The

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The Indo-Aryans
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Beginnings

• Siberia
• Light-skinned
• Some headed towards Europe, others moved south
• Passed through Hindu Kush
• Possibly destroyed Harappans

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(No Transcript)
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Similarities in Vocabulary of Indo-European
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
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Indo-Aryans

• Pasturalists
• Lived on herding cattle and sheep
• Highly skilled warriors
• Domesticated horses, archery, chariots
• A desire for more cows

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Indo-Aryans

• Called themselves Arya
• Term became a sign of superiority
• Ireland eire (lord)
• Persia ariana (noble)
• People who migrated to Northern India Aryan
• People of India Dasas

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Vedic Age

• 1500 BC 1000 BC
• Vedas
• Aryans' great works of religious literature
• Initially memorized and passed down orally
• Later written in Sanskrit by Aryan scholars

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Vedic Age

• Migrated to Deccan Plateau
• Power extended throughout India
• Eventually became farmers
• Iron plows from the Middle East

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Vedic Age

• Government
• Series of tribes
• Cheiftans called Raja
• Tribal council elite warrior class
• Power based on ability to to protect the tribe
• Representatives of Brahman (chief god)
• Rajas followed all laws
• Could be legally replaced
• Evolved into kingdoms kings called maharaja

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Review

• Where did the Indo-Aryans originate?
• Why do we call this time period the Vedic Age?
• What technology made them superior warriors?
• What are the two rivers developed by the Indus
  people?
• What are the twin cities of the Indus Valley?
• Name a way India was isolated.

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Vedic Economy

• Cattle were the basis of diet and economy
• Provided milk, meat, and butter
• Highly valued
• Eventually outlawed eating them
• Found other sources of meat (goat, pig, etc.)

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Vedic Religion

• Earliest gods drawn from nature
• That One - hymn refers to a supreme god
• No temples
• Ceremonies became complex
• Only Brahmins (priests) knew the proper rules
• Sanskrit was reserved for rituals

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QuickwriteRank 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 do YOU rank them this way?
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Reading

• Schoology Unit 4 India, Africa, Persia
• - Women in Hindu Society
• - Please answer the three questions at the end
  of the reading.
• - Submit your answers to dropbox.
• Censurable deserving blame as being evil