Sometime after the year 2000 B.C., a group of people known as the Aryans invaded parts of modern-day India. They came from an ar
ea of Central Asia near the Caucasus Mountains, moving southeast and eventually taking over the entire Indus Valley. They spoke a language called Sanskrit, which became the basis of many modern South Asian languages. Much of what we know about them today came from sacred writings called the Vedas. The Vedas are mostly religious texts, but they also describe famous victories of the Aryans as they invaded India. The Vedas were also influential in the development of Hinduism, which is one of the world's oldest religions. Based on the information in the passage, which of the following is most likely true?
A.
People in South Asia were forced to adopt the Aryan culture as their own.
B.
Aryan culture was only influential in the immediate areas they conquered.
C.
Indian society reached its highest point just after the Aryan invasion.
D.
Much of India's present-day society was based on the Aryan civilization.
According to the passage, the option that might be true is D) “Much of India's present-day society was based on the Aryan civilization.” Evidence from the passage supports that much of today’s India is based on the Aryan civilization. For example, it mentions that the language “Sanskrit” is the basis of South Asian languages. It also mentions that the Vedas (sacred writings of Aryans) were very important for the development of Hinduism. Therefore, the Aryan civilization had an important impact on the language and religion of India and South Asian countries.
