The introduction of the Aryan people permanently changed the religious beliefs and social structure of Indian society when they arrived in the Indus valley in about 1500 BC and marginalized the native Dasyus people (Violatti, 2013). Although the Aryans changed almost everything about Indian society, arguably the most influential change was the introduction of the Varna or caste system. The Varna system was connected to the Hindu religion, another decisive change that the Aryans brought to the Indus valley civilization in 1500 BC. The introduction of the Aryans and the Caste system affected the Indus Valley civilization by polarizing the classes and introducing discrimination against ethnic groups.
The Aryans were a race of people who immigrated …show more content…
An example of this can be found in the rules on marriage between castes. Throughout the course of Vedic India, the rules on marriage become more and more strict. Brahmin men were originally allowed to marry into any Varna with the understanding that they would be stripped of their priest ship if they married a Shudra, but Brahmin women were only allowed to marry other Brahmins. Kshatriyas and Vaishyas could originally marry any class, but Shudras were looked down on as per usual. Shudras men were always unable to marry other castes, but women could (Nikul, 2017). As the Brahmins gained power, rules on marriage between castes became more and more rigid. “Hence, it is being defined as a form of differentiation wherein constituent units form not a continuous hierarchy but 'discrete categories' observing ritualized social practices and endogamy, justified 'on the basis of putative biological differences.'” The racial stereotypes pushed by the Aryan Varna of the Brahmins caused Vedic India to become an almost purely endogamous society (Jaiswal, 1997). This was accentuated by the fact that children who were mixed race (between Aryan and Dravidian Parents) almost always became members of the Shudra …show more content…
The Aryans were a racial and ethnic group with lighter skin than the Dasyus, Negritos and Dravidian peoples who were present in the Indus valley before them. The Aryan people took control of the government and religion, which led to the institution of a system that valued Aryans over all other races. “A racial justification for this state of affairs is implied in the earliest Sanskrit writings, which suggested that whereas the three higher varnas were originally the Indo-Aryan invaders, the Sudras were Dāsas, darker-skinned Aborigines (who probably spoke Dravidian languages)” (Encyclopedia of World Cultures “Sudra,” 2018). The Dasyus or Dravidian people worshipped the phallus and were looked down on by the Aryans. The arrival of the Aryans caused the collapse of the Dravidian culture, and many Dravidians were killed. The remaining Dravidians were organized into the bottom caste of the Varna system as slaves. Only the lighter-skinned Aryans could be in the top Varnas and control the government and religious practices (Raj, 1985). The Aryan-controlled Hindu religion had a huge effect on the caste system. The Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas were seen as “twice-born” by the Hindu religion. Being twice-born meant that you had been reincarnated according to the Hindu theory of reincarnation. Someone who had been reborn higher in the social order was clearly above someone who had never been reborn and
The Aryans were a race of people who immigrated …show more content…
An example of this can be found in the rules on marriage between castes. Throughout the course of Vedic India, the rules on marriage become more and more strict. Brahmin men were originally allowed to marry into any Varna with the understanding that they would be stripped of their priest ship if they married a Shudra, but Brahmin women were only allowed to marry other Brahmins. Kshatriyas and Vaishyas could originally marry any class, but Shudras were looked down on as per usual. Shudras men were always unable to marry other castes, but women could (Nikul, 2017). As the Brahmins gained power, rules on marriage between castes became more and more rigid. “Hence, it is being defined as a form of differentiation wherein constituent units form not a continuous hierarchy but 'discrete categories' observing ritualized social practices and endogamy, justified 'on the basis of putative biological differences.'” The racial stereotypes pushed by the Aryan Varna of the Brahmins caused Vedic India to become an almost purely endogamous society (Jaiswal, 1997). This was accentuated by the fact that children who were mixed race (between Aryan and Dravidian Parents) almost always became members of the Shudra …show more content…
The Aryans were a racial and ethnic group with lighter skin than the Dasyus, Negritos and Dravidian peoples who were present in the Indus valley before them. The Aryan people took control of the government and religion, which led to the institution of a system that valued Aryans over all other races. “A racial justification for this state of affairs is implied in the earliest Sanskrit writings, which suggested that whereas the three higher varnas were originally the Indo-Aryan invaders, the Sudras were Dāsas, darker-skinned Aborigines (who probably spoke Dravidian languages)” (Encyclopedia of World Cultures “Sudra,” 2018). The Dasyus or Dravidian people worshipped the phallus and were looked down on by the Aryans. The arrival of the Aryans caused the collapse of the Dravidian culture, and many Dravidians were killed. The remaining Dravidians were organized into the bottom caste of the Varna system as slaves. Only the lighter-skinned Aryans could be in the top Varnas and control the government and religious practices (Raj, 1985). The Aryan-controlled Hindu religion had a huge effect on the caste system. The Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas were seen as “twice-born” by the Hindu religion. Being twice-born meant that you had been reincarnated according to the Hindu theory of reincarnation. Someone who had been reborn higher in the social order was clearly above someone who had never been reborn and