Early Civilizations of Early Civilizations of India India

Dravidians:Dravidians:

people of Southern India who may people of Southern India who may be descended from the ancient be descended from the ancient Indus River Valley settlersIndus River Valley settlers

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Aryans: more correctly Aryans: more correctly Indo-AryansIndo-Aryans Migrated into South Asia from north of Migrated into South Asia from north of

Black and Caspian SeasBlack and Caspian Seas Linguistic family not a raceLinguistic family not a race Nomadic herdersNomadic herders Skillful warriors: iron weapons, Skillful warriors: iron weapons,

archers, chariotsarchers, chariots May have contributed to collapse of May have contributed to collapse of

Indus Valley CivilizationIndus Valley Civilization City-states ruled by rajahCity-states ruled by rajah

The Nomadic Indo-The Nomadic Indo-AryansAryans

Around 1750 BCAround 1750 BCIndo-Aryans appearedIndo-Aryans appeared– Tribes of the Indo-European peoplesTribes of the Indo-European peoples– Came from north of the Black and Caspian Came from north of the Black and Caspian

SeasSeas– Crossed the Hindu Kush Mountains into Crossed the Hindu Kush Mountains into

northwest Indianorthwest India Drawn into this area due to the rich pasturelandsDrawn into this area due to the rich pasturelands

– Were sheep and cattle herders as well as Were sheep and cattle herders as well as skilled warriorsskilled warriors The word for war meant “a desire for more cows”The word for war meant “a desire for more cows” Armies of archers and charioteers enabled the Armies of archers and charioteers enabled the

Indo-Aryans to conquer all of northern IndiaIndo-Aryans to conquer all of northern India

Influenced Indian Culture:Influenced Indian Culture:

Long lasting effects of Indo-Long lasting effects of Indo-AryansAryans– village lifevillage life– ReligionReligion– social structure social structure

Village LifeVillage Life

Farming and herdingFarming and herding Value on cattleValue on cattle governinggoverning

Indo-Aryan Societies Indo-Aryan Societies (Government)(Government) Gave up nomadic ways and lived Gave up nomadic ways and lived

in settlementsin settlements Settlements were joined to form Settlements were joined to form

small independent states or small independent states or territories who were governed by a territories who were governed by a raja (chief).raja (chief).

RajaRaja– Military leader, lawmaker, and judgeMilitary leader, lawmaker, and judge– Had a royal councilHad a royal council

VedasVedas

– oral religious traditions of the Indo-oral religious traditions of the Indo-AryansAryans 4 Vedas: oldest Rig Veda4 Vedas: oldest Rig Veda Eventually recorded in Sanskrit (written Eventually recorded in Sanskrit (written

language developed by Indo-Aryans)language developed by Indo-Aryans) Basis of Hinduism (long lasting effect)Basis of Hinduism (long lasting effect)

Varna Varna

Sanskrit meaning color – created a Sanskrit meaning color – created a complex system of social ordercomplex system of social order

Social structure and classes of the Indo-AryansSocial structure and classes of the Indo-Aryans

– Brahmins: priestBrahmins: priest– Kshatriyas: warriorsKshatriyas: warriors– Vaisyas: land owners, merchants, Vaisyas: land owners, merchants,

herdersherders– Sudras: servants, peasantsSudras: servants, peasants

evolved into caste (long lasting effect)evolved into caste (long lasting effect)– Caste: rigid system of social ranking by birthCaste: rigid system of social ranking by birth

Indo-Aryan Societies Indo-Aryan Societies (Social Life)(Social Life)

Complex system of social ordersComplex system of social orders– Indo-AryansIndo-Aryans nomadic people who were light skinned nomadic people who were light skinned– Earlier settlersEarlier settlerslived in settled communities and were lived in settled communities and were

dark skinneddark skinned Please remember this for later on!! It will be very Please remember this for later on!! It will be very

important!!important!!– Warriors and priests were at the top of the social Warriors and priests were at the top of the social

structure. structure. – Merchants, traders, farmers, and servants were below Merchants, traders, farmers, and servants were below

them.them. MarriageMarriage

– Elaborate rules government marriage among the Elaborate rules government marriage among the different ordersdifferent orders

– Parent-arranged marriage was favoredParent-arranged marriage was favored– Marriage by purchase, by capture, and by mutual Marriage by purchase, by capture, and by mutual

consent was recognizedconsent was recognized