The Aryans & the Vedic The Aryans & the Vedic AgeAge

• Group that moved into the Indus Valley and eventually ruled over all of India

• Indo-Europeans

• Believed to come from Central Asia

• n

• Aryans were pastoralists– Nomadic people kept herds of

livestock as food source

• learned farming after moving into India

• Were a warlike group

• Written language used by the Aryans

• 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 ReligionVedic 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

Vedic Social StructureVedic 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

ShudrasShudras(servants, laborers) (servants, laborers)

VaishyasVaishyas(herders, farmers, (herders, farmers,

merchants, craftspeople)merchants, craftspeople)

KshatriyasKshatriyas

(warriors)(warriors)

UntouchablesUntouchables

BrahminsBrahmins(priests)(priests)

Non-Aryans

The mouth?

The arms?

The legs?

The feet?

WHO IS…WHO IS…

BrahminsBrahmins

KshatriyasKshatriyas

VaishyasVaishyas

ShudrasShudras

• 10/12 Focus:10/12 Focus:– The 4 varnas established a social The 4 varnas established a social

hierarchy in Indian society hierarchy in Indian society – The varnas evolved into a more The varnas evolved into a more

rigid social structure known as the rigid social structure known as the caste system caste system

• Do Now:Do Now:– Explain why priests held so much Explain why priests held so much

power in Aryan societypower in Aryan society

The Caste SystemThe 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

UntouchablesUntouchables• 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

ClosureClosure

• Why are the Vedas important to our understanding of the Aryans?

• What are varnas? • Who was at the top of social

structure in India?

KshatriyasKshatriyas

BrahminsBrahmins

VaishyasVaishyas

ShudrasShudras

• 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