvaveda:
• It is the latest Veda that includes spells and charms, which reflect popular beliefs and practices.
• Each Veda has 4 parts- Samhita, Brahman, Aranyak, and Upnishad.
• The early Vedic age includes a compilation of the Samhita portion of Rig Veda and the later Vedic age signifies the rest of the Vedic corpus literature.
• Identity of Aryans:
• The term Aryan is a linguistic term and signifies a group of people who spoke similar languages.
• Aryan tribes domesticated horses, and use them on a large scale.
• They also used spoked wheel chariots.
• Early use of Iron.
• Cult of Fire and Soma(considered as mater of Plants and healer of diseases).
• Animal sacrifices including the sacrifice of horses.
• Cremation of dead bodies.
• Aryan settled around Indus and its tributaries and was called Sapt Sindhu, Jhelum was called Vitasta, Chenab was called Asikni, Ravi was called Parushni, Beas was called Vipah and Sutlej was called Shutudri.
• Aryan Tribes:
• In Rig Veda, dozens of tribes are mentioned.
• 5 tribes are considered important and collectively known as Panchjana(Yadu, Turvasha, Puru, Anu, and Druvyu ).
• Purus and Bharat were the most dominant tribes.
• Battle of 10 kings(Dasrajna) where the Bharat Cheif Sudas defeated an alliance of 10 tribes on the bank of river Parushni.
• Later Bharat joined an alliance with Puru and this alliance was now called Kuru.
• Kuru allied with Panchal and ruled the northern part of the country for many years.
• Dasa and Dasyu are mentioned and are shown as enemies of Arya, similarly, Simyu and Kikat are also considered the enemy.
• Economy:
• Agriculture was known, however animal rearing was the most important economic activity.
• Ashwa(Horse) is maintained most of the time in Rig Veda followed by Gau(Cow).
• Many of the wars were fought over cows- Gavisthi
• Polity:
• There was a tribal chiefdom with a chief called Rajan.
• The position of Rajan was heredity, however, he did not enjoy unlimited power, and his power was limited by tribal assemblies such as Sabha, Samiti, and Vidhata.
• Women could participate in these tribal assemblies.
• There was no regular taxation, people offered voluntary offerings to Rajan which was called Bali.
• Spoils of war were shared with the entire tribe.
• Rajan did not maintain a standing army.
• Senani and Purothi were other important functionaries.
• Society and Religion:
• Kinship was the basis of social organization.
• The primary loyalty was to the tribe not to a territory.
• There were many units of Divison such as Jan, Vis, Kul, and Gram.
• The Varna system emerged in the later part of the early Vedic age.
• The 10th Mandala of Rig Veda contains the Purushsukta which mentioned 4 social categories, even though the team Varna is not mentioned.
• Varna's system was not rigid in the early Vedic age and it may have been decided on basis of occupation.
• Society was patriarchally headed by the father.
• The birth of a son was desirable, however, women had the right to education and participated in tribal assemblies.
• Widow remarriage was allowed, but child marriage was mostly absent.
• Religion:
• The term dharma is different from religion, it refers to the ideal conduct of a person living in a society.
• Dharma would be in line with universal natural law.
• People were nature worshipers, and forces of nature were personified(Indra mentioned most of the time in rig Veda is the god of rain and also blessed before the war, he was also called Purandar), Agni, Varun, and Som were another important gods.
• Many goddesses are also mentioned such as Usha, Aditi, and Saraswati.
• People prayed in chorus with the recitation of prayers and performance of sacrifices.

The topic of the next class: Later Vedic age.