People and Ideas on the Move

Indo-European Migrations

Vocabulary to Know…SteppesMigrationVedasBrahminCasteIndo-EuropeansAryans

Indo-European MigrationsMain Idea Why it Matters TodayIndo-European peoples

migrated into Europe, India, and Southwest Asia and interacted with the people living there.

Half the people living today speak languages that stem from the original Indo-European languages.

Indo European MigrationsSemi-Nomadic PeopleCame from the Steppes north of the

Caucasus mountains.Pastoralist (herded cattle, sheep, and goats)Tamed horses. Rode into battle on two-

wheeled chariotsAncestors of modern languages (English,

Spanish, Persian, Hindi, and German to name a few)

Indo European MigrationsWhy Migration? Not sure…

Land for grazing dried upPopulation growth…needed more foodEscape from invaders or outbreak of disease

1700-1200 B.C.-Migrations took place in waves over a long period of time

Hittites

HittitesOccupied Anatolia (Modern Day Turkey)Dominated SW Asia for 450 yearsKnown for superior chariots and iron

weapons

AryansIndus River ValleyVedas-sacred literature of the Aryans gives us

a fairly reliable picture of Aryan life-collection of prayers, magical spells, and instructions for rituals

Vedas passed down orallyAryans (Nobles) called the people of the

Indus Valley “Dasas” (Dark)Dasa becomes Aryan word for slave

Aryans Develop Caste SystemBorn into for lifeDetermined job, marriage, friends, who you

could eat with…based on ritual purityWorst jobs for Untouchables-butchers,

gravediggers, trash collectors (outside of the caste system)

4 Varna-Brahmins(priests), warriors, peasants or traders, and non-Aryan laborers.

MahabarataRead a Voice From the Past p. 61Dharma, Karma