Aryans and Hinduism PDF

Indus River Valley Around 2000 BCE the Indus Valley farmers began to abandon their land- maybe because of natural disasters and invasions by nomads. Around 1500 BCE, ​ARYANS​​ (pastoral nomads) migrated into the Indus Valley from Central Asia. Over time they gradually advanced eastward from t...

Indus River Valley Around 2000 BCE the Indus Valley farmers began to abandon their land- maybe because of natural disasters and invasions by nomads. Around 1500 BCE, ​ARYANS​​ (pastoral nomads) migrated into the Indus Valley from Central Asia. Over time they gradually advanced eastward from the Indus valley, across the fertile plain of the Ganges, and later southward into the Deccan Plateau. Once there, they mixed with the original inhabitants of the Indus Valley creating a new culture that eventually spread into the ​GANGES RIVER​​, located to the east. Around 1500 BCE, a system of writing called ​SANSKRIT​​ was developed in India. The oldest text in the language is the ​VEDAS​​, an ancient religious document from the northern midlands of India. While Sanskrit is no longer spoken by many people, Dravidian, a modern descendent of Sanskrit, is still spoken in southern India.  From Chieftans to Kings Each of the various Aryan tribes was led by a chieftain, called a raja who was assisted by a council of elders composed of other leading members of the community. Like them, he was a member of the warrior class-> ​kashatriya The chief derived his power from his ability to protect his people from rival groups- this was a skill that was crucial in the warring kingdoms and shifting alliances that were typical of early Aryan society. The rajas claimed to be representatives of the gods-> not viewed as gods themselves Aryan society grew in size and complexity-> chieftains began to be transformed into kings-> maharajas Rulers did not possess absolute authority Like all humans, the ruler was required to follow the ​DHARMA- ​a set of laws that set behavioral standards for all individuals and classes in Indian society The Impact of the Greeks While competing groups were fighting for precedence in India, powerful empires were rising to the west ○ Persian Empir​​e- under Cyrus and Darius ○ Greeks After 2 centuries of rivalry and warfare- achieved a period of regional dominance in the late 4th century B.C.E. with the rise of Macedonia under Alexander the Great Alexander-> heard of riches in India Conquered Persia Launched an invasion in India 326 B.C.E. -> armies arrived in the plains of northwestern India and the Indus River valley Left almost as quickly as they came Left in their wake-> Greek administrators and a veneer of cultural influence that would affect the area for generations to come The Mauryan Empire Alexander’s conquest was brief interlude in the history of the Indian subcontinent- but it played a formative role. Right after Alexander’s departure-> rise of the first dynasty to control much of the region Founder of the new state-> ​Chandragupta Maurya ​(royal title) ○ Drove out Greek administrators Alexander had left behind ○ He solidified his control over the northern Indian plain ○ Established the new capital of his new Mauryan Empire at Pataliputra (Pah-tah-lee-POO-truh) in the Ganges valley  ○ Little known of his origins ○ Little is known of his empire What is known is from the scattered remains of a Greek ambassador to the Mauryan Court (302 B.C.E.) Chandragupta was advised by a brilliant court official named Kautilya He wrote a treatise on politics called the A ​ rthasatra Described Chandragupta Maurya’s government as highly centralized and even despotic King possessed a large army and secret police-> responsible to his orders Empire was divided into provinces that were ruled by governors Most governors were appointed by and reported to the ruler- later this positions became hereditary Provinces were divided into districts Each province was under the control of a chief magistrate appointed by the governor At the base of the government pyramid was the village Where vast majority of Indian people lived Village was governed by a council of elders Membership in the council was normally hereditary and was shared by the wealthiest families in the village Social Structure Social structure was the result of the blending of the Aryan social system based on a ruling warrior class and other groupings based on their pastoral society and the indigenous people living in the subcontinent who farmed, fished, hunted or gathered​​. The result was the emergence of a set of social institutions that continues to have relevance down to the present day. At the crux of the social system was the concept of ​hierarchical division ​of society that placed each individual within a ritual framework that ​defined the person’s occupation and status within the broader community. The divisions may have been an outgrowth of attitudes held by the Aryan peoples with regard to the indigenous population ○ Aryans-> followed pastoral pursuits- looked down on their farming “neighbors” ○ Aryans were mostly light-skinned-> looked down on the darker indigenous people ○ Light skin came to imply high status, dark skin a low status Castes were a set of rigid social classifications that determined not only one’s occupation but also one’s status in society and one’s hope for ultimate salvation. The new culture was organized by a CASTE SYSTEM call VARNAS. 5 major ​VARNA (Castes)​​ in Indian society in ancient times The Caste system is a social structure in which classes are determined by birthright. Under the Caste system there was NO social mobility. A person born to servent parents was stuck being a servant. A farmer couldn’t become a warrior, and a warrior couldn’t become a Brahman. No one asked what you wanted to be when you grew up, it was already determined by your lineage. *Sudras- not Aryan (represented the great bulk of the Indian population). Had limited rights in society *Untouchables- probably started out as a slave caste- consisted of prisoners of war, criminals, ethnic minorities, etc. Even after slavery was outlawed, untouchables were given menial and degrading tasks that other Indians would not accept *​JATI​​- sub-caste. There are thousands of these  Indian religion is a blend of Aryan and Dravidian (indigenous peoples) culture. Out of this cultural mix came two of the world’s great religions- Hinduism and Buddhism (and several smaller ones- Jainism and Sikhism) Early Aryan beliefs are known as ​Brahmanism In time, Brahmanical beliefs and practices would give rise to Hinduism Two major religions originated in India: HINDUISM and BUDDHISM. Hinduism Hinduism originated about 1500 BCE from the blending of Aryan beliefs with the cultures of the original settlers of India. According to Hindu beliefs, there is one prevailing spiritual power that lives in everything. Hindus also believe in many gods and goddesses, including ​Brahma (the Creator), VISHNU (the Preserver), and SHIVA (the Destroyer). Hindus beliefs are found in the ​UPANISHADS​​, a collection of sacred texts that describe the Hindu philosophy. ○ Beliefs include ​REINCARNATION​​, in which ​KARMA​​ (​t​he sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences​) d ​ etermines how the soul is reborn. ○ good behavior may lead to rebirth into a higher caste ○ bad behavior is punished ○ If you led a perfect life, you would be freed from the cycle of death and rebirth and become one with the BRAHMAN, the spiritual center of the universe ○ Believers must obey their ​DHARMA​​, ​a divine law of religious and moral duties unique to each individual​​. ○ Other ways of uniting with Brahman were through yoga- according to Hindu beliefs, it is a form of exercise that frees the soul. Asceticism- was originally a part of Hinduism but over time has transformed into the practice of Yoga