T HE A RYANS Nomads from the north

PERIOD 1 WEEK 1

W HO WERE A RYANS ? Fierce nomadic tribes Each group was ruled by RAJA Living in the steppes- plains of the URAL mountains in the north. Travelled on horseback and ox-carts Fierce fighters Expert horsemen Used bronze weapons Rode on two-wheeled horse chariots Later they settled in GANGES VALLEY

R OUTE OF A RYANS

A RYANS

T IME PERIODS OF A RYANS THE RIGVEDIC PERIOD: 1500 BC to 1000BC THE LATER VEDIC PERIOD: 1000 BC to 500BC

AN ARCHEAOLOGISTS NIGHTMARE ARYANS were nomads, so they kept moving. No records of buildings, pottery, etc. BUT…………………….. One great Artefact was left by the aryans… VEDAS ---- religious literature containing hymns : prayers, poems, songs, instruction of religious literature.

RIG VEDA Rig means --- hymns Veda means --- knowledge It consist of 1,028 religious poems or songs recited by the priest. ONLY PRIEST WERE ALLOWED TO LEARN VEDAS Vedas were written in 300BC in the language SANSKRIT

V EDAS

O THER VEDAS Sama veda Yajur veda Atharva veda

R ELIGION GODS: INDRA – god of war, sky and the weather AGNI – fire and sun god VARUNA – god of justice NATURE GODS – sun, moon, thunder, river, and rain.

INDRA

PERIOD 1 WEEK 2

THE CASTE SYSTEM ARYANS who settled in RIVER GANGES became farmers. They setup tribal kingdoms with warrrior- leaders. They became rich and powerful and overcame the local people. ARYANS CALLED THEM DASAS – the enemy

ARYANS Tall Short Light skinDark skin LOCAL PEOPLE ARYANS called the local people noseless and godless. Thought they were advanced in farming methods. Aryans copied their methods later.

CASTE SYSTEM Caturvarna --- means four colours

T HE LATER VEDIC PERIOD Aryans moved further east to DOAB – east oif Delhi They settled there and formed kingdoms ruled by KSHATRIYA KINGS- became rich and powerful; were chosen by priests. They already used gold, bronze, copper. Later they began using IRON- shudras worked as labours.

N EW RELIGION Adapted new gods from the area they settled and accepted the religious beliefs or the local people. VISHNU and SHIVA became the most important gods.

N EW BELIEFS Samsara – the cycle of rebirth Karma – the quality of soul in next life MOKSHA – if person get leaves the comfort of life, he will become closer to BRAHMAN- the soul. If he becomes brahman, he will be free from the samsara- the cycle of rebirth

DEVELOPMENT OF HINDUISM Mixture of Aryan history, the caste system, worshipping of various gods and has developed from myths and legends. TWO FAMOUS STORIES: RAMAYAN – romantic story and triumph of good over evil MAHABHARATA – based on the struggle over land rights ; the longest worlds poem

WHAT ABOUT ARYANS: Both ARYANS and NON ARYANS were taken in the lower caste.

DEVELOPMENT OF BUDDHISM Some people found Hinduism difficult to believe, so they began to ask questions about the religious believes. A new religion of founded ---- BUDDHISM Started by and INDIAN PRINCE – Gautama Buddha means THE ENLIGHTENED ONE

GUATAMA BUDDHA