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Aryan Civilization Develops During the Vedica Age a. 2000 B.C. 1500 B.C., nomadic people w/herds of cattle & horses, Central Asia NW India b. Aryan Speakers Emerge in India i. Nomads spoke Indo-European ii. Intermarried with local peoples in India to form a group called Aryans 1. Underwent acculturation blending of two or more cultures iii. Early Aryans in India built no cities and left little archaeological evidence 1. Most of what is known about them comes from Vedas a. Collection of hymns, chants, ritual instructions, and other rel. teachings b. Aryan [priests memorized and recited before writing down Vedas 2. Vedas- warriors appear in chariots w/ bows and arrows 3. Loved food, dice games, chariot races etc. 4. Nomadic herders valued cattle (food and clothing) a. Later, settled families measure wealth w/ cattle c. From Nomadic Life to Farming i. Aryans give up nomadic ways and settle 1. Farming, artisans ii. E to colonize the forested Ganges basin 1. 800 B.C. iron tools 2. W/ tools, carved out forests iii. Tribes led by chiefs (rajahs) 1. Skilled war leader elected to position by an assembly of warriors 2. Considered advice of council of elders, made up of heads of families 3. Rajahs fought w/ one another for trade and territory @ Gangetic Plain a. Some powerful hereditary rules, extending influence over many villages d. Aryans Structure Society i. Vedas- Aryans divide society into groups based on job 1. Priests (Brahims) 2. Kshatriyas (warriors) 3. Vaisyas (herders, farmers, artisans, and merchants) 4. Sudras (farmworkers, servants, and other laborers)

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a. Little heritage 5. Dalits, considered out of caste system a. Jobs other wouldnt do i. Make leather e. Aryan Religious Beliefs Develop i. Polytheistic 1. Gods and goddesses who embodied natural forces such as sky, sun, storm, and fire 2. Chief Aryan deity- Indra, god of war a. Weapon=thunderbolt, to destroy demons and announce rain (vital to life) 3. Varuna-order and creation 4. Agni-fire and messenger (Gods humans) 5. Vedas- gods= manifestations of One divine power and are related to each other ii. Sacrifices (food/drink) 1. Call on gods for health, wealth, victory iii. Beliefs change w. lives 1. Some religious thinkers Brahman, single spiritual power that existed beyond the gods and resided in all thins 2. Vs. mysticism/mystics- people who seek direct communication w/ divine forces a. Meditation, yoga 3. Influenced religions Epic Literature Tells Us About Aryan Literature a. 500 B.C.- India civ. many rival kingdoms i. Cities growing b/c people left countryside to become artisans ii. Language= Sanskrit b. Oral tradition i. Ancient hymns Mahabharata and the Ramanya, 1. = History adventure, and religion c. Mahabharata Tells of Warfare and Religion i. Epic of 100,000 verses 1. Battles of rival Aryan tribes fought to gain control of the Gangetic region 2. 5 royal brothers, Pandavas, lose kingdom to cousins a. Regains after 18 days and restore peace 3. 1 episode, poem called Bhagavad-Gita= importance of Indian religious beliefs about immortality of soul and value of performing ones duty a. God Krishna tells Prince Arjuna about the importance of duty over desires d. Ramayana Teaches Values of Behavior i. Short ii. Deeds of hero Rama and bride Sita

1. Sita-kidnapped by demon=king Ravana a. Rescues Sita w/ help of monkey general Hanuman iii. Epics= evolved over 1000s of years 1. New morals