SS Ch.10 Lesson 2

The Aryan MigrationsAryans began waves of migrations from the dry plains near the Black and Caspian Seas to the Indian subcontinent
Aryans, “noble”, traveled across Mesopotamia and Persian to reach the east.
They began settling on the Punjab Plain, which is Pakistan today
They herded and lived in family tribes ruled by warrior chiefs
By the time the migrations ended, a new civilization had developed across the Punjab and Ganges plains


The Aryans migrated to the Punjab
and Ganges Plains. Over time,
their nomadic culture became
a farming culture.

Influences on Indian Culture
The Aryans influence on India today:-Sanskrit-Vedas (knowledge): formed foundation of Indian religion

Four vedas -Vedas contains:
Hymns
Tales
Lessons
Battle songs

Influences on Indian CultureMahabharata-A poem 200,000 lines long
-Within it, the Bagavad Gita is the best-known part

Bahagad VitaDescribes discussion between god and Vedic warrior

Brahmanas“preistly books”

BrahmanismFormed by the Vedas - Ancient Indian religion


India’s Classes
Warrior chief called a raja(rajah) governed each tribe

Divided into two classes:
Nobles and commoners
A third class made up of descendents of the ancient people of India

India’s Classes by 1000BC:
Indian society included 4 main classes
Brahmans (head)Priests and scholars
Kshatriyas (arms)Rulers and warriors
Vaisyas (body and legs)Farmers, traders, and merchants
Sudras (feet)Servants and laborers

Within classes, castes existed
People from different castes had little contact with one another
People beneath the caste system were called the untouchables


Ideas of HinduismMost important Hindu gods are:
Brahma, the Creator
Vishnu, the Preserver
Shiva, the Destroyer
The Upanishads are the most ancient Hindu literature
The basic belief of Hinduism is that people and animals have a soul, or atman

Hinduism evolved from earlier religions. Hindus believe that Dharma and Karma affect how a person will be reincarnated.