Table of Content

After the decline of the Harappan civilization, the Vedic culture emerged in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent. Aryans were the people who brought and developed this typical culture in this region.

Who were the Aryans?

Different theories

Different theories regarding the origin of the Aryans –

1. According to some historians Aryans were the original inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent
2. Some believe that Aryans came into India from the region of Steppes.

In spite of many limitations, the latter theory has been accepted by many scholars.

Original habitat of Aryans

1. Aryans were semi-nomadic pastoral people
2. They originally lived in the Steppes – the region stretching from Southern Russia to Central Asia.
3. They used to live in small tribes. Each tribe represented one clan with its typical features.

Migration of Aryans

1. From the region of Steppes Aryans may have migrated to different parts of Europe and Asia.
2. One of their branches migrated to Iran where they stayed for a long time. From the Iran they moved in the south-eastern direction towards India.
3. Migration of Aryans into India took place in several stages, for centuries and involved many tribes.
4. In India Aryans first settled in the Land of Seven Rivers then known as Saptasindhva.
5. Saptasindhva is the region of modern Punjab. Sindhu, Jhelum, Chinab, Ravi, Biyas, Satlej and Sarasvati were those 7 rivers.
6. During the course of time Aryans gradually moved eastward and settled in the region of Ganga and Yamuna. This region was then known as Madhyadesha.