An Outline of the Aryan Civilization

266 Pages·2017·11.351 MB·English

by  Ramendra Nath Nandi

AN OUTLINE OF THE ARYAN CIVILIZATION

An Outline of the
Aryan Civilization
RAMENDRA NATH NANDI
Firstpublished2018
byRoutledge
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ISBN:978-1-138-09474-1(hbk)
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To the Loving Memory of
Narendra Nath Bhattacharyya
The Man and the Historian

Contents
Preface 13
Introduction 15
1. The Nature of the State 24
The Political Spectrum 24
Political Terminology 26
The King and his Palace 29
The King and his Territory 31
Horses, Chariots and Territorial Conquests 34
The King and the People 35
2. The Form of Government 39
Role of Corporate Bodies: Vidatha, Sabhā, Samiti 39
The Rituals of Empowerment 44
The Aśvamedha Sacrifice 46
The Incipient Rājasūya 52
3. The City and the Citadel 61
Vedic Gods and Walled Settlements 66
Harappan Citadels and the `Rgveda 68
Defensive Architecture 69
Construction Material 70
Grid Plan 71
Multi-pillared 72
8 Contents
Numerous Gateways 73
Fort as a Resource Centre 74
4. Merchants and Moneylenders 77
Routes and Merchandise of the Bronze Age 77
Commodity Exchange of the Middle Bronze Age 79
Business Terminology 84
Professional Traders: Va`nik and Pa`ni 85
Private Bankers 87
5. Cruising the Blue Water 90
Rivers and the Sea 91
Cloud Formation and the Water Cycle 91
Vedic Gods and the High Seas 92
Tidal Waves, Monsoon Winds and Gulfs 96
Marine Fires 96
Resources of the Deep Sea 97
Seafaring Crafts 98
Shipwreck and Rescue Operations 100
Pirates and Loss of Direction 102
Merchants, Crew Members and Escorts 102
Nature of the Cargo 103
River-borne Sea Trade 104
Sea-borne Wealth and Fame 107
6. Caravans on Dusty Tracks 109
Hazards of the Land Route 109
Trade in Gem Stones 111
Trade in Livestock 115
Donkeys and Camels 117
Trade in Textiles 119
Contents 9
Gold, Gold-like Objects and Other
Merchandise 120
From Priest to King 124
7. Crafts and Craft-working 125
Metals and Metal-working 125
Functional Objects 126
Ayas—Copper or Just Metal? 126
The Smelter (Dhmātā) and the Smith
(Kārmār, Karmār) 128
Wood-working and Carpenters (Tak_sā) 130
Functional Objects: Pots, Shafts, Carts, Boats 131
Agricultural Tools 133
Weavers (Vāsovāya, Vayanti) and Weaving 134
Leather Workers (Carmamnā) and
Leather Working 136
8. The Story of the Cow-tale 140
The Chorus of Nomadism 140
Meaning of Go 144
Buffalo or Mahişa 147
Permanent Dwellings 148
9. Peasants and Plough Lands 151
Gods and Peasant Activities 152
Some Crucial Expressions 153
K_setrapati: The God of Plough Lands 159
Terms for Plough Lands 160
The Acquisition of Plough Lands 161
Fights for Acquisition 162
Resource Crunch, Famines and
Starvation Deaths 164