13
Section II: Aryan Section II: Aryan Civilization Civilization (Pages 56-60) (Pages 56-60) This section is This section is about: about: Who the Aryan people Who the Aryan people were. were. How Aryan culture was How Aryan culture was preserved through preserved through oral traditions and oral traditions and sacred writings (the sacred writings (the Vedas). Vedas). The changes to Aryan The changes to Aryan society and religion society and religion that happened at this that happened at this time. time.

Section II: Aryan Civilization (Pages 56-60) This section is about: This section is about: Who the Aryan people were. Who the Aryan people were. How Aryan

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: Section II: Aryan Civilization (Pages 56-60) This section is about: This section is about: Who the Aryan people were. Who the Aryan people were. How Aryan

Section II: Aryan CivilizationSection II: Aryan Civilization(Pages 56-60)(Pages 56-60)

This section is about:This section is about: Who the Aryan people Who the Aryan people

were.were. How Aryan culture How Aryan culture

was preserved was preserved through oral traditions through oral traditions and sacred writings and sacred writings (the Vedas).(the Vedas).

The changes to Aryan The changes to Aryan society and religion society and religion that happened at this that happened at this time.time.

Page 2: Section II: Aryan Civilization (Pages 56-60) This section is about: This section is about: Who the Aryan people were. Who the Aryan people were. How Aryan

What happened to the Indus What happened to the Indus civilization?civilization?

Some people think they Some people think they were invaded by the were invaded by the AryansAryans. . They were from southern They were from southern Russia and may have been Russia and may have been looking for land for their looking for land for their sheep, goats and cows.sheep, goats and cows.

The The AryansAryans were fierce, were fierce, skillful fighters who skillful fighters who eventually conquered eventually conquered northern India.northern India.

Their descendants built Their descendants built many civilizations in the many civilizations in the area.area.

We don’t know much about We don’t know much about the Aryans because they the Aryans because they seem to be nomads, and seem to be nomads, and wouldn’t live in one place wouldn’t live in one place long enough to leave a lot of long enough to leave a lot of artifacts.artifacts.

Page 3: Section II: Aryan Civilization (Pages 56-60) This section is about: This section is about: Who the Aryan people were. Who the Aryan people were. How Aryan

The Aryans did leave: The Aryans did leave: The The VedasVedas

Most of what we know Most of what we know about them comes from about them comes from this collection of hymns, this collection of hymns, prayers, and religious prayers, and religious teachings.teachings.

Memorized by priests and Memorized by priests and orally told for about 100 orally told for about 100 year before they were year before they were written down.written down.

The message of the Vedas The message of the Vedas is one of peace and is one of peace and harmony.harmony.

Another sacred writing: the Another sacred writing: the Upanishads (complex Upanishads (complex explanations of the Vedas): explanations of the Vedas): hard to understand though hard to understand though – so people usually just use – so people usually just use the Vedas.the Vedas.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/index.htm

Page 4: Section II: Aryan Civilization (Pages 56-60) This section is about: This section is about: Who the Aryan people were. Who the Aryan people were. How Aryan

The Aryan Caste SystemThe Aryan Caste System

The The AryansAryans divided people divided people up into groups called up into groups called the the Caste System. Caste System. This divided This divided people up into groups – people up into groups – based on their place in based on their place in society.society.

There were 4 main groups There were 4 main groups (and actually a 5(and actually a 5thth).).

You were born into your You were born into your caste for life.caste for life.

It determined your job, who It determined your job, who you could marry, where you you could marry, where you could worship, and who you could worship, and who you could eat with.could eat with.

It shaped every part of your It shaped every part of your lifelife

Page 5: Section II: Aryan Civilization (Pages 56-60) This section is about: This section is about: Who the Aryan people were. Who the Aryan people were. How Aryan

The “varnas”

Page 6: Section II: Aryan Civilization (Pages 56-60) This section is about: This section is about: Who the Aryan people were. Who the Aryan people were. How Aryan

The Aryans worshipped many gods and The Aryans worshipped many gods and

goddessesgoddesses Many of their beliefs Many of their beliefs

influence Asia even today.influence Asia even today. Nature Gods are some of the Nature Gods are some of the

earliest earliest divinitiesdivinities (gods/goddess) mentioned in (gods/goddess) mentioned in the Vedas.the Vedas.

They combined human They combined human characteristics with nature.characteristics with nature.

Brahmin Priests had a lot of Brahmin Priests had a lot of power (they interpreted the power (they interpreted the Vedas, performed rituals and Vedas, performed rituals and made sacrifices (food and made sacrifices (food and drink) to the gods. drink) to the gods.

They were thought to be able They were thought to be able to get help from the gods if it to get help from the gods if it was needed, so you needed was needed, so you needed to keep them happy.to keep them happy.

Page 7: Section II: Aryan Civilization (Pages 56-60) This section is about: This section is about: Who the Aryan people were. Who the Aryan people were. How Aryan

IndraIndra: the God of : the God of WarWar His weapon: the His weapon: the

thunderbolt.thunderbolt. He used it to destroy He used it to destroy

demons and demons and announce the arrival announce the arrival of needed rain.of needed rain.

VarunaVaruna: God of order : God of order and creationand creation

AgniAgni: the God of Fire : the God of Fire and communicator and communicator between humans and between humans and GodsGods

Page 8: Section II: Aryan Civilization (Pages 56-60) This section is about: This section is about: Who the Aryan people were. Who the Aryan people were. How Aryan

Poems about the VedasPoems about the Vedas

Some of the Some of the stories appear in stories appear in two long poems two long poems called epics called called epics called the Ramayana and the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.the Mahabharata.

Their stories are Their stories are still popular today still popular today in Southeast Asia in Southeast Asia

Page 9: Section II: Aryan Civilization (Pages 56-60) This section is about: This section is about: Who the Aryan people were. Who the Aryan people were. How Aryan

The Ramayana The Ramayana About a hero Rama and his About a hero Rama and his

bride Sita.bride Sita. Right after their wedding, Right after their wedding,

Sita is kidnapped by a Sita is kidnapped by a demon king (Ravana).demon king (Ravana).

Rama is helped by a Rama is helped by a monkey-general named monkey-general named Hanuman. Rvana tries to Hanuman. Rvana tries to trick Rama (kills a copy of trick Rama (kills a copy of Sita in front of Rama), but Sita in front of Rama), but he’s not fooled.he’s not fooled.

Rama continues to fight and Rama continues to fight and eventually wins back his eventually wins back his wife.wife.

This today symbolizes the This today symbolizes the ideals of husband and wife ideals of husband and wife and their duty and devotion and their duty and devotion to each other through many to each other through many hardships.hardships.

Page 10: Section II: Aryan Civilization (Pages 56-60) This section is about: This section is about: Who the Aryan people were. Who the Aryan people were. How Aryan

The MahabharataThe Mahabharata One of the world’s longest One of the world’s longest

poems - about 100,000 verses poems - about 100,000 verses (and India’s greatest poem – (and India’s greatest poem – even today)even today)

Describes a war between Describes a war between Aryan cousins for control of the Aryan cousins for control of the kingdom.kingdom.

Problems increase when the Problems increase when the Pandavas lose their kingdom Pandavas lose their kingdom to the Kauravas (in a dice to the Kauravas (in a dice game) and they have to fight game) and they have to fight to get it back.to get it back.

Just before the battle, Arjuna Just before the battle, Arjuna (a Pandava) confesses to his (a Pandava) confesses to his charioteer that he doesn’t charioteer that he doesn’t want to fight his cousins, even want to fight his cousins, even though he has a just cause. though he has a just cause. But he’s told it’s his duty to But he’s told it’s his duty to fight.fight.

After 18 days, he and his After 18 days, he and his brothers are victorious.brothers are victorious.

Page 11: Section II: Aryan Civilization (Pages 56-60) This section is about: This section is about: Who the Aryan people were. Who the Aryan people were. How Aryan

During the time the Aryans controlled During the time the Aryans controlled IndiaIndia

Many cultures were Many cultures were blended together.blended together.

Aryans eventually gave Aryans eventually gave up nomadic life and up nomadic life and settled down as settled down as farmers.farmers.

Villages began trading Villages began trading and bartering with and bartering with each other.each other.

They then learned They then learned things from each other.things from each other.

But the Aryans also But the Aryans also continued to expand continued to expand their territory.their territory.

Page 12: Section II: Aryan Civilization (Pages 56-60) This section is about: This section is about: Who the Aryan people were. Who the Aryan people were. How Aryan

The Aryan influence…The Aryan influence…

……shapes India and shapes India and Asia even today. Asia even today.

The Caste System The Caste System still is an influence still is an influence in India.in India.

Aryan beliefs also Aryan beliefs also end up evolving end up evolving into Hinduism and into Hinduism and Buddhism.Buddhism.

Page 13: Section II: Aryan Civilization (Pages 56-60) This section is about: This section is about: Who the Aryan people were. Who the Aryan people were. How Aryan