India's Vedic Age

​The Origins of the Aryans

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The Indo Aryan Invasion was a theory that people invaded India from the North.

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These people spoke 'Sanskrit', the language

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Similar to Latin and Greek

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More recent studies suggest that this theory may be inaccurate

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Instead they believe that these people raised live stock

and entered India long ago, as the original inhabitants.

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​The Vedas

​The Indo- Aryans did not create a written language.

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Vedas is the literature and spoken language which they developed after settling along the Indus River. usually in poetic format

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Recitation would occur at religious ceremonies and festivities.

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Passed down by word of mouth until much later when they were written down.​

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​Rig Veda

​it was the primary collection with more than 1000 poems

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almost everything we know about early Aryan life came from the Vedas

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​Origins of Caste

​3 social classes already exisited in the Indus Valley prior to the Aryans arrival

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1. Priests (Brahmins)

2. Rulers (Kshatriyas)

3. common people ​(Vaishyas or artisans, bankers, & merchants)

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Next, they added a fourth caste for the native people who lived there.

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