Oldest rig Veda Compost 3500 years ago. Include thousand hymns called sukta or well said
God's especially Agni the god of fire, Indra a warrior God ,Soma a plant from Which special drink was prepared.
In terms of work, they do the language. They speak the place they belong to their family and community and cultural practices.
There are two groups. In terms of their work the priests Called brahmins And the rajas(Not like usual rajas)
Sometimes people who composed hymns described themselves as aryas And called their opponents the Dasa or dasyus
Practice of erecting megaliths began about 3,000 years ago.
Dead were buried with distinctive pots. Which were called black and red ware
Found tools and weapons of iron and sometimes skeletons of horses horse equipments and ornaments of stone and gold.
One skeleton buried with 33 gold beads to Stone beads for copper Bangles and one conch shell.
One man found in a large four-legged clay jar in the courtyard of a 5 room house.
Bones of animals found include cattle Buffalo goats sheep dog horse as Pig sambher spotted deer blackbuck Antelope har and mongoose.
Evidences that fruits such as bear amla jamun dates and a variety of berries were collected.
Chapter 6 -
Kingdoms Kings and an early Republic
How some men became rulers?
Some rajas We're probably choosen by Jana.
But around 3,000 years ago Became recognized as rajas by performing very big sacrifices(Ashwamedha or horse sacrifice)
Raja was a central figures in the rituals.
Priests performed the rituals including the sprinkling.
Ordinary People vish or vaishya brought gifts
However, some people regarded as shudras by the priests were excluded from many rituals.
Early Vedic period- rig Veda
later Vedic period- sama Veda yajur Veda. Atharva Veda
These books composed by priests
And described how rituals were to be performed also contained rules about Society.
Priests divided people into four groups called varnas
Each Varna had a different set of function
Brahmin - Expected to study Vedas perform sacrifices and receive gifts.
Rulers known as kshatriyas - Expected to fight battles and protect people
Third vish or vaishyas expected to be Farmers herders and traders.
Both Kshatriyas and vaisyas could perform sacrifices
Last sudras- had to serve serve the other three groups. And could not perform any rituals.
Often women were grouped with the shudras
Both women and shudras were not allowed to study The Vedas.
Priests also said these groups were decided on the basis of birth.
Many people did not accept the system of Varna.
As they were Superior to Priests
Janapada
The word literally means land where the Jana set its foot and settled down.
Rajas who performed big sacrifices recognized as being rajas of janapadas rather than Jana's
Found people lived in huts kept cattle as well as other animals
grew variety of crops rice wheat barley pulses sugarcane system and mustard.
Made earthen pots- grey in color
Special Pottery found at these sides Painted grey Ware
Mahajanapadas
About 2500 years ago. Some Janapada has became more important than others.
Most had a capital city and were fortified.
Mostly made for protection, Some to Show off
New rajas began maintaining armies
Some payments using punch marked coins
Taxes
Two made huge forts, maintaining big army needed more resource.
Taxes on crops- By farmers 1/6 of what was produced known as Baga or share
Taxes on crafts- In the form of Labour (Work for a day every month for the king)
Herders also expected to pay taxes in the form of animals and animal produced.
Taxes on Goods brought and sold through trade
Hunters and gatherers to provide Forest produce to the Raja
Changes in agriculture
Two major changes -
1)Growing use of iron proshares
2)People begin transplanting paddy
Led to increased production
Generally slave men women and landless agricultural labourers(kammakaras) do this work.
Magadha
Most important mahajanapadas
Ganga and Son flood through maghada
Important for transport, water supplies, making the sand land fertile.
Elephants trained for the Army
Forests provide wood used for carts and chariots
Iron mines in the region- used for strong tools and weapons.
Two very powerful rulers bimbisara and ajatasattu
Mahapadma Nanda another important ruler
Raja griha Was the capital of Magadha
Later shifted to patliPutra(Patna)
2300 years ago ruler named Alexander lived in Macedonia in Europe To become a World Conqueror
Came to Indian subcontinent reaching up the banks of beas.
His soldiers refused - They were scared.
Vajji
with its capital at vaishali (Bihar)
Different form of government known as Gana or Sangha
Not one, but many rulers.
Each one known as Raja
Performs rituals together
Mdt in assemblies decide what to do and how
Through discussion and debate
Women dasas and kammakara(landless Labourers)could not participate in these assemblies.
Both Buddha and mahavira belonged to Gana or sanghas
Lasted for a very long time 1500 years ago.
Last of Gana where conquered by Gupta rulers
Chapter 7-
New questions and ideas
The story of Buddha
Siddhartha known as Gautama The founder of Buddhism
Born about 2,500 years ago
Belong to small Gana known as sakya Gana And was a kshatriya.
At the young age left the comfort of his home in search of knowledge.
Wandered for several years
Finally decided to find his own path to realization.
And meditated for days under a people tree at bodh Gaya in Bihar attained enlightenment.
After that, he was known as Buddha or the wise one.
Went to sarnath near Varanasi for the first time
The rest of his life traveling teaching people till he passed away at kusinara.
Buddha teaching
Life is full of suffering and unhappiness.
Because we have cravings and desires.
Sometimes even if we get what we want, we are not satisfied and want even more.
Describe this as thirst or Tanha.
Also taught people to be kind and respect the lives of other including animals.
Believed results of our action whether good or bad affect us both in this life and the next
language- Of Ordinary People prakrit
Upanishads
Part of the later Vedic texts
literally means "approaching and sitting near"
Text content conversation between teachers and students.
Often ideas were presented through simple dialogues.
Most upanishadic thinkers were men, especially brahmins and rajas occasionally woman thinkers.
One famous exceptions was satyakama jabala
Panini the grammarian
Grammar for Sanskrit
Arrange the vowels and consonants in special order. Create formula
Jainism
Last 24th tirtankara of the jainas- Vardhamana Mahavira(2500 yrs ago)
Kshatriya Prince of licchavis(Part of vagi Sangha)
At age of 30 left home and went to live in forest. For 12 years
At the end he attend enlightenment.
Teaching
Men and women who wish to know the truth must leave their homes. Must follow very strictly the rules of ahimsa.
Used prakrit language
Followers of mahavira known as Jainas
Lead simple lives begging for food
Absolutely honest asked not to steal.
Observe celibacy
Men had to give up everything including their clothes.
The teachings were transmitted orally for several centuries.
1500 years ago- Written down in the Form In which they are presently available at a place called valabhi in Gujarat.
The Sangha
An Association of those who left their homes And followed Buddha or Mahavira
Rules made for Buddhist Sangha written down in a book called vinaya pitaka
All men could join Sangha children had to take the permission of their parents
slaves that of their Master's
debtors that of creditors
woman had to take their husbands permission.
Led simple lives, meditated and beg for food-They were known as bhikkus and bhikkunis(Prakrit word for Renouncer or beggar)
help one another
Monasteries
Temporary shelters for Buddhist monks and Jaina monks
Natural caves or Gardens
Later felt the need for permanent shelters. And so monasteries were built these were known as viharas.
Earliest viharas made of wood Then
Somewhere even in caves
Land donated by Rich merchants or landowners or the king
Local people offers Gifts of food clothing and Medicine In return they taught people.
The system of asramas
Developed by brahmins
(Doesn't mean a place).
It is used for a stages of life
Four ashramas-
Brahmacharya(early stage-study vedas)
grihastha
vanaprastha
and samnyasa
Chapter 8
Ashoka the Emperor who gave up War.
A very big kingdom is equal to an Empire.
Ashoka greatest ruler
Empire that Ashoka ruled founded by his grandfather chandragupta maurya
Supported by a wise man named chanakya or kautilya- Some of his idea written in book called arthashastra.
Several cities
Capital patliputra, taxila and ujjain
There were Villages of farmers and herders Forest where people gathered Forest produce and hunted animals for food.
Different parts of Empire spoke different languages
Ruling the empire
Different parts ruled differently
Area around patliputra Direct Control of emperor
Officials appointed to collect taxes from Farmers herders craft persons and Traders
Also punish those who disobeyed the rulers order.
Spies kept a watch on the officials
Taxila and ujjain are provincial capital.
Tried to control roads and rivers
And to collect whatever resources were available as tax and tribute.
People living in Forest areas expected to provide elephants Timber, honey and wax to officials.
Magasthene- Ambassador to chandragupta by Greek ruler Seleucus nicator
Ashoka a unique ruler
First ruler who tried to take his message to the people through inscriptions.
In prakrit language and were written in brahmi script
Ashoka's war in kalinga
Kalinga- Ancient name of coastal odisha
Ashoka fought a war to conquer Kalinga However, he was so horrified By seeing violence and bloodshed
That he decided not to fight any more Wars.
Only King in history who gave up Conquest after winning a war.
What was ahsoka's dhamma?
Not a worship or performance of a sacrifice.
His duty to instruct his subjects.
Inspired by the teachings of Buddha
He felt this was his duty to solve the problems existing in his Empire.
He appointed officials known as the dhamma Mahamatta -Who went from place to place teaching people about dhamma
Inscribed his messages on rock and pillars
Also spread ideas to Syria Egypt Greece and Sri Lanka
Built roads dug Wells and built rest houses
Looking ahead.
Mauryan Empire collapsed about 2200 years ago.
Arose several new kingdoms
Northwest indo-Greeks ruled followed by shakas (NW north and western india)
Shakas in turn followed by kushanas(about 2000yrs ago)
In North and Part of central India general of Mauryas named pushyamitra shunga Set up a kingdom.
Shunga's followed by another Dynasty kanvas And by rulers till the establishment of Gupta empire about 1700 years ago.
Shakas has fought several battle with satavahanas(western india and parts of central india) 2100yrs ago to 1700 yrs ago
Followed by a new ruling family vakatakas
In South India cholas cheras and pandyas
Ruled between 2200 and 1800 yrs ago
And about 1,500 years ago. There were two large kingdoms pallavas and chalukyas.
Sir class 7,8 notes plzzzz
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