|
Ancient history of India consist of a span of about 3500 years.
Indian culture can be understood in three different co-ordinates,
time, space, and people.
Time: It starts from 3000 B.C to about 550 A.D. The time
span can be divided on other basis which could be overlapping. Around
3000 B.C to 1500 B.C is described as Dravidian period the silent
witnesses being ruins of the Indus valley civilization of Mohenjo-daro
Harappa etc. Around 2000 to 1000 B.C witnessed Arab settlement of
north India. 1500 to 500 B.C is denoted as Vedic period when Vedas,
Brahmanas and Upanishads were composed and compiled. 500B.C to 550
A.D was period of rise of Jain and Buddhist religion. Around same
time Maurya, Sunga, Kanva Andhra, Kusana, Gupta Dynasties reigned.
During the same period invasions of Greeks, Shaka, Kushan were faced
by the Indian culture.
Space: Though the cradle place of the civilization is what
it is known as India, the sphere of influence is much wider. From
Kabul kandahara to China it had influences of different kind and
in return contribution from these nations to art and science had
enriched the Indian civilization. Shrilanka (Ceylon) from 5th Century
B.C to 8th Century A.D was culturally connected to India. Myanmar
(Burma) was associated in 1st to 8th cent A.D Java, Cambodia, Siam
Thailand, Tibet were other nations having cultural similarity. Buddhist
religion originated in India and spread in China, Korea and Japan
at later stages of the history.
People: Very little is known about aboriginal pure race,
which inhabited India million years ago. In Europe China and Indonesia,
some skeletons of human race are found which support the claim of
human habitat around a million years ago. Similar evidence is lacking
about India. (Very recently such skeleton is claimed in India, details
and confirmation of which is awaited). Hence it was believed that
different races migrated to India and settled and got mixed with
other races existing at that time. Indus valley civilization consisted
of Mongoloid, Australoid and Mediterranean races. In general six
races in various form are believed to be inhabitants that include,
Negrito, proto Australoid, Mongoloid, Mediterranean, Western alpinoid
and Nordic.
Different languages originated from Dravidian languages and Sanskrit
and Prakrit, Ardhamagadhi, Paishachi, Maharashtri, Apabhransh languages
existed. Some of the words were borrowed from different races and
their respective languages. Some of the words related to their spiritual
concepts, their myths and rites contributed to the development of
Sanskrit and other language.
The same era developed system of worship. Australoid people invented
art of agriculture. Zoomorphic deities are believed to be originated
from Austric totems. Aryans were originally worshippers of nature.
Worship of Shiva was prearyan custom. Pious fire (Yagnya) and sacrifices
were of animals was also prevailing in less developed people. This
system was evolved further by eliminating animal sacrifice. Similarly
Phallic worship, and animal worship was replaced by more sophisticated
forms of deitites.
Art related to painting and sculpture was mainly related to worship.
The idols were made up of wood, unburnt soil, and terra cotta like
perishable materials. Hence early forms of art did not survive.
First such evidence is found in Indus valley civilization.
Initial literature started with prayers of various forms of God.
It was developed in prose and verses. Further stories related to
Gods and superhumans and heroes amongst humans were developed in
the form of myths. The description of the universe through perception
gave rise to philosophy. As the human being developed from nomadic
tribe to agrarian rural civilization. By the time of Mohenjo- Daro
some of the villages were converted to urban population or cities.
The development gave rise to the social systems. This lead to division
of labor in society, political systems of administration, judiciary
was evolved. In short, it was a civilization in making.
|
