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The Vedic Period
- Aryans migrated to India through the Khyber and Bolan passes from central Asia.
- The places where they settled in India was called Arya Vardham
- Compiled the prayers of their ancestors as Vedas
- In History, this was called the Vedic Age
Classified into two:
- Early Vedic Age
- Later Vedic Age.
Early Vedic Age
- When Rig Veda was compiled the Aryans lived in Sindhu
- They settled in Sabta Sindhu (The Land of Seven Rivers) in Punjab
- Through the Rig Veda, the political and social conditions of the Aryans can be known.
The Social life of Aryans
- Family -village -ivies ->Jana -Janapatha
Political Life
- The basic unit of the society was family.
- Families joined and formed the village which was headed by the Grahmini.
- Villages formed Visa. (Vis)
- Vishwapathy was the head of the Visu.
- Next higher administrative unit was Jana
- Head of Jana was Rajan (King).
- Person who had valour and strength became the Rajan
- People lived in kingdom were Rajas
- The king was called Prajapati.
- Kingship became hereditary
- Many chieftains formed the Mahajanapadas
- There were two Assemblies called Saba and Samiti
- Saba – Group of Elders
- Samiti – Representatives of People
Social Life
- Father was the head of the family.
- Women were on par with men
- In the field of education and religion
- There were women poets like Viswavara, Abala, Kosa, and Lobamuthra
- Caste system was not in existence.
- Caste system was not in existence.
- Monogamy and Polygamy were