HIST 135 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Social Stratification, Dvija, Upanayana
Document Summary
Lecture 4: vedic society, rise of indo-gangetic plains (c. 1500-600 bce) Organization of vedic literature: rig veda (hymns, yajur veda (sacrificial formulae, sama veda (melodies, atharva veda (magic) Relations with pre-existing inhabitants: aryans/dasas (later dasa meant enslaves) Attitudes towards the dasas were fear and envy: pastoralists/sedentary agriculturalists. Pastoralists are constantly in search of fresh pastures. Pastoralists and agriculturalists could have had disputes over land, antagonist yet beneficial relationship: patronage/protection. Becomes more apparent in rituals: prakrit. Daily language that varied in different areas. Probably emerges from sanskrit and use of local languages: pa(cid:374)i(cid:374)i"s sa(cid:374)skrit gra(cid:373)(cid:373)ar (5th c bce) Cows and horses: cow = wealth, gavishti = to search for cows, beef eating on special occasions, horse movement, speed, mythological association with gods. Rise of agriculture: plough, shift from wheat to wet rice cultivation, surplus allowed for trade and support for rituals, diversification of occupations (potter, carpenter, tanner, weaver)
