Home > Indian History > History of India > Aryan Invasion Theory
Aryan Invasion Theory
Aryan Invasion Theory has been one of the most controversial topics of history for over a span of hundred years.

Share this Article:

Mohenjo daro & HarappaAccording to the historical accounts Aryan Invasion Theory may refer to a model of invasion that had backing in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. It is during this time that the violent aspects of human migration were stressed upon. Aryan Invasion Theory has been one of the most controversial topics of history for over a span of hundred years. But due to the mergence of several recent hypothesis the Aryan Invasion Theory has been seriously been challenged.

The excavations at the sites of Mohenjo-daro and Harappa were taken into consideration by the indologists and were declared that a nomadic tribe from foreign lands had plundered the Indian subcontinent. It was also strongly marked that ruins dated back to an era before the Aryan invasion and this was actually never verified. After assigning a period of 2 years to each of the several layers of the pre-Buddhist Vedic literature, indologists arrived at a time frame of somewhere between 1500 and 1000 B.C. for the Aryan invasion. Referring to the Biblical chronology the scholars thus postulated that the invasion of the Aryans could not have taken place anytime before 1500 B.C. The excavation remnants mostly consisted of human skeletal remains, which was evident of the fact that a large-scale massacre has taken place in these cities by the invading hordes of the Aryan origin.

It is also stated in the Vedas that the light-skinned nomads from the Central Asia wiped out the indigenous culture and enslaved or butchered the people after imposing their alien culture upon them. The Vedas in fact strengthened the Aryan Invasion Theory, which is a series of poetic tales about the skirmishes between two barbaric tribes. Based on literary analysis many scholars dismissed any idea of Aryan invasion on several bases. First they raised an argument on the fact that why it is so that the Aryans don`t name any places outside India as their religious sites.

The Aryan Invasion Theory was also linked with references of horses in the Vedas with the assumption that the Aryans brought horses and chariots with them giving them military superiority that made it possible for them to conquer the indigenous inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent. Several indologists tried to credit this theory by claiming that the domestication of horse took place just before 1500 B.C. another important point in this regard is that the nomadic tribes do not use chariots. Similarly it was also claimed in the Iron culture that the invading Aryans gained the upper hand because their weapons were made of iron.

The advocates of the Aryan Invasion Theory argue that the inhabitants of Indus Valley were the worshippers of Lord Shiva. Since Saivism is more prevalent among the Indians residing in the southern part of India, the inhabitants of the Indus Valley Civilization must have been Dravidians. With so much evidence against the Aryan Invasion Theory one might wonder as to why this ugly vestige of the imperialism of British colonial rule is still taught. Accepting the facts that the Aryans were the original inhabitants of the Indus Valley region and not only a horde of invading foreign tribes can solve such misconceptions.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in History of India


History of Uttar Pradesh
The state was the heart of Mahabharata war and the history of Uttar Pradesh is very much the history of India. The place finds its mentions in Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
History Of Archaeology In India
History of archaeology in India contributes a lot to define the past history and the social life of India.
Mughal Architecture during Babur
Mughal Architecture during Babur is of adequate significance in Mughal history, as the emperor introduced Mughal architecture in India, during 16th century.
Princely State of Patdi
Princely State of Patdi or Patri was incorporated as a part of the Baroda Agency, which was a sub division of Western India States Agency.
Architecture during Sayyid and Lodi Dynasty
Architectures during the Sayyid and Lodi dynasty were mainly the tombs and monuments for the dead rulers. It were carefully designed and meticulously constructed.
Brahmanical Sources of Ancient History
Brahmanical Sources of ancient history are contained in the Vedas and they constitute one of the most important literary sources of information about ancient India.
Female Education In British India
The over brimming enthusiasm among zealous Hindu reformers welcomed female education in British India.
Revenue System of Mauryan Empire
Revenue system of Mauryan Empire can be divided into eight categories. The principal revenue of the state was the land revenue, taxes from traders, artisans and professional taxes were also collected.
Mughal Architecture During Jahangir
Mughal architecture during Jahangir`s period was relative dull in comparison to that of Akbar dynasty.
Princely State of Satlasna
Princely State of Satlasna was amongst the former native states of India that was appointed as one of the Indian princely states during the early 19th century.
Coins of Chola Empire
Coins of Chola Empire were issued in gold, silver and copper and carried the Chola emblem.
Social Life during the Pala Period
Religious toleration and simple living were the characteristics of social life during the Pala period.
Coins of the Chalukya Dynasty
Coins of the Chalukya Dynasty was reintroduced in the South India after a brief break of coinage less period of nearly three century. Chalukyas issued coins only in gold and they exhibit a brilliant artistic skill of the engraver.
Costumes of Indus Valley Civilisation
Costumes of Indus valley Civilization have been considered as the basis for Indian clothes. Sophisticated ornaments and make up were used during that age.
Development of Science under Gupta Empire
Development of Science under Gupta Empire was progressive and it had attained considerable perfection. Mathematics, astronomy, medicine, chemistry, physics and metallurgy were the most prominent of the sciences at that time.
Culture under Delhi Sultanate
Culture under Delhi Sultanate had enduring aspects to it. It included the society, the religious condition, literature and art and architecture of that period.
Princely State of Hapa
Princely State of Hapa was incorporated as a part of the Baroda Agency, which was under the administrative control of the Western India States Agency.
Economy Under Chola Dynasty
Economy under Chola dynasty was strong and well developed. The economic life of the people of the Chola Kingdom was well balanced with their social life.
Coins of Khilji Dynasty
Coins of Khilji Dynasty had an influential feature that was followed by the other dynasties.
Religion During Mauryan Dynasty
Religion during Mauryan dynasty became a considerable episode in Indian history with an esteemed lineage of rulers.