The Aryans (again); 19th century discourse.

[Paul Kekai Manansala]

I'm not sure how Baltistan in Northern Pakistan is relevant.  I only
said that invaders into the Northwest (by which I meant horse-bound
nomadic invaders) do not cross directly over the Himalayas but through
passes.  Not that you can't trek through the Himalayas, it's just
impossible terrain for horses and wagons.

Regards,
Paul Kekai Manansala

Michael Witzel wrote:
>
>                         The Aryans, again?!
>
> What about reading a few history books before writing something like
> this:
>
> On Tue, 22 Dec 1998, Paul Kekai Manansala wrote:
>
> > That would depend on the route taken from the proposed homeland.
> > Crossing the Himalayas is no easy task and it generally would be easier
> > to go through certain passes.  For example, study the nomadic intrusions
> > into India. None came right over the Himalayas but around them and then
> > down into Northwest India.
>
> The Sakas, came, in part, via the Baltistan crossing as did a few Turkish
> invaders into Kashmir (Haidar Dughlat i think) in the Middle ages, just
> before Babur...
>
> And there was the Chinese/Nepalese army coming to the
> plains after Harsha's death, early in the 7th c ., to help his
> successor...
>
> For Baltistan (and traders)  read Jettmar in Studien zur Indologie &
> Iranistik a few years ago....
>
> ===========================================================================
> Michael Witzel                       witzel at fas.harvard.edu