Literature

Curated by: Noemi

Why was literature needed and why was it important?

Literature was needed for many reasons. It was very important to ancient india and had a great impact on its evolution. It Made learning and communicating easier, and it was a big component in the spread of religions throughout the sub content.

Before literature was invented everything was oral this made things much harder. For example education, Teachers had to teach things orally and students were expected to memorize everything they were being taught. Once literature was invented they were able to write things down making it easier for the students to remember necessary information. literature not only affected education it affected other things as well like, reading things, sending letters, communication, and keeping track of important things.

This is what the ancient Indian dried palm leaves looked like that they used to write on.

How was it made?

For a very long time the ancient Indians used oral tradition and based things off of memory, but as time passed they started to develop writing. They used a script called Indus script, this script used letters and words that were like pictures, sort of like hieroglyphics. They started to write things down on dried palm leaves, birch bark, and later they made a form of paper. They wrote things down using special inks made from Lampblack. They usually wrote important things down such as religious texts or scripture. Literature meant writing things down and having letters and words that people could understand. It was like talking but in a more advanced way. They learned how to read, write, and understand things in different ways.

this map shows how ancient Indian religion spread and the black arrows show how education spread as well.

Inventions impact?

and impact on later civilizations

The development of literature by the ancient Indians had a significant impact, it changed education throughout India, and improved religious teachings throughout the subcontinent. Literature was very important to religion and religion was what kept the civilizations together and helped to unify them. A big part of literature was also education, the Ancient Indians used it to improve their learning. Literature helped later civilization by sharing religion and keeping records of important information that other later civilizations could use.

what made this inventions historically important?

The invention of literature was a huge breakthrough in Indian history and had a profound impact on ancient Indians and their development to the modern era. It changed education and religion throughout the entire civilization's time period. Without literature the civilization would have never become what it is today. Literature had a major impact on a large number of people and changed beliefs throughout history.For example a large amount of people today still are using ancient Indian beliefs, like Buddhism and Hinduism. Literature was just one of ancient India's great inventions during the time of 1000-1500 CE.