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India. Aryans, Hinduism, Buddhism, Empires. Indo-Europeans. Came from north of the Caucasus Mountains Lived in tribes Herders of cattle, sheep, goats Tamed horses & had chariots Spoke Indo-European languages: influenced English, Sanskrit, Persian, Spanish, German.
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India Aryans, Hinduism, Buddhism, Empires
Indo-Europeans • Came from north of the Caucasus Mountains • Lived in tribes • Herders of cattle, sheep, goats • Tamed horses & had chariots • Spoke Indo-European languages: influenced English, Sanskrit, Persian, Spanish, German
Origins: Pre-Historic India 3000-1000 BCE Aryan Migration to India
Hittites(2000- 1190 BCE) • One of the earliest Indo-Europeans to migrate • Moved into the Anatolia Region (Turkey) • Dominated Southwest Asia for 450 years • Occupied Babylon • Formed alliance with Egypt • Spoke Indo-European language amongst themselves, used Akkadian for general purposes • Less advanced overall • Had superior war technology • Chariots • Iron
Aryans • Migrated to India • Vedas, sacred piece literature • Four collections of prayers, magical spells and instruction for performing rituals • Developed Caste system • Polytheistic • Magadha • Major kingdom that expanded by taking over surrounding kingdoms • By 2nd Century BCE, occupied almost all of subcontinent
Caste System Rigid class system where people were locked in to their class Partially based on varnas, or skin color Brahmins Kshatriyas Vaishyas Sudras Pariahs
Brahmins - Priests • Purpose is to help people of other castes fulfill their dharma • Perform rituals and observe vows for the sake of others
Kshatriyas - Warriors and Rulers • Responsible for leadership of the people • Often rely on advice from Brahmins
Vaisyas – Skilled Traders, Merchants • Shopkeepers who sell products(unlike the Shudra who sell services)
Sudras – Unskilled Workers • Each subgroup of this caste performs a specific service. • Jobs include gardeners, potters, and clothes washers
Untouchables - The Outcastes • Belong to no caste • Expected to do the “dirty” jobs • Come in contact with animal skins, dead bodies and human feces • Avoid contact with “caste” Indians for fear of “pollution”