Who are the Aryans? This question excites modern minds. However, history lovers can still somehow understand it. It became relevant under the rule of Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany. The German theory of "pure race" - a consequence of the error of the researcher Max Müller - still haunts some people. Some are extremely negative about it, especially in our country, while others are trying to find a rational grain. However, another question is now relevant: "Who are the Slavic-Aryans?" It surprises professional historians, sociologists and political scientists very much. Let's try to figure out where this term came from and who the arias are.
The concept of "Slavs"
We will try to reason objectively, one might say, from a scientific point of view, to what extent it is generally legitimate to say so. Slavs are an ethnic group, not a people. The difference is that an ethnos means a set of peoples that have common historical roots. As early as the beginning of the 1st millennium AD, the Slavs were divided into three branches: western (modern Kashubians, Lusatians, Czechs, Slovaks, etc.), southern (modern Serbs, Croats, Macedonians, etc.), eastern (modern Russians, Ukrainians, Belarusians). Of course, the name of many historians was different: Antes, Sklavins, etc. There is no reliable information in history about a single Proto-Slavic people. Only linguists argue about it on the basis of an analysis of linguistic similarities and differences. It is by them that the approximate separation of one group of Slavs from another, the influence of other cultures, localities, etc. is determined. There is not a single real scientist who would use the term "Slavic-Aryans" in his work. Where does such a myth come from? Let's try to figure it out.
Myths and reality
Two unrelated concepts - "Slavs" and "Aryans" - were united by a certain Alexander Khinevich. His followers carried the idea to the masses. Despite the fact that Slavs and Aryans are the same incompatible concepts, such as "yellow - cold", many people liked the idea. In our country, “Rodoverstvo” is gaining popularity, that is, faith in ancestors. Calendars, holidays, time zones, phraseological units, etc. are rewritten under the fashion trend. There is an explanation for this: communism, with its rejection of Christianity, gave rise to several unspiritual generations who refused to accept Christianity during its revival. And the "Slavic-Aryans" came in handy. In addition, a new religion, neo-paganism, has become "true", alternative. In fact, it has become a protest against the social system. And this attracted young romantics at all times. Add here the rejection of morality, rituals - and we get an ideal religion. The main postulate - "we are believers, but nothing is required of us" - made the idea of neo-paganism attractive. Against this background, it is not difficult to inspire the idea of not just “rodoverism”, but Slavic-Aryanism.
Who are the arias
The study of this concept began in the XIX century. At that time, distorted translations of Indian shastras began to reach Europe. Serious work on this issue belongs to Arthur Avalon, who first began to explore this topic. The mass popularity of the author led to the growth of imitators, less talented, who began to replicate "sensations" in their works.
It is a mistake to believe that the Aryans are a single race, a nation. In the Indian shastras, there is indeed a mention of a certain single pra-people, who is allegedly the ancestor of all past people. This idea was developed by the Frenchman Arthur de Gobineau, who created the racial theory. He called the Aryans a single people, from which all the rest descended. The idea received not just popularity, but large-scale development under the rule of Adolf Hitler. He modified it by declaring the superiority of the Germans over everyone else, and included the Germans among the direct "clean" descendants, in contrast to the others - "dirty, half-blooded".
In fact, there was no such thing as Aryans (Aryans) in relation to a single people. So where do myths come from? Who are the Aryans? They weren't invented artificially.
In the oldest set of Indian laws - "Manavadharmashastra", the term "arya" is translated as "noble". So the representatives of the higher castes were called - Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas. That is, these are the three highest castes of the proto-people, in modern terms - "the cream of society." In addition to the Aryans, this people also had two other castes - Shudras and Chandalas.
Arya - friend or foe?
Despite this, the admissibility of the existence of a single Proto-Indo-European people is not canceled. Many European and Oriental languages are close to each other. All of them belong to the Indo-European group. Therefore, it can be assumed that there was still a single people. Historians believe that this concept should be considered a group of tribes of Ancient Iran. Literally, "ary" is translated from as "friend." And at the same time as an "enemy". The opposite meaning of the same word is a common practice in ancient languages. That is, it could be both a friend and an enemy. Perhaps it was a man from a foreign tribe. That is, an Aryan is a foreigner coming from another tribal community. He can be really a friend and then become an enemy. The hypothesis is confirmed by the presence of the god Aryaman in the Vedic pantheon. He is just responsible for friendship and hospitality.
Ukraine - the birthplace of the Aryans?
Most researchers today are inclined to believe that the Aryans lived on the territory of Ancient Iran. No need to tie it to a modern Shiite state in the Middle East. Its territory is relatively small. Ancient Iran is the vast territory of the Iranian plateau, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, the north of the Caucasus and the Black Sea. That is why among Ukrainian historians there is an opinion that the Proto-Europeans lived on the territory of modern Ukraine more than 5 thousand years ago.
The hypothesis of a single great people
There is a hypothesis that a single pra-people (Indo-Europeans, Aryans) was divided into two branches: Iranian and Indo-Aryan. The term "Iran" itself means "land of the Aryans". In confirmation of this, scientists have proved the similarity of the Iranian Avesta. According to the theory, a group separated from united Iran, possibly one of the tribes, and around 1700-1300. BC e. She went to India, where she stayed forever. If this is true, then the theory of the origin of the Proto-Europeans from the territory of Ukraine has the right to exist.
linguistic theory
Linguists also support the territory of origin of the Aryans from Eastern and Central Europe, since here a single language branches into many dialects, which is logical given its natural development in one territory. In India, there is only one Indo-European branch, which speaks more of migration than of origin and development. In addition, here the aliens encountered a group speaking local languages, which later affected the development of the language as a whole.
Kurgan hypothesis
Archaeologists are also inclined to believe that the Aryans originally lived in the Black Sea region. Artifacts of the famous Yamskaya culture are cited as evidence. It is believed that the first chariots were invented here, which made it possible to quickly capture huge areas. Such theories, unfortunately, give rise to pseudoscientific fabrications based on scientific facts. Like, the direct descendants of the Aryans are Russians, Germans, Ukrainians or anyone else. Against this background, various Slavic-Aryans appear. It is possible that common ancestors originated from the territory of the Black Sea region, but later they settled and divided over time into many other peoples, and subsequently their descendants returned to these lands. Followers of the exclusivity and "purity" of one nation in comparison with others manipulate these facts, tying the ancient single root to only one leaf, and not to the whole tree.
Cultural heritage of the Aryans
The Aryans left behind many written monuments. These are the Vedas, Avesta, Mahabharata, Ramayana. From a nomadic people they turned into settled farmers. Raised cows and horses. They were familiar with irrigation, knew how to forge copper and gold items. Bow and arrows were used as the main weapons. They did not have a pronounced caste system, as in India. However, the top of the hierarchy - priests and aristocrats - enjoyed great influence.
findings
Summing up, we can say that there may never have been a single race of Aryans. Most likely, thanks to a certain group of tribes, perhaps not even close relatives, extended its influence over vast territories. Hence the emergence of a single Indo-European language of peoples who have never been close historically.
However, there is no unequivocal answer to the question of who the Aryans are. Every day we all move away from it, and scientific theories are replaced by pseudoscientific statements. It is possible that the Aryans are a people who spread their influence. But it is possible that this is a group of unrelated, but culturally similar tribes that settled on different sides of a single center.
