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10 /9 Focus:

10 /9 Focus: The Aryans, a group of people believed to be from Central Asia, moved into India and dominated the subcontinent Aryan beliefs became the basis for Hinduism Do Now:

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10 /9 Focus:

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  1. 10/9 Focus: • The Aryans, a group of people believed to be from Central Asia, moved into India and dominated the subcontinent • Aryan beliefs became the basis for Hinduism • Do Now: • Describe what the ancient cities of Harappa and MohenjoDaro tell us about the people who lived in the Indus Valley civilization

  2. The Aryans & the Vedic Age

  3. Aryan Migration • Group that moved into the Indus Valley and eventually ruled over all of India

  4. Aryan Migration • Indo-Europeans • Believed to come from Central Asia

  5. n

  6. Aryan Migration • Aryans were pastoralists • Nomadic people kept herds of livestock as food source • learned farming after moving into India • Were a warlike group

  7. Sanskrit • Written language used by the Aryans

  8. 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

  9. Vedic Religion • Polytheistic • Worshipped many gods connected to a single eternal spirit • Became the basis for Hinduism • Priests performed rituals that they claimed kept order in the universe • Fire sacrifices • Chanting hymns • Priests hold great importance and developed power in Aryan society

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

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

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

  13. 10/12 Focus: • The 4 varnas established a social hierarchy in Indian society • The varnas evolved into a more rigid social structure known as the caste system • Do Now: • Explain why priests held so much power in Aryan society

  14. The Caste System • The varnas were the basis for the caste system • Castes • You were born into a caste and stayed there through your life • The way to move up to the next level in the caste system was through reincarnation in the next life • Linked to Hindu faith • Determined what: • jobs you could have • Who you could marry • Who you could eat with • Some castes had more privileges than others

  15. 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 and cremating bodies • Handling trash

  16. Closure • Why are the Vedas important to our understanding of the Aryans? • What are varnas? • Who was at the top of social structure in India?

  17. Brahmins Kshatriyas Vaishyas Shudras

  18. 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

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