The Aryans

Aryans left homeland about 2000 B.C. & migrated to Indus River Valley – 1500 B.C.

Aryans Lived in grassland of the Black & Caspian Seas Indo-Europeans Herded cattle, goats, and sheep Tamed the horse Developed chariot Lived in grassland of the Black & Caspian Seas Indo-Europeans Herded cattle, goats, and sheep Tamed the horse Developed chariot

Aryan Life Lived in houses of bamboo or wood Left poetic records – the Vedas

Vedas A collection of hymns and poems Passed on through oral tradition Main source of information about Aryan life A collection of hymns and poems Passed on through oral tradition Main source of information about Aryan life

Vedic Period Period from B.C. 4 Vedas Rig-Veda is oldest collection Written in Sanskrit Period from B.C. 4 Vedas Rig-Veda is oldest collection Written in Sanskrit

Aryan Religion Brought new religion with them Worshipped many gods Priests sacrificed food and drink to gods in sacred fires Brought new religion with them Worshipped many gods Priests sacrificed food and drink to gods in sacred fires

Aryan Social System: Made up of 4 varnas Priests or Brahmins: performed religious rituals Rulers & warriors: ruled and protected society Merchants & farmers: supplied food clothing and other goods Servants Priests or Brahmins: performed religious rituals Rulers & warriors: ruled and protected society Merchants & farmers: supplied food clothing and other goods Servants

Only males from top three classes could study the Vedas

Social Sub-groups Sub-groups were called Jatis Person was born into Jatis and remained there for entire life Sub-groups were called Jatis Person was born into Jatis and remained there for entire life

Caste System Caste System developed as a result of classes Caste: a unit into which a person is born and cannot change Caste System developed as a result of classes Caste: a unit into which a person is born and cannot change

Aryans were concerned with ritual cleanliness and ranked jobs according to purity.

Untouchables One who falls outside the Hindu social system Performed dirtiest tasks such as dealing with dead bodies One who falls outside the Hindu social system Performed dirtiest tasks such as dealing with dead bodies

Vedic Religion Brahman had three roles: creator, sustainer, and destroyer These roles evolved into three different gods Brahman had three roles: creator, sustainer, and destroyer These roles evolved into three different gods

Three roles Brahma – creator Vishnu – sustainer Shiva - destroyer Brahma – creator Vishnu – sustainer Shiva - destroyer three gods

Brahma

Vishnu

Shiva

Accomplishments of the Aryans New language New gods New social order New language New gods New social order

The Aryan religion evolved into Hinduism!