MMW 11 Chapter Haywood: Lecture 18 Reading Assignment - Vedic India

• School: UCSD
• Department: Making of the Modern World
• Course: MMW 11
• Professor: David Jordan

Document Summary

1500 bc -> aryans (nomads from central asia) crossed hindu kush. Their language was ancestor to sanskrit: language of classical indian literature and modern languages like. Indigenous traditions, like black and red ware pottery, spread across southern india in 1st millennium. Painted gray ware pottery distribution = spread of aryans across gangetic. Plain (eastern pakistan -> northern india -> all of bangladesh, east of india) 9th century -> japanadas, small tribal kingdoms, developed on plain. 700 bc -> japanadas formed 16 mahajapanadas (great realms) 400 bc -> only 6 existed by then: most important was magadha, which achieved a dominant position in 6th century under king bimbisara, writing came back into use in this period. Factors in urbanization: associated with increase in iron production, 550 bc -> iron came into widespread use, arguments: Increase in agricultural productivity: population increase. Iron weapons promoted growth of states and cities to defend themselves.