Q. On what evidence is South Russia/Central Asia regarded as the original home of the Aryans?
(a) Anthropological
(b) Philological
(c) Racial
(d) Archaeological
Ans: (b) Philological
Explanation: The correct answer is (b) Philological.
The idea that South Russia/Central Asia was the original home of the Aryans is primarily based on philological evidence. Philology is the study of ancient texts, particularly languages, and their historical development.
The theory of the Aryan homeland suggests that the Indo-European language family originated from a common ancestral language spoken by a group of people known as the Proto-Indo-Europeans. Linguists have identified various linguistic similarities among different Indo-European languages, which led to the hypothesis that these languages share a common origin.
By analyzing the linguistic features, vocabulary, and grammar of different Indo-European languages, scholars have traced their origins back to a hypothetical ancestral language spoken by the Proto-Indo-Europeans. Based on the linguistic evidence, it is believed that the Proto-Indo-European homeland was situated in South Russia/Central Asia. This linguistic evidence is further supported by archaeological and anthropological research, which provides additional insights into the migration patterns and cultural interactions of ancient populations. However, it is important to note that the evidence from archaeology, anthropology, and genetics does not conclusively identify a specific location as the “original home” of the Aryans. The philological evidence remains a crucial component in understanding the linguistic origins and historical connections of the Indo-European languages.
