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Indian Ocean trade routes

Image Source: https://www.blendspace.com/lessons/XW1jaSvIFcDx1Q/indian-ocean-trade

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Statue of Chandragupta Maurya, the founder and first emperor of the Mauryan Dynasty

Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandragupta_Maurya

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1200-500 BC

Known as a "dark age" the period following the decline of the Indus civilization may have not been as dark as it was once thought. New archaeological evidence shows much continuity from the Indus. Fortified settlements and planned urban forms were built. Script in the form of graffiti re-emerged, and production of ceramics and such became standardized once again. During this time "Heterodox religious teachers, such as the Buddha, and Mahavira, the Jaina" began to emerge as well. Scarre 540). Iron tools were introduced to South Asia during its dark age also. However iron's presence doesn't cause any change for a while. Despite this period's lack of urban forms or unity, cultural continuity persists, and South Asia continues to develope.

Scarre, Christopher. "South Asia: From Early Villages to Buddhism" InThe Human Past: World Prehistory & the Development of Human Societies, 518-551. London: Thames & Hudson, 2005.

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Painted Gray Ware Ceramic

Image Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Painted_Grey_Ware_culture

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The Indian Ocean trade linked South Asia not only to the Romans, but eventually all over the world. Arabian pottery found at South Asian trade ports "demonstrates not only a multiplicity of routes, ports, and carriers but also the durability and longevity of commercial contacts with the western Indian Ocean" (Seland). Evidence suggests that along the Indian Ocean coast, small fishing villages began to convert into permanent trading centers. This was after supposedly, fisherman discovered the cyclical pattern of monsoon winds that allowed them to travel in only 6 months (Scarre 550). However new archaeological evidence shows that trade routes were already in place hundreds of years earlier than thought. Whatever the origins, trade with the Romans resulted in the Indian Ocean region's cities being transformed into literate, prosperous kingdoms instead of pastoral, agricultural societies (Scarre 550).

Seland, Eivind Heldaas. "Archaeology of Trade in the Western Indian Ocean, 300 BC-AD 700." Journal of Archaeological Research, no. 10814 (2014). Accessed December 10, 2014. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10814-014-9075-7/fulltext.html.

Scarre, Christopher. "South Asia: From Early Villages to Buddhism" InThe Human Past: World Prehistory & the Development of Human Societies, 518-551. London: Thames & Hudson, 2005.

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Ocher Colored and Painted Gray Ware Pottery

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Ocher Colored and Painted Gray Ware Pottery

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1st Millennium-7th Century

This type of pottery marks the beginning of another cultural continuum following the decline of the Indus cities. The Ocher Colored pottery is closely related to the Harrapan red ware pottery, and emerges in a group of cities with links to the Harrapan period. These cities eventually became early historic states a thousand years later (Scarre 540). Ocher would eventually be taken over by Painted Gray ware pottery in the East. The new pottery adaptation indicates the return of craft specialization and object standardization in this region (Scarre 541). Archaeological Evidence of pottery shows us the time frame of the South Asian regions unifying under common traditions.

Scarre, Christopher. "South Asia: From Early Villages to Buddhism" InThe Human Past: World Prehistory & the Development of Human Societies, 518-551. London: Thames & Hudson, 2005.

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2nd Century AD-3rd Century AD

After the Mauryan Dynasty ended, the unity it brought dissipated. It wasn't until 2nd century AD that emperor Kanishka formed the empire of Kushan. Urban planning made a resurgence with the foundations of new cities such as Sirsukh in Taxila, while still developing old urban sites. The Kushans adopted many Greek features such as currency and script. By strategically using locations along the Silk Road, the Kushans gained power and became a leading force after China and Rome. (The Kushan Empire). A Kushan influenced form of Buddhism also spread through South Asia once again through the Silk Road (Scarre 549).

"Afghanistan: The Kushan Empire." Afghanistan: The Kushan Empire. Accessed December 10, 2014. http://www.cemml.colostate.edu/cultural/09476/afgh02-08enl.html.

Scarre, Christopher. "South Asia: From Early Villages to Buddhism" InThe Human Past: World Prehistory & the Development of Human Societies, 518-551. London: Thames & Hudson, 2005.

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325-185 BC

South Asia goes through another transformation through a wave of Buddhism during the Mauryan Dynasty. The third emperor of this dynasty is the catalyst of this transition. The great Indian King Asoka made Buddhism the national religion. He made many edicts to the people of South Asia, and in an effort to make all areas of the land feel included, translated his edicts into all the various languages of the people. This period consisted of construction in many large cities including Taxila, of many large Buddhist monuments. Asoka also promoted Buddhist missionaries and education. The message of Buddhism pacified South Asia, which allowed free movement of people much safer, which resulted in an increase in trade and commerce (Scarre 548).

Scarre, Christopher. "South Asia: From Early Villages to Buddhism" InThe Human Past: World Prehistory & the Development of Human Societies, 518-551. London: Thames & Hudson, 2005.

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The Bhir Mound in Taxila

Image Source: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/139

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Illustration of the Indus Civilization

Image Source: http://bhoffert.faculty.noctrl.edu/REL255/001.ReligiousFoundations.html

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Mud brick storage units built in Mehrgarh

Image Source: http://www.thehistoryhub.com/mehrgarh-facts-pictures.htm

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Kot Dijian style of ceramic pottery from pre-Indus Valley

Image Source: http://www.waa.ox.ac.uk/XDB/tours/indus9.asp

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This image is the remains of the supposed Mohenjo- Daro massacre, which was once the main explanation of the fall of the Indus Civilization.

Image Source: http://www.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/field/image/mohenjo-daro-death-masacre.jpg

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1900 BC

The uniformity that had held the core Indus cities together disappeared, and replacing it were many smaller culturally diverse cities. Integrated urban traits such as a common writing, planned urban forms, and large public structures all vanished from the Indus cities (Scarre 536). The reasons why these urban traits disappeared is debated. Theories ranging from outside invasions to natural disasters could explain the patterns of change, and most likely a combination of these things may have contributed to the fall of the civilization (Scarre 538). The core cities such as Harrapa were the most affected by this change in uniformity. However the cities on the outer edge were affected differently. Evidence at the site of Mundigak showing a large palace erected, along with an abundance of exotic wealth from Central Asia show this settlement's prosperity during this time period. Other peripheral settlements such as Pirak show very little social or economic change at all, as If the end of the Indus civilization didn't affect them at all.

Scarre, Christopher. "South Asia: From Early Villages to Buddhism" InThe Human Past: World Prehistory & the Development of Human Societies, 518-551. London: Thames & Hudson, 2005.

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2600 BC-1900 BC

The settlements of the Indus Civilization are all characterized by the same criterion: artifact standardization, four tier settlement hierarchy, writing, long distance specialization, and monumental public works. There are five main large urban settlements, two of the best known being Mohenjo-dara and Harappa, along with at least 32 other smaller sites that fall in with the Indus Civilization. Many of the settlements were located along the Indus and Ghaggar-Hakkra rivers. Close proximity to rivers means fertile land, abundance of silt for crop cultivation, and trade route access. This also means that raw materials are more scarce, which meant trade played a crucial role in the settlement's success. The strange paradox of the Indus Civilization is the uniformity of the settlements, and the lack of any elite. There are a few theories explaining this strange social structure, one being that the Indus Civilization was comprised of a chiefdomship, not at a state level. (Scarre 537). The Indus civilization was an important phase of South Asia's development, but all of its secrets will most likely not be uncovered until the Indus script is deciphered.

Scarre, Christopher. "South Asia: From Early Villages to Buddhism" InThe Human Past: World Prehistory & the Development of Human Societies, 518-551. London: Thames & Hudson, 2005.

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This timeline was created for an assignment at Cascadia Community College and falls under the Fair Use guidelines.

…the fair use of a copyrighted work, including such use by reproduction in copies or phonorecords or by any other means specified by that section, for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.

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3200-2600 BC

Resulting from the previous experimentation of village communities, one large cultural complex emerged in South Asia, known as the Kot Diji phase. The early communities during this era began producing ceramics. The ceramic style of Kot Dijian, from which this era takes its name, came as a product of the cultural convergence of the Indus Valley communities. Eventually the manufacturing of copper, shell and stone products began as well. Along with the wave of community craft specialization, manufacturing centers began to emerge, resulting in an increase in trade with other communities. This era has multiple elements that are echoed in the future Indus Civilization, such as formal settlement plans and the consistent organization of structures. Ceramic motifs that are used in both civilizations suggests an ideology is shared between them.

Scarre, Christopher. "South Asia: From Early Villages to Buddhism" InThe Human Past: World Prehistory & the Development of Human Societies, 518-551. London: Thames & Hudson, 2005.

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4000 BC

This neolithic site in western Pakistan is the earliest settlement known in South Asia to be a farming and pastoral community. While it is believed wheat may have already been domesticated, other crops such as barely and dates, along with animals such as deer and zebu cattle were all domesticated in Mehrgarh (Scarre 525). Storage facilities created from mud brick emerged in Mehrgarh also. The presence of these structures have caused debate amongst archaeologists about whether Mehrgarh was a seasonal settlement or not. Mehrgarh is the only settlement in South Asia with a five thousand year long continuous settlement sequence ( ). However it is sure that the ongoing domestication practices, and the general longevity of the settlement is evidence of Mehrgarh being a successful precursor to the region's first cities (Scarre 525).

Ansari, Massound. "The Guns of Mehrgarh." Archaeology 56, no. 2 (2003): 1-5. Accessed December 10, 2014. http://www.jstor.org.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/stable/info/41779151?&Search=yes&searchText=Mehrgarh&searchUri=/action/doBasicResults?Query=Mehrgarh&prq=Kushan+Dynasty+South+Asia+Prehistory&fc=off&wc=on&so=rel&acc=on&hp=25&vf=jo.

Scarre, Christopher. "South Asia: From Early Villages to Buddhism" In The Human Past: World Prehistory & the Development of Human Societies, 518-551. London: Thames & Hudson, 2005.

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( Neolithic- 500 AD)

It is suggested that the "Dark Age" following the collapse of the Indus civilization was concluded by the annexation of Gandhara by Achaemenid ruler, Darius I. The Achaemenids then founded the first urban administrative centers in the northwest region (Scarre 541). Taxila, Pakistan was one location of these centers. Besides its role in the re-emergence of regionalized complexity, Taxila is considered one of the most important sites in South Asia because of its other three meaningful settlements located there as well. The settlements were occupied by different cultures including early neolithic settlers, Greek descendants of Alexander the Great, and Persians following Darius' takeover. Each era Taxila adopted elements of each culture, and the evidence of this can be seen in the ruins today. The site also contains forty Buddhist structures including the famous Jaulian Monastery, which doubled as a Buddhist University (UNESCO) After the great Indian King made Buddhism the official religion, Taxila became the Buddhist center of education for South Asia.

"Taxila." - UNESCO World Heritage Center. Accessed November 20, 2014. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/139

Scarre, Christopher. "South Asia: From Early Villages to Buddhism" InThe Human Past: World Prehistory & the Development of Human Societies, 518-551. London: Thames & Hudson, 2005.