Kingfisher The Ancient World - Aryan IndiaOnline version
Kingfisher The Ancient World - Aryan India
1
Long before the Indo-Europeans arrived, India was already home to people whose distant ancestors had come directly from Africa tens of thousands of years earlier. Because their ancestors migrated directly from Africa & then lived in sunny areas for thousands of years, they were dark-skinned. They spread out over India and also built the Indus Valley Civilization. These early peoples are often called Dravidians.
Which of these women seems most likely to be descended from that line of Indians?
2
Which of these men seems most likely to be descended from the early Indians called Dravidians?
3
The Indo-Europeans that migrated into India around 1800 BCE came from colder northern lands. Because their ancestors lived in places with less sunlight for thousands of years, their skin became lighter over time before they migrated to India.
These newcomers were called Aryans. Which of these women seems most likely to be descended from that line of Indians?
4
Which of these men seems most likely to be descended from the Aryans?
5
Where did the Aryans originally come from before moving into India?
6
Through which regions did the Aryans travel before reaching India?
7
When the Aryans arrived, what was happening to the Indus Valley Civilization?
8
What were the houses in Aryan tribal villages made of?
9
What did the Aryans first use to measure their wealth?
10
What tool helped Aryan farmers grow more food after 1000 BC?
11
How did the Aryans divide their society?
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What language did the Aryans speak?
13
Who was the main god worshipped by the Aryans?
14
What were the Mahabharata and Ramayana?
15
The Aryans who entered India were part of a larger family of Indo-European peoples that also spread into Europe and the Middle East. Many of them — such as the Hittites in Anatolia, the Mycenaeans in Greece, and the early Germanic tribes in northern Europe — were also known for their warrior culture and use of chariots.
Assuming the Aryans were very similar to other Indo-European tribes, what does this suggest about the Aryans’ way of life?
16
When the Aryans moved into India, many Dravidian peoples were already living there — farming, trading, and speaking their own languages. As the Aryans settled and took control, what impact did this likely have on the Dravidians?
17
The caste system, described later in Indian history, placed priests and warriors — who were mostly Aryan — at the top, while the darker-skinned local peoples were often placed at the bottom. What does this system tell us about Aryan society?
18
Even today, many people in northern India tend to have lighter skin, while those in southern India often have darker skin. Why does this difference exist?
19
In Ramayana, the hero Rama is shown as the perfect king who follows his duty (dharma) even when it causes him pain. What do you think this says about what the Aryan culture valued most?
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