Section II: Aryan Civilization (Pages 56-60)

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Section II Aryan Civilization(Pages 56-60)

• This section is about
• Who the Aryan people were.
• How Aryan culture was preserved through oral
  traditions and sacred writings (the Vedas).
• The changes to Aryan society and religion that
  happened at this time.

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• What happened to the Indus civilization?
• Some people think they were invaded by the
  Aryans. They were from southern Russia and may
  have been looking for land for their sheep, goats
  and cows.
• The Aryans were fierce, skillful fighters who
  eventually conquered northern India.
• Their descendants built many civilizations in the
  area.
• We dont know much about the Aryans because they
  seem to be nomads, and wouldnt live in one place
  long enough to leave a lot of artifacts.

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The Aryans did leave The Vedas

• Most of what we know about them comes from this
  collection of hymns, prayers, and religious
  teachings.
• Memorized by priests and orally told for about
  100 year before they were written down.
• The message of the Vedas is one of peace and
  harmony.
• Another sacred writing the Upanishads (complex
  explanations of the Vedas) hard to understand
  though so people usually just use the Vedas.

http//www.sacred-texts.com/hin/index.htm
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The Aryan Caste System

• The Aryans divided people up into groups called
  the Caste System. This divided people up into
  groups based on their place in society.
• There were 4 main groups (and actually a 5th).
• You were born into your caste for life.
• It determined your job, who you could marry,
  where you could worship, who you could eat
  with..
• It shaped every part of your life

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The varnas
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The Aryans worshipped many gods and goddesses

• Many of their beliefs influence Asia even today.
• Nature Gods are some of the earliest divinities
  (gods/goddess) mentioned in the Vedas.
• They combined human characteristics with nature.
• Brahmin Priests had a lot of power (they
  interpreted the Vedas, performed rituals and made
  sacrifices (food and drink) to the gods.
• They were thought to be able to get help from the
  gods if it was needed, so you needed to keep the
  Priests happy.

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Indra the God of War

• His weapon the thunderbolt.
• He used it to destroy demons and announce the
  arrival of needed rain.
• Varuna God of order and creation
• Agni the God of Fire and communicator between
  humans and Gods

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Poems about the Vedas

• Some of the stories appear in two long poems
  called epics called the Ramayana and the
  Mahabharata.
• Their stories are still popular today in
  Southeast Asia

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The Ramayana

• About a hero Rama and his bride Sita.
• Right after their wedding, Sita is kidnapped by a
  demon king (Ravana).
• Rama is helped by a monkey-general named Hanuman.
  Ravana tries to trick Rama (kills a copy of Sita
  in front of Rama), but hes not fooled.
• Rama continues to fight and eventually wins back
  his wife.
• This today symbolizes the ideals of husband and
  wife and their duty and devotion to each other
  through many hardships.

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The Mahabharata
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• One of the worlds longest poems - about 100,000
  verses (and Indias greatest poem even today)
• Describes a war between Aryan cousins for control
  of the kingdom.
• Problems increase when the Pandavas lose their
  kingdom to the Kauravas (in a dice game) and they
  have to fight to get it back.
• Just before the battle, Arjuna (a Pandava)
  confesses to his charioteer that he doesnt want
  to fight his cousins, even though he has a just
  cause. But hes told its his duty to fight.
• After 18 days, he and his brothers are
  victorious.

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During the time the Aryans controlled India
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• Many cultures were blended together.
• Aryans eventually gave up nomadic life and
  settled down as farmers.
• Villages began trading and bartering with each
  other.
• They then learned things from each other.
• But the Aryans also continued to expand their
  territory.

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The Aryan influence

• shapes India and Asia even today.
• The Caste System still is an influence in India.
• Aryan beliefs also end up evolving into Hinduism
  and Buddhism.

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Stop here for now
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