Early India and the Vedic Age

1. Early India and the Vedic Age Seat work Students will quietly enter the room, find your seats and discuss your three sticky notes on pages 200-211 with your row group.

2. Early India and the Vedic Age Quiz show: What are the 5 Hindu castes? Brahmins, Kshatrayas, Vaishyas, Sudras, Dalits How many theories about where the Indo-Aryans came form does the book discus? Three Why where the Aryans such good warriors? They had fast horse drawn two-wheeled chariots.

3. Introduction Chapter Introduction This chapter will introduce you to the Civilizations of Early India. You will learn about the Indus Valley civilization, the Vedic age, and religions that emerged in early India. Section 1: Indus Valley Civilization Section 2: India’s Vedic Age Section 3: Hinduism Section 4: Buddhism

4. Indus Valley Civilization What geographic features affected early India?

5. Indus Valley Civilization Key Terms monsoon—seasonal winds that bring rain to the Indian subcontinent during parts of the year subcontinent—large landmass that is set apart from the rest of the continent migrate—v., to move from one region to another in order to live there

6. Indus Valley Civilization Key Ideas The first civilization of the Indian Subcontinent developed along the Indus River. • The Indus Valley civilization had large, • well-planned cities, a strong government, • and an extensive trade network. • Seasonal winds, called monsoons, influence the climate of the region.

8. Indus Valley Civilization An Advanced Civilization By 2500 B.C., well-planned cities such as Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro had developed. City streets were laid out in a grid pattern.

9. India’s Vedic Age Key Ideas Most historians believe that Indo-Aryan nomads entered the Indian subcontinent over many years and mixed with local people. Sacred scriptures known as the Vedas teach us about the Aryan religion and customs.

10. India’s Vedic Age Key Ideas A caste system emerged in India dividing Indians into groups based on birth and occupation.

11. India’s Vedic Age Key Terms • caste—fixed social class into which a person is born Brahmin—priest Kshatriya—ruler or warrior Vaishya—landowner, banker, or merchant Sudra—farmer, laborer, or servant Dalit—person who performed dirty jobs

12. India’s Vedic Age The Origins of the Indo-Aryans By 1500 B.C., a people called Aryans lived in the Indus Valley. The Aryans mixed with local people, who adopted the Aryan language and religion. This period of Indian history is called the Vedic age.

13. Theories About Aryans India’s Vedic Age What three theories explain the presence of the Aryans in India?

14. India’s Vedic Age The Origins of the Indo-Aryans After settling in India, the Aryans composed the Vedas—sacred hymns that described their religion and society. For a thousand years, priests chanted the Vedas in the Sanskrit language. Most Vedas praise Aryan gods and goddesses.

16. India’s Vedic Age The Origins of the Indo-Aryans During the Vedic age, Aryans moved into the Ganges Plain and took up farming. Clans joined to form republics, and powerful leaders made themselves kings. By 500 B.C., more than a dozen kingdoms covered the Ganges Plain.

18. India’s Vedic Age The Caste System Aryans introduced the caste system, which became India’s social structure. A person was born into a caste and could not mix with members of other castes. Castes were organized by jatis, or types of jobs, and by varnas, or religious status.

19. India’s Vedic Age The Caste System The caste system limited people’s individual freedom because the patterns of their lives were fixed at birth. Some believe the caste system brought stability to Indian society. In India today, the law forbids caste discrimination.

20. India’s Vedic Age

21. India’s Vedic Age The Caste System Why did people in the higher castes avoid physical contact with untouchables? How did the caste system evolve over time?

22. India’s Vedic Age How did the lives of the Aryans changeas they moved from the dry grasslands west of the Indus River to the humid Ganges Plain?