1. Aryans ► Origins  unknown  Little archaeological records ► Source of Knowledge  Vedas  sacred literature ► Based on oral traditions (1500 BCE) ► 4 collections  Prayers, magic spells & rituals ► Most important  Rig Veda  1028 hymns to Aryan gods

2. Aryans ► Invaded subcontinent  1500 to 250 BCE ► Conquered  Regions: ► Indus Valley ► Ganges Valley  People? ► Dasas

3. Aryans V. Dasas PeopleAryansDasas Physical Appearance Taller & lighter skin color Shorter & Darker Language Indo European Not written Written LifestylesPastoral Wealth = cows Farmers, town dwellers (walls) gods Indra, Agni Shiva, mother goddesses

4. Aryans ► Society was organized into 4 groups  Your group determined role in society ► Applied their social order to the locals  Where do you think they placed the locals? ► Over time it evolved & more complex ► Caste System

5. Caste System ► 1) Brahmin  ___________  priest ► 2) Kshatriya  __________  rulers, warriors & nobles ► 3) Vaishya  ___________  traders, farmers & artisans ► 4) Shudra  ____________  laborers & servants ► 5) Dalit  aka Untouchables  impure jobs ► butchers, gravediggers & garbage collectors

6. Caste System ► Purusha  1 st human

7. Caste System ► Cleanliness & purity very important ► Born into it ► Determined:  Work/job  Marry  Associate w/ ► No Social Mobility