Historical Evolution of Indian Culture

Historical Evolution of Indian Culture

1. HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF INDIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE - IN A SOCIAL PERSPECTIVE INDIAN CULTURE AND HERITAGE FREDIN SCARIA

2. INDIAN CULTURE The culture of India refers to the way of life of the people of India. The Indian culture, often labeled as an amalgamation of several cultures.

3. SETTLEMENTS Settlements in India appear about 90,000 years ago Before the coming of the Aryans in India, the greater part of Northern and North-Western India was inhabited by a group of people known as Dravidians. On arrival of the Aryans, unable to meet their challenge, they gradually moved southwards.

4. The group of Indo-Europeans who moved to Persia and India are known as Aryans. The Aryans are the original inhabitants of Central Asia. The period when the Aryans first settled in India, is known as Early Vedic Period (1500 BC to 1000 BC). The History of India begins with the Indus Valley Civilization, which spread through in the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent, from 3300 BC to 1300 BC.

5. The History of India can be broadly divided into following three categories.  Ancient India Starting from Harappa Civilization in 3000 BC till Chola Dynasty in 985 AD. Medieval India Starting from Ghazni sacks Somnath Temple in 1026 AD till Siraj-ud-daulah captures Calcutta in 1756 AD. Modern India Starting from Battle of Plassy in 1757 Till Partition of India and Independence on 15 August 1947.

6. Stone Age Primary Culture Major Site Importance Lower Palaeolithic Flakes,Chopper Chopping Culture Kashmir, Punjab, Whole India except Sind and Kerala. Main :- Sohan (Punjab), Singrauli basin (U.P.), Chhotanagpur (Jharkhand), Assam, Narmada, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka. - Head axe and pebble tools, Fossil ofHomo Erectus from Hathnaura (Narmada basin)  - Represented by Sohan Culture. PRE HISTORIC PHASES

7. Middle Palaeolithic Scraper/ Booer Culture Navasa (Maharashtra), Didwana (Rajasthan), Bhimbetka (MP), Bankura and Purulia (West Bengal), Narmada Valley etc. - Varieties of Blades, Points, Borer and Scraper made of Flakes.  - 200 rock shelters and caves are located on Bhimbetka hills having thousands of paintings.

8. Upper Palaeolithic Blade and Burin Culture A.P. (Kurnool, Chittor ) Karnataka, Central MP, Jharkhan Plateau, U.P., Rajasthan, Gujrat - The age of Neanderthal Man  - Earlier "Homo Sapiens"  - Harpoon, blade tools from Renugunta (A.P.)  - Bone tools from Kurnool.

9. Meslithic Age Microliths Culture or Fluting & Gometrical tools Karnataka, Rajasthan ( Bagor , Tilwara ), Gujrat ( Langhanj ), M.P., Tamil Nadu,West Benal ( Birbhanpur ), U.P. ( Sarai Nahar Rai ) Microlith (a great technological development, introduction of compound tools)  - Man still a savage but pottery maing ( Tilwara ) and permanent habitation found, still a hunder , fisher.

10. Neolithic Age Polished tool culture Kashmir ( Burzahom , Gufkral ), Assam ( Daojili Hading ), Garohill Meghalaya, Bihar ( Chirand ), Peninsular India, Amri , Kotdiji , Mehargarh etc - Earlies Farming community  - Pit dwelling houses  - Food begain to be cooked by fire  -Evidence of dogs, circular huts made of bamboo, bone-tools, hand made pottery etc  - Also called "Neolithic Revolution"  -Boat making, spinning cotton and wool

11. INDUS VALLEY CIVILIZATION Until the discovery of the remains of the Indus Civilisation , it was believed by scholars that the history of India practically began with the coming of the Aryans. But this theory is an exploded one and the pre-historic civilisation of India, that is, the Indus Valley Civilisation .

12. Name of Sites Region/River Features Harappa Montgomery district of Punjab (Now in Pak) on the left bank of Ravi City followed grid planning Row of six granaries Only place having evidences of coffin burial Evidence of fractional burial and coffin burial Cemetery-H of alien people.

13. Mohenjo-daro Larkana district in Sind on the right bank of Indus(Now in Pak) City followed grid planning A large granary and Great Bath, a college Human skeletons showing invasiona and massacre. Evidence of Horse come from superficial level. A piece of woven cotton alongwith spindle whorls and needles Town was flooded more then seven times.

