Indo-European Migrations Focusing on the Hittites, Aryans and the Development of Hinduism

The Indo-Europeans Influential c. 3000-1000BCE Common family of languages Homeland in steppes around modern Ukraine, north of the Black and Caspian Seas Domesticated horses c. 4000BCE Acquired bronze working from Mesopotamia c.3000BCE Developed wheeled vehicles for horses soon after 3000BCE Economic and military advantages from the horse powered vehicles This advantage facilitated Indo-European dominance when encountering other peoples Aryo- Proto-Indo-European: Nobleman, Lord Aryan (the Nobles/Lords), Iran, Eire (Land of the Nobles/Lords)

Indo-European languages

Modern Distribution of Indo-European Languages

Migrations Herding horses, cattle and sheep led to population increase Proto-Indo-Europeans fan out over Eurasia c. 3000BCE- First Indo-European Migrations begin 2300BCE- Central Europe (Germany, Austria) 2200BCE- Greece 2000BCE- Tarim Basin (East Asia) 1900BCE- Hittites in Anatolia 1500BCE- Medes & Persians in Iranian Plateau 1500BCE- Aryans in Northern India 1200BCE- Celts in Western Europe (France, British Isles, Iberian Peninsula) 1000BCE- Italy

Hittites c. 2000BCE Hittites adopt spoked wheels for chariots and enter Anatolia Late 19th Century BCE- Hittite names and loan words appear in Assyrian tablets 1700-1600BCE Hittite kings begin unifying central Anatolia centered on the capital Hattusha c. 1600BCE Hittite kings raiding as far south as Babylon, ending the Amorite Dynasty there 1500BCE Codification of Hittite Law

War Chariots

Height of Hittite Empire c. 1300BCE

Hittite Culture Agriculture – Staple crops: grain, grapes, olives Husbandry- cattle, sheep, goats, horses, pigs, dogs Writing- cuneiform adopted from Mesopotamia Mining- Anatolia’s mountains are rich in mineral resources

Writing- cuneiform adopted from Mesopotamia

Hittite Culture Mining was done in mountains, but raw materials were transported to cities to be fashioned into weapons, tools and other products Hittite rule was somewhat benevolent compared to other Mesopotamian societies King ruled directly rather than through administrators and his rule seems to have depended on personal charisma Semi-feudal- The state, through the king, held title to all land. Military or tenant labor was demanded in exchange for grants of land

The Aryans and Hinduism Aryan conquest of Northern India c. 1500BCE Vedas- the earliest collections of Aryan Lore, Hymns, Prayers, and Songs Vedas- originally passed down orally, later recorded in writing Vedas- scriptural basis of Hinduism, considered the final authority by many Hindus Rig Veda- earliest Vedic text, composed c. 1500-1200BCE Gods have counterparts in other Indo-European pantheons (esp. Iranian, Greek & Roman) Varuna = Uranus – Both from P-Indo-European root, uer- to bind. Varuna binds the wicked, Uranus binds the Cyclopes.

Aryans Invade Northern India Varna system set up by Aryans Varna = color Originally used to keep the dasa/dasyu, the native, dark skinned population, in subjugation Dasa later comes to mean slave

Four Varnas Brahmin Kshatriya Vaishya Sudra 5th Group, which was outside of the system

Brahmin Priests

Kshatriya Warriors/Administrators

Vaishya Farmers/merchants

Sudra Peasants/Menial Laborers

Untouchables 5th Group, which was outside of the system- Untouchables

Dharma Core concept behind Varna System Duty, Virtue, Law Dharma is specific to Varna Fullfilling the Dharma of your Varna leads to good Karma

Reincarnation Cycle of Rebirth

Two great Epic Poems in Hinduism Ramayana Mahabharata In their final form c. 200CE Provide common ideals for Hindu life Reflect culture and civilization of ancient India