“What happened to the Harappan?”
Indo-Aryan Migrations,
3000-1000 BCE
1 SHEET OF NOTEBOOK PAPER
Definitions
 Nomadic:
 Sedentary
Migration
 What is Migration?
 Why do people leave Migrate away from a place?
 Why do they migrate to a new one?
Indo-Aryan Migrations
 The discovery of this group of people began with
language, we recognize similarities between
languages in Europe and Central Asia
 These similarities indicated to historians that they all
originated from one people who spoke a single
ancient language
Similarities in Vocabulary of IndoEuropean Languages
English
German
Spanish
Greek
Latin
Sanskrit
father
vater
padre
pater
pater
pitar
one
ein
uno
hen
unus
Ekam
sun
sonne
sol
helios
sol
Surya
god
gott
dios
theos
deus
devas
Spread of Indo-European Speaking People
Eurasian Steppe
•Nomadic life, pastoralists
•Lived off herding cattle,
goats, horses
•Well-suited for
environment, large
grassy plains
Abundance of Horses
•First people to
domesticate
horses
•Learned wheel
and wagons from
Mesopotamians
•Used chariots for
lifestyle and war
Family & Social Structure
•Society based on kinship
of the clan
•Near & distant relatives all
living together while
tending herds
•Wealth based on herds,
resources shared between
clan members
•Authority likely a clan
chief or elder males
Religion
•Polytheists – believed in
many gods
•Honored gods w/animal
sacrifices
Migration out of Caucuses
•Clans migrated away from
Caucasus between 30001000 BCE, to Europe,
Middle East, and India
•We don’t know why
•Language develops into
new forms, similar words &
sentence structure
Central Asian Horsemen
 Called themselves the Arya,
term became sign of
superiority


Ireland – eire (lord)
Persia – ariana (noble)
 People who migrated to N.
India: Aryans
 People of India: Dasas
Check for Understanding
 Exchange notes w/person next to you. Read them
thoroughly, point out anything they missed
 Record any info you are missing into your notes
 What were the 6 main points of this lecture?
Activity 3
 Primary challenge for Aryans was establishing order
in India
 Over time, they gave up their pastoral life and
focused on settlements and farming
 This was in N. India, near the Ganges river
Caste System
 Read the McNeill article. This explains the origins
and nature of castes in Vedic India
 Read silently and address each question
If we had a caste system in America, who would
be a part of yours?
 Why might members of both upper and lower
classes find comfort in the caste system
 Explain reincarnation
 Explain how the expectation of reincarnation
supported the caste system
 What is the significance of the Vedas?

Origins
 Upon arriving in India, Aryans divided into 3 social
classes:



Brahmins (Priests)
Kshatriya (Warriors)
Vaisya (Farmers/Traders)
 Class determined importance in society
 Non-Aryan laborers/artisans (shudras), formed 4th
group.
Indo-European Artifact
Criteria
 2 major factors: Skin Color & Cleanliness/ Purity
 Greatest factor: Aryans vs. non-Aryans
 Varna (skin color) was visible feature determining
one’s place
 The 4 groups known as varnas (castes)
Indo-European Art
Criteria
 People born into varna, determined marriage, jobs,
socialization

Brahmins considered so pure, only eat food prepared by
other Brahmins
 Besides skin color, cleanliness & purity were major
factors

Butchers, gravediggers, trash collectors lived outside of
Caste System – Dalits (“Untouchables”)
Reading 3: The Rig Veda
 This describes the first sacrifice of the primeval giant
Purusha



What happened when Purusha was sacrificed?
How does this story support the role of priests in Vedic
religion?
What info does this provide us concerning the function and
importance of each caste?
Reading 4 & 5: Upanishads
 What is karma?
 How is karma related to reincarnation?
 How might karma reinforce the caste system?
Reading 6: The Ramayana
 How is the land of Kosala different from the
original Indo-European Society?
 What is the role of King Dasaratha in this society?
What is his greatest concern?
 What does this suggest were the greatest political
consequences of the Aryan takeover?
Political Influence
 Over time, the Aryans replaced their social
organization based on membership in clans. They
developed states ruled by kings of the Kshatriya
(warrior) caste. Northern India was comprised of
several small independent kingdoms, not a
widespread empire.
Scene from the ancient India text,
the Bhagavad Gita
Back to the Caste System
 Rank the following occupations in the US: teacher,
lawyer, salesperson, factory worker, computer
programmer, waitress, farm worker, nanny.
 Which do Americans consider the most valuable and
respected? Why did you rank them this way?
Varna & Jati
 Social Hierarchy:
Intentional or Unintentional system of establishing
powers and duties of different members in society
Video Clip: The Untouchables
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15elGwkFUYE
SAC
 Although many see the Caste System as oppressive
and harmful, there are also many who believe it has
benefited India in many ways.
 We will be debating this issue over whether the Caste
System was more harmful or beneficial
SAC - Homework
 You will be assigned to either Side A or B. Spend
your time preparing your argument by reading
background information and completing the front
side of your outline sheet to develop your strongest
arguments/evidence.
Structured Academic Controversy
 You will meet up with a partner w/the same position.
Work to refine your arguments and determine what
evidence can be best used to defend your position.
Prepare a 2 min. presentation of your side.
Structured Academic Controversy
 Side A presents to Side B (2-3 mins.)
 Side B takes notes while listening. When A is finished, B will
restate the arguments they heard (2 mins)
 Side B presents to Side A (2-3 mins.)
 Side A takes notes while listening. When B is finished, A will
restate the arguments they heard (2 mins)
Structured Academic Controversy
 Compromise: You may now drop the side you’ve
been assigned. As a group of four, determine what
points you can all agree on, and what points there
are disagreements. Be prepared to share your
consensus with the class.
Formative Assessment:
Respond in a well-organized assignment paragraph
How did the Indo-Aryan migrations affect Indian
society?