14. Chanhu-daro Situtated in Sind on the bank of Indus The city has no citadal Famous for bead makers shop A small pot, possibly an inkpot Foot prints of a dog chasing a cat Three different cultural layers, Indus,Jhukar and Jhangar

15. Kalibangan Situated in Rajasthan on the Bank of Ghaggar Shows both Pre Harappan and Harappan phase Evidence of furrowed land Evidence of seven fire altars and camel bones Many houses had their own well Kalibangan stand for black bangles Evidence of wooden furrow

16. Lothal Situated in Gujarat on Bhogava river near Gulf of Cambay A titled floor which bears intersecting design of circles Remains of rice husk Evidence of horse from a terracotta figurine A ship designed on a seal Beads & trade ports An instrument for measuring angles,pointing to modern day compass

17. Banwali Situated in Hissar district of Haryana Shows both Pre- Harappan and Harppan phase Good quantity of barley found here Surkotada Situated in Kutch ( Bhuj ) district of Gujarat Bones of horses, Bead making shops Sutkagendor Situated in Baluchistan on Dast River Trade point between Harappa and Babylon, belong to mature phase Evidence of horse

18. Amri Situated in Sind on the bank of Indus Evidence of antelope Dholavira Situated in Gujarat in Rann of Kutch Seven cultural stages Largest site Three party of city Unique water management Rangpur Situated on the bank of Mahar in Gujarat Rice was cultivated

19. Kot Diji Situated on the bank of Indus Wheel made painted pottery Traces of defensive wall and well aligned streets Knowledge of metallurgy, artistic toys etc Ropar Situated in Punjab of the banks of Sutlej Evidence of burying a dog below the human bural One example of rectangular mudbrick chamber was noticed Five fold cultures - Harappan , PGW, NBP, Kushana - Gupta and Medieval

20. Balakot Situated on the Arabian Sea Remain of pre Harappan and Harappan civilisation The mounds rise to the height of about 9.7mts and are spread 2.8 sq hectare of area Alamgirpur Situated on Hindon in Ghaziabad The impression of cloth on a trough is discovered Usually considered to be the eastern boundary of the Indus culture

21.   VEDIC AGE The Vedic age began in India in about 1500 BC and extend upto 6000 BC. Aryans developed Vedic culture based on Vedas. The meaning of the word Veda is "knowledge". There are four Vedas, namely,Rig Veda, Sam Veda, Yajur Veda and  Atharva Veda.

22. Vedic Civilisation Origin of Indian Music - Samveda Mention of Word ' Shudra ' - Rigveda 10th Mandala Gayatri Mantra - Rigveda Mention of word ' Yajna ' - Brahmana Somaras (drink) - Rigveda (9th Mandala ) Varna - Rigveda Four fold division of Society - Rigveda 10th Mandala Mention of four Ashrams - Jabala Upanishada War between Aryan & Dasas - Rigveda Transmigration of Soul - Brahadaranyka Upanishada Five divisions of India - Aiteraya Brahamana Wife and Husband are complementary - Satapathabrahmana Battle of Ten kings - Rigveda Superiority of Brahmins - Aiteraya Brahmana Marut as Agriculturist - Satpatha Brahmana Satyameva Jayate - Mundaka upanishada Pashupath Shiva - Atharveda Vishnu - Satapatha Brahmana

23. Tribal Organizatoin : Kingship was the basis of social structure Marriage and Status of Women. Varna System: Varna was the term used for colour . Occupation: Their earliest life seems to have been mainly pastoral, agriculture being a secondary occupation. Diet Strong Drinks Amusements: Amusements included dancing, music, chariot-racing, and dicing RIG VEDIC PERIOD

24. LATER VEDIC PERIOD Social Organisation : The later Vedic society came to be divided into four varnas called the  Brahmanas , rajanyas  or  kshatriyas , vaisyas  and  shudras , each varna was assigned with its duty. Gotra System Ashrama System:  brahmachari  or student,  grihastha  or householder,  vanaprastha  or partial retirement and  sanyasa  or complete retirement from the world. Dress: Amusements: Music, both vocal and instrumental

25. Education:It was for a privileged few. Religion: The two outstanding Rig Vedic gods, Indra and Agni, lost their former importance. Prajapati , the creator, occupy the supreme position Rudra , the god of animals, became important in later Vedic times and Vishnu came to be conceived as the preserver and protector of the people

26. VEDIC LITERARURE The vast literature of the Aryans is divided into two parts -  Sruti  and  Smriti  . FOUR VEDAS : Samveda Rigveda Yajurveda Atharvaveda Upanishada : 108 Smriti is traditional knowledge and designates almost the entire body of post-Vedic classical Sanskrit literature Epics

27. Maurian Period The age of Mauryas contributed significantly to the development of arts, including architecture,sculpture , engineering, polishing etc . Indigenous Office Art/Court Art Yaksha image from parkam Pillars (well builts and polished) Yakshi sculpture from Besnagar Finest expample Sarnath - Lions which originally supported Dharma Chakra Female Cauribearer from Patna Animals figure or Maurya period of elephant at Dhauli Stupas Maurian Art

28. The Sangam age : sangam literature The Age Of The Guptas : The classical age. MEDIEVAL INDIA The begining og indo- muslim culture started in this period Delhi Sultanate The Mughals MODERN INDIA

29. REFERENCES A History Of India – Peter Robb Cultural Tourism In India –S.P Gupta,Krishna Lal & Mahua Bhattacharya www.facts-about-india.com www.demographyofindia.weebly.com www.uwf.edu www.books.google.com www.news.nationalgeographic.com www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info www.en.wikipedia.org www.archive.org