Indo-Aryan peoples facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Indo-Aryan peoples

This map from 1978 shows where the main Indo-Aryan languages are spoken. (Urdu is shown with Hindi. Romani, Domari, and Lomavren are not on this map.) The dotted or striped areas mean that people there often speak more than one language.      Central      Dardic      Eastern      Northern      Northwestern      Western      Southern
Total population
~1.5 billion
Regions with significant populations
India	over 911 million
Pakistan	over 190 million
Bangladesh	over 160 million
Nepal	over 26 million
Sri Lanka	over 14 million
Afghanistan	over 2 million
Mauritius	over 725,400
Maldives	over 300,000
Bhutan	over 240,000
Languages
Indo-Aryan languages
Religion
Indian religions (Mostly Hindu; with Buddhist, Sikh and Jain minorities) and Islam, Christians and some non-religious atheist/agnostic

The Indo-Aryan peoples are a group of people who speak Indo-Aryan languages. They live mostly in the Indian subcontinent, which includes countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives.

Historically, the early Indo-Aryans were herders who spoke Indo-Iranian languages. They moved from Central Asia into South Asia. This movement is known as the Indo-Aryan migrations. They brought with them the early form of the Proto-Indo-Aryan language.

These early Indo-Aryan groups were closely related. They belonged to the same larger Indo-Iranian family. They lived north of the Indus River. This connection is clear in their shared culture, language, and history.

History of Indo-Aryan Peoples

Early Migrations

This map shows ancient cultures linked to the movement of Indo-Iranians. The Andronovo, BMAC, and Yaz cultures are often connected to Indo-Iranian migrations. The Gandhara Grave, Cemetery H, Copper Hoard, Ochre Coloured Pottery, and Painted Grey Ware cultures are possible links to Indo-Aryan migrations.

The Indo-Aryan languages arrived in the Indian subcontinent because of a migration. This movement of Indo-Aryan peoples came from Central Asia. They moved into the northern Indian subcontinent. This area includes modern-day Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

These migrations began around 1800 BCE. They happened after the invention of the war chariot. These movements also brought Indo-Aryan languages to other places. This included the Levant (a region in the Middle East) and possibly Inner Asia.

Another group of Indo-Aryans moved west. They created the Mitanni kingdom in northern Syria. This was around 1500–1300 BC. Another important group was the Vedic people. Some historians suggest that the Wusun, an ancient group in Inner Asia, might also have been of Indo-Aryan origin.

Origins and Culture

The ancestors of the Indo-Aryans are called the Proto-Indo-Iranians. They are linked to the Sintashta culture (2100–1800 BCE). They are also connected to the Andronovo culture. This culture thrived from about 1800–1400 BCE. It was found in the steppes around the Aral Sea. This area is now Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.

The Proto-Indo-Aryans separated from the Iranians around 1800–1600 BCE. They moved south through the Bactria-Margiana Culture (BMAC). This was south of the Andronovo culture. They adopted some unique religious ideas from the BMAC. Then, they moved further south into the Levant and northwestern India.

The migration of the Indo-Aryans was part of a larger spread. This was the spread of Indo-European languages. These languages came from the Proto-Indo-European homeland. This homeland was in the Pontic–Caspian steppe. This larger movement started in the 4th millennium BCE.

Several ancient cultures are thought to be linked to the Indo-Aryans. These include the Gandhara Grave Culture, Cemetery H, Copper Hoard Culture, Ochre Coloured Pottery Culture, and Painted Grey Ware Culture.

The Indo-Aryans were connected by shared cultural norms and language. They used the word aryā, which means 'noble'. Over thousands of years, Indo-Aryan culture has changed a lot. Especially in India, it has mixed with the cultures of local people. This blending created the unique Indo-Aryan culture we see today.

This culture and language spread through a system where powerful groups supported others. This allowed different groups to join and adopt this culture. This explains why it had such a strong influence on other cultures it met.

Genetic Background

Genetically, most Indo-Aryan-speaking people today are a mix. They have ancestors from Central Asian steppe herders. They also have ancestors from Iranian hunter-gatherers. To a smaller degree, they have ancestors from South Asian hunter-gatherers. These South Asian hunter-gatherers are also known as Ancient Ancestral South Indians (AASI).

Dravidian-speaking people are also a mix. They have ancestors from South Asian hunter-gatherers and Iranian hunter-gatherers. They have fewer ancestors from Central Asian steppe herders. Tribal Dravidian groups in South India mostly come from South Asian hunter-gatherers. They have fewer Iranian hunter-gatherer ancestors.

Also, people who speak Austroasiatic and Tibeto-Burmese languages have added to the genetic makeup of South Asia.

Some ideas, like Indigenous Aryanism, suggest that Indo-Aryans started in India. They claim that Indo-European languages then spread from India to Central Asia and Europe. However, modern research and scientific data do not support this idea. It is mainly based on certain beliefs, not on facts.

Historical Indo-Aryan Groups

Here are some groups of people who were part of the historical Indo-Aryan peoples:

Modern Indo-Aryan Groups

Many different groups today are considered Indo-Aryan peoples. They are often named after the languages they speak or the regions they live in.

See also