1. The Aryans

2. Warm-up 12/16 What does the word invasion mean to you?
What are the consequences of invasions?

3. Definition
Question #1
Invasion- Forced entry, intrusion, taking over

4. Aryan Invasion The Aryans were a group from Eurasia
Question #2
The Aryans were a group from Eurasia
They were nomads who traveled from place to place
Around 1500 BCE, they settled in India around the Indus River

5. Question #3
Aryan Invasion
The Aryans conquered and took control of the cities of the Indus Valley
The people of the Indus Valley had been weakened by famine
The Aryans were strong warriors and also had advanced weapons and tools

6. Migration Route of Aryans 1500 BCE

7. Cultural Diffusion Cultural Diffusion- The spreading of culture
Question #4
Cultural Diffusion
Cultural Diffusion- The spreading of culture
Ideas, technology, food, music, clothing, etc.
The Aryans gave up their nomadic lifestyle and settled in India
They brought their culture to India
Over time, Aryan culture merged with the local culture

8. Impact of Aryan Culture
Question #5
Impact of Aryan Culture
The Aryans had major influence on Indian culture in 3 major areas
Religion: Hinduism
Written Language: Sanskrit
Social Structure: Caste System

9. Hinduism The Hindu religion is based off several Aryan beliefs:
Question #6
The Hindu religion is based off several Aryan beliefs:
The belief in many gods and that these gods lived in nature
The Vedas are sacred texts (similar to the Bible)

10. Hinduism
Question #7
Today Hinduism is practiced by over 1 billion people and is the 3rd largest religion in the world
It is also the oldest living religion in the world
(Oldest religion that is still practiced- Over 3,000 years old)

11. Sanskrit- A written language
Question #8 & #9
When the Aryans came to India, the people in India did not have a universal language
The Aryans introduced Sanskrit and it spread throughout India
The Vedas were written in Sanskrit

12. Caste System
Question #10
The caste system in India has been around for over 2,000 years
People are divided into social classes based on their occupation
People remained in their castes for life
There are 5 different levels within the Caste System

13. Caste System
Question #11
Brahman- Priests and other holy men

14. Caste System Kshatriyas- Rulers, warriors, and land owners
Question #12
Kshatriyas- Rulers, warriors, and land owners

15. Caste System
Question #13
Vaishyas- Merchants and traders

16. Question #14
Caste System
Shudras- Artisans and farmers

17. Caste System
Question #15
Harijans- Outside the Caste System, known as “Untouchables”

18. Caste System
Question #16
This was a dominant part of Indian culture until the mid-1900s when it was made illegal
Although it is illegal, it is still followed in India as an unspoken rule
Gandhi fought for the rights of “untouchables”

19. 8) Which statement best explains why the Aryans’ settlement in India helped in the creation of a written form of their language?
Once the Aryans had taken control of India, they developed a bureaucracy that needed to keep good records to control the vast territory.
B) The peoples that the Aryans conquered already had an alphabet that the Aryans adopted for their own language once they had taken control.
C) By giving up their nomadic lifestyle, the Aryans were able to develop a settled way of life that made it possible to develop their culture further.
D) Prior to the Aryans’ arrival in India, Sanskrit was mostly spoken by priests, who had no need to transmit their ideas to other members of society.

20. Review Write a complete sentence with the correct answer
Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa were built on the _______ river.
The earliest known civilization in India was known as the ______ _____.
The city of Mohenjo-Daro was laid out on a____ with straight streets that crossed at right angles.
What was Mohenjo-Daro’s greatest technology?
What is one reason Mohenjo-Daro declined?