1. Chapter 3 Lesson 1 The Indo-Europeans
People and Ideas Move
Chapter 3
Lesson 1
The Indo-Europeans

2. Indo-Europeans Migrate Terms
Indo-Europeans – nomadic peoples
Steppes – home of Indo-Europeans; dry grasslands that stretched north of the Caucasus (mountains).
Migrations – movements of a people from one region to another
Hittites – Indo-Europeans that occupied Anatolia
Anatolia – Asia Minor, high-rocky plateau, rich in timber and agriculture

3. Indo-Europeans Migrate Terms
Aryans – Indo-Europeans; original homeland between Caspian and Aral seas
Vedas – sacred literature. 4 collections of prayers, magical spells, and instructions for performing rituals.
Brahmins – (mouth) priests
Kshatriyas – (arms) rulers and warriors
Vaishyas – (legs) peasants and traders
Shudras – (feet) laborers

4. Indo-Europeans Migrate Terms
Castes – social system
Mahabharata – reflects the struggles that took place in India as the cultures merged.

5. Indo-Europeans Migrate Outline/Notes
Indo-European Language Family
Slavic, Celtic, Germanic, Italic languages.
Aryans spoke Sanskrit
An Unexplained Migration
No known reason why they left the steppes
Indo-European nomads migrated between 1700 and 1200 BC.

6. Indo-Europeans Migrate Outline/Notes
The Hittite Empire
Separate city-states formed an empire in 1650 BC.
Hattusas was the capital.
Dominated Southwest Asia for 450 years
Occupied Babylon
Hittites Adopt and Adapt
Adopted Akkadian-Babylonian language
Borrowed ideas from Mesopotamians
Blended their culture with others
Chariots and Iron Technology

7. Indo-Europeans Migrate Outline/Notes
The Hittite Empire
Chariots and Iron Technology
Excelled at war
Superior chariots and iron weapons
Empire fell around 1190 BC due to invasions, tribe attacks from the north and burned the capital city.

8. Indo-Europeans Migrate Outline/Notes
Aryans Transform India
A Caste System Develops
Called Indias people dasas or dark, they would become slaves.
No writing system
Pastoral people-cows
Developed the 4 tiers of the caste system-Varnas
Born into your caste for life

9. Indo-Europeans Migrate Outline/Notes
Aryans Transform India
Aryan Kingdoms Arise
Kingdom extends east along Ganges and Yamuna river valleys.
Chiefs elected by the tribe.
Kingdom of Magadha formed-occupying almost all of the Indian subcontinent.
Mahabharata describes the changes and the hero Krishna.

10. Indo-Europeans Migrate Review Questions-Turn In
What important contributions did the Aryans make to the culture and way of life in India?
What were some of the technological achievements of the Hittites?
Where did the Aryans come from when they arrived in India?