1. Early Indus Civilizations
The Aryans & the Vedic Age

2. Aryan Migration
Group that moved into the Indus Valley and eventually ruled over all of India
Approx B.C.

3. Aryan Migration Aryans were warlike people
Believed to come from Central Asia

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5. Aryan Migration Aryans were pastoralists
Nomadic people kept herds of livestock as food source
learned farming after moving into India
Were taller and lighter skinned than the people in the Indus Valley

6. Sanskrit
Written language used by the Aryans

7. The Vedic Period
Most of what we know about the early Aryan period comes from the Vedas
Vedas
Scared writings, Epic poems, hymns, magic spells
Passed on by oral tradition
Provide details about Aryan history and society

8. Vedic Society Vedas tell us that:
Aryans lived in smaller villages than Harappans
Villages came together under the rule of Rajas
War chiefs
Protected the people in return for food and money

9. Vedic Religion Polythesitic
Worshipped many gods connected to a single eternal spirit
Priests performed rituals that they claimed kept order in the universe
Fire sacrifices
Chanting hymns

10. Vedic Social Structure
Rig Veda
Oldest of the Vedas
Describes the creation of the four varnas
Each varna had played a specific role in society
Brahmins
Priests and teachers
Kshatriyas
warriors and rulers
Vaisyas
Traders, farmers, herders
Sudras
Servants

11. WHO IS… The mouth? The arms? The legs? The feet? Brahmins Kshatriyas
Vaishyas
Shudras

12. Varna (Social Hierarchy) (herders, farmers, merchants, craftspeople)
Brahmins
(priests)
Kshatriyas
(warriors)
Vaishyas
(herders, farmers, merchants, craftspeople)
Shudras
(servants, laborers)
Non-Aryans
Untouchables

13. Untouchables Did not belong to a caste No protections of caste laws
Could not associate with other castes
Could only perform jobs that other castes did not
Handling dead animals
Digging graves
Handling trash

14. The Caste System The varnas were the basis for the caste system Castes
Determined what:
jobs you could have
Who you could marry
Who you could eat with
Some castes had more privileges than others
Indian Constitution outlawed caste distinctions… it has been hard to change a 3,000 year tradition. Many untouchables are still discriminated against