1. The Aryans

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

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. Vedic Period Period from 1500-600 B.C. 4 Vedas Rig-Veda is oldest collection Written in Sanskrit Period from 1500-600 B.C. 4 Vedas Rig-Veda is oldest collection Written in Sanskrit

7. 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

8. 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

9. Only males from top three classes could study the Vedas

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. 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

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

16. Brahma

17. Vishnu

18. Shiva

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

20. The Aryan religion evolved into Hinduism!