HISTORICAL EVOLUTION OF INDIAN CULTURAL HERITAGE

- IN A SOCIAL PERSPECTIVE

INDIAN CULTURE AND HERITAGE

FREDIN SCARIA

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Meslithic AgeMicroliths 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.

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

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.

Name of Sites Region/River Features

HarappaMontgomery district of Punjab (Now in Pak) on the left bank of Ravi

1. City followed grid planning

2. Row of six granaries3. Only place having

evidences of coffin burial4. Evidence of fractional

burial and coffin burial5. Cemetery-H of alien

people.

Mohenjo-daroLarkana district in Sind on the right bank of Indus(Now in Pak)

1. City followed grid planning2. A large granary and Great

Bath, a college3. Human skeletons showing

invasiona and massacre.4. Evidence of Horse come from

superficial level.5. A piece of woven cotton

alongwith spindle whorls and needles

6. Town was flooded more then seven times.

Chanhu-daro Situtated in Sind on the bank of Indus

1. The city has no citadal2. Famous for bead makers

shop3. A small pot, possibly an

inkpot4. Foot prints of a dog chasing

a cat5. Three different cultural

layers, Indus,Jhukar and Jhangar

Kalibangan Situated in Rajasthan on the Bank of Ghaggar

1. Shows both Pre Harappan and Harappan phase

2. Evidence of furrowed land3. Evidence of seven fire altars

and camel bones4. Many houses had their own

well5. Kalibangan stand for black

bangles6. Evidence of wooden furrow

LothalSituated in Gujarat on Bhogava river near Gulf of Cambay

1. A titled floor which bears intersecting design of circles

2. Remains of rice husk3. Evidence of horse from a

terracotta figurine4. A ship designed on a seal5. Beads & trade ports6. An instrument for measuring

angles,pointing to modern day compass

Banwali Situated in Hissar district of Haryana

1. Shows both Pre-Harappan and Harppan phase

2. Good quantity of barley found here

Surkotada Situated in Kutch (Bhuj) district of Gujarat

1. Bones of horses, Bead making shops

Sutkagendor Situated in Baluchistan on Dast River

1. Trade point between Harappa and Babylon, belong to mature phase

2. Evidence of horse

Amri Situated in Sind on the bank of Indus 1. Evidence of antelope

Dholavira Situated in Gujarat in Rann of Kutch

1. Seven cultural stages2. Largest site3. Three party of city4. Unique water

management

Rangpur Situated on the bank of Mahar in Gujarat 1. Rice was cultivated

Kot Diji Situated on the bank of Indus

1. Wheel made painted pottery2. Traces of defensive wall and

well aligned streets3. Knowledge of metallurgy,

artistic toys etc

Ropar Situated in Punjab of the banks of Sutlej

1. Evidence of burying a dog below the human bural

2. One example of rectangular mudbrick chamber was noticed

3. Five fold cultures - Harappan, PGW, NBP, Kushana - Gupta and Medieval

Balakot Situated on the Arabian Sea

1. Remain of pre Harappan and Harappan civilisation

2. 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

1. The impression of cloth on a trough is discovered

2. Usually considered to be the eastern boundary of the Indus culture

 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.

Vedic Civilisation

Origin of Indian Music - SamvedaMention of Word 'Shudra' - Rigveda 10th MandalaGayatri Mantra - RigvedaMention of word 'Yajna' - BrahmanaSomaras (drink) - Rigveda (9th Mandala)Varna - RigvedaFour fold division of Society - Rigveda 10th MandalaMention of four Ashrams - Jabala UpanishadaWar between Aryan & Dasas - RigvedaTransmigration of Soul - Brahadaranyka UpanishadaFive divisions of India - Aiteraya BrahamanaWife and Husband are complementary - SatapathabrahmanaBattle of Ten kings - RigvedaSuperiority of Brahmins - Aiteraya BrahmanaMarut as Agriculturist - Satpatha BrahmanaSatyameva Jayate - Mundaka upanishadaPashupath Shiva - AtharvedaVishnu - Satapatha Brahmana

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.

DietStrong DrinksAmusements: Amusements included dancing,

music, chariot-racing, and dicing

RIG VEDIC PERIOD

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 SystemAshrama 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

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

VEDIC LITERARUREThe 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

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

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 SultanateThe Mughals

MODERN INDIA

REFERENCES

A History Of India – Peter RobbCultural Tourism In India –S.P Gupta,Krishna Lal

& Mahua Bhattacharyawww.facts-about-india.comwww.demographyofindia.weebly.comwww.uwf.eduwww.books.google.comwww.news.nationalgeographic.comwww.ramakrishnavivekananda.infowww.en.wikipedia.orgwww.archive.org