Early Indus Civilizations The Aryans & the Vedic Age Aryan Migration • Group that moved into the Indus Valley and eventually ruled over all of India • Approx. 2000 B.C. Aryan Migration • Aryans were warlike people • Believed to come from Central Asia • n 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 Sanskrit • Written language used by the Aryans 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 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 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 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 Brahmins WHO IS… Kshatriyas The mouth? The arms? Vaishyas The legs? The feet? Shudras Varna (Social Hierarchy) Brahmins (priests) Kshatriyas (warriors) Vaishyas (herders, farmers, merchants, craftspeople) NonAryans Shudras (servants, laborers) Untouchables 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 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