India's Vedic Age

Study Notes

The Vedic Age lasted from 1500 BCE to 500 BCE and took place in northern and northwestern India.
The Vedic Age followed the collapse of the Harappan civilization of the Indus Valley around 1500 BCE.
Nomadic tribes from Central Asia, known as Aryans, entered India through the Khyber Pass and intermarried with the local people.
The Aryans brought new traditions, such as declaring cattle sacred and prohibiting their use as food, and growing cotton for trade.

The Aryans developed a written language called Sanskrit, which has its own alphabet and is known for its clarity and beauty.
Sanskrit was used to write down poems, hymns, and other religious ideas, including the Bhagavad Gita.
The Bhagavad Gita is a famous poem that tells the story of the god Krishna speaking to his friend Arjuna before a battle.

The Vedic Age gets its name from the four Vedas, or books of knowledge, that were written during this time.
The four Vedas (Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, and Atharva Veda) record the hymns and prayers of the Hindu religion.
Hinduism grew out of the religious customs of many people over thousands of years and has many deities.
The one god in Hinduism, from whom all others come, is Brahman.
Brahma is one of Brahman's main forms, associated with creation.
Hinduism is about following a way of life, rather than following a particular religious leader.
Hindus believe in reincarnation, where people come back to life after they die, and karma, where a person's actions determine their next life form.