The Aryans

Definition Invasion- Forced entry, intrusion, taking over

Aryan Invasion 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

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

Migration Route of Aryans 1500 BCE

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

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

Hinduism 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)

Hinduism 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)

Sanskrit- A written language 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

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

Caste System Brahman- Priests and other holy men

Caste System Kshatriyas- Rulers, warriors, and land owners

Caste System Vaishyas- Merchants and traders

Caste System Shudras- Artisans and farmers

Caste System Harijans- Outside the Caste System, known as “Untouchables”

Caste System 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”

Empires of India

Small Kingdoms of India During the time of the Aryans (1500–500 BCE), chiefdoms began to develop Chiefdom- A group of villages under the control of one leader Over time, these chiefdoms slowly changed into kingdoms with a central government Most of India began to be divided into small states or kingdoms

Chandragupta Maurya Strong military commander who rose to power at the age of 20 United the kingdoms of Northern India, becoming the first true emperor of India Created a dynasty- His sons would go on to rule the Mauryan Empire

Mauryan Empire Lasted from 321 B.C.E to 185 B.C.E (about 150 years) Mostly in modern-day India. Parts in modern-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, and Iran Population is estimated to be about 50 million 320 B.C. 305 B.C. 300 B.C.

Maurya Empire Developed a trading network across South Asia Created a system of finance, administration, and security Created the world’s first currency (money) Ashoka the Great was the grandson of Chandragupta Maurya (ruled from 265 BCE-238 BCE) Known for being a strong warrior and then later spreading Buddhism

Ashoka the Great He was a great warrior and conquered much land for the Empire Elephant Armies After fighting many battles, he was disgusted with the violence and decided to lead a peaceful life Ashoka changed from being a warrior to spreading education and trade He converted to Buddhism and dedicated his life to spreading the religion Buddhism is a religion centered around peace and living in harmony with nature

Gupta Empire After Ashoka the Great died, most of India broke off into smaller kingdoms and empires for several centuries Chandra Gupta I was able to unite many kingdoms and form the next large empire of India Lasted 320 CE-550 CE (about 230 years)

Gupta Empire Built roads, linking cities and towns and increasing trade India was wealthy under the Gupta Empire Hinduism became the main religion, although religious freedom was encouraged

Gupta Empire Many inventions and scientific discoveries Called the “Golden Age of India” Schools and universities were built Developed Arabic numerals, the basis of our number system Created the concept of 0 (zero) The zero makes it possible to use multiple digits and make math operations easier