Answer the following questions in about 250 words each.
1) What are the distinguishing features of Mature Harappan Culture? In what ways can it
be distinguished from the Early Harappan culture?
2) Describe the material milieu for the rise of Buddhism and Jainism in the sixth century
BCE.
Answers
★ Solution :-
1.) What are the distinguishing features of Mature Harappan Culture ? In what ways can it be distinguished from the Early Harappan Culture ?
Answer.) The following are the distinguishing features of Mature Harappan Culture with respect to the Early Harappan Culture ::
• Development of Coins ::
The usage of stamped coins have really marked the beginning of the Mature Harappan Culture. These coins weren't used in the Early Harappan Culture instead they were introduced with the development in the field of metallurgy when the metals like copper, aluminium, etc. were found. Also these coins had unique stamps of different deities.
• City Planning ::
The Mature Harappan Period can be well distinguished from the Early Harappan Period simply by looking at it's planning structures and cities. Now the cities were seemed to be more planned with developed structures of clay and brick and good usage of base material. Also, there were development in pillar system also which balanced the weighg of tbe structure. Introduction of metals in city planning contributed a lot in the development of infrastructures.
• Clothings ::
The clothing styles of people was changed in Mature Harappan Period. People wore more orthodox and simple clothes during the Early Harappan Period but in Mature Harappan Period they started wearing new fabric clothes like cotton, silk, wool, etc. and even there used to be good embroidery work on the clothes.
• Art and Culture ::
According to the historical artefacts, it has been proved that the Harappan civilization flourished more in it's Mature period. The reason was that there were introduction of many arts and cultures. People learnt to present their ideas in the forms of drawings on caves, parchments, clothes, etc. And when it came to culture, there were introductions of languages and literatures. Many scriptures were introduced which gave people, the knowledge about religion and their origin.
• Infrastructures and Economy ::
Many new Infrastructures like canals, drainage, halls, grounds, etc. were made using the knowledge of ancient form of Trignometry and Maths which were developed during Mature Harappan Period. Even the economy flourished much as there was introduction of many new crops which helped people of that time to produce more food and agricultural products.
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2.) Describe the material milieu for the rise of Buddhism and Jainism in the sixth century BCE.
Answer.) Material Milieu actually means the materialistic social environment around a person. Material Milieu actually helped a lot for the rise of many religions especially Buddhism and Jainism. The reason was that these religions were introduced in the places at the time when people didn't have any common or well spoken language of communication. Neither people knew much about these religions. So it was really a hard time for the preachers to make people understand the teachings of their religion. The following are some of the examples of it ::
• Development of Language ::
Languages like Pali and Prakrit were quite popular among people at that time. So it was a good opportunity for the preachers and religious saints to contact people in that language. The materialistic approch of language which enculcated the feeling of religion in people was very strong. People got attracted towards it since it was taught to them in their common language. Even they could easily understand and share that.
• Development of Scripts and Texts ::
Many different scripts and texts were developed that time which made the spreading of religions like Buddhism and Jainism very rapid across different places. These religious authorities many a times published religious texts which enlightened the people with that knowledge and also helped them to choose their religion.
• Use of Religious Emotions ::
Material things like deities, devotions, scriptures, images, pictures, drawings, etc. promoted religion at large scale. These attracted to the religious sentiments of people. They directly attacked to their conscience. People used to get forced to buy that product which made them get towards that religion. Buddhism and Jainism were in real promoted across whole using these sources only.
• Silk Routes and Medium to Transfer ::
Though the name of the route is Silk Route, but there were many other things travélled on this route. Many were preachers and religious saints. They travélled to different parts of the world sharing their ideas, religious teachings, gathering followers and preaching others. This became wuite popular in Sixth Centure BCE since at that time there were routes for many goods which supported the influence of religions like Buddhism and Jainism.
1st..Answer ⤵️
One of the distinguishing features of the Mature Harappan phase is its artefacts and technology (Possehl 2003). We have a new pottery (style, clay fabrics, vessel forms and painting), even though there may be some continuities with the earlier ones. There is an increasing use of metal and introduction of bronze.
2nd..Answer ⤵️
Harappans created sculptures, seals, pottery, and jewelry from materials, such as terracotta, metal, and stone. Harappan people were literate and used the Dravidian language. The most remarkable feature of the Harappan civilization was its urbanization and its excellent town planning.
3rd..Answer ⤵️
The primary cause for the rise of Jainism and Buddhism was the religious unrest in India in the 6th century B.C. The complex rituals and sacrifices advocated in the Later Vedic period were not acceptable to the common people. The sacrificial ceremonies were also found to be too expensive.