Early Indian Civilizations

The Aryans & the Vedic Age

Aryan Migration

• Aryans were nomadic pastoralists from Central Asia that migrated into Northwestern India (Indus Valley).

• Migrations began

~2000 B.C.E.

Aryan Contributions

• Aryans learned farming after moving into India.

• Brought their language, belief system, and social order, which widely influenced areas throughout the subcontinent.

Aryan Language: Sanskrit

• Written language used by Aryans.

• No longer spoken (dead language).

• Sacred texts (Vedas) are still chanted in Sanskrit today.

Aryan Religion: The Vedas

• Sacred writings, epic poems, hymns, magic spells

• Passed down only through oral traditions

• Provide details about Aryan history and society

Vedic Religion

Polytheistic• Worshipped many gods

w/in one eternal spirit • Cows/bulls held in

esteem due to nomadism

Priests performed rituals to keep order in universe – Fire sacrifices – Chanting hymns

Aryan Society

Villages lived under the rule of Rajas (war chiefs).

Rig Veda (oldest book)• Describes the creation

of four varnas (levels)

• Each varna played a specific role in society

Brahmins

Kshatriyas

Vaishyas

Shudras

“The Hymn of the Primeval Man”

from the Rig Veda

When they divided the Man into how many parts did they divide him?

What was his mouth, what were his arms, what were his thighs and his feet called?

The brahmin was his mouth, of his arms was made the warrior, his thighs became the vaisya, of his feet the sudra was born.

Varna (Social Hierarchy)

ShudrasShudras(servants, laborers) (servants, laborers)

VaishyasVaishyas(herders, farmers, (herders, farmers,

merchants, craftspeople)merchants, craftspeople)

KshatriyasKshatriyas

(warriors)(warriors)

UntouchablesUntouchables

BrahminsBrahmins(priests)(priests)

Non-Aryans

Untouchables

• Did not belong to a caste

• Could not associate with other castes

• Could only perform jobs that other castes did not want

• Handling dead humans/animals

• Digging graves• Handling trash

The Caste SystemVarnas were the original basis for the

caste system. Varna is rooted in the idea of ritual & spiritual purity.

Castes determined:• what jobs you could have• who you could marry• who you could eat with

DO WE HAVE A CASTE SYSTEM IN OUR SOCIETY? IF SO, WHO BELONGS WHERE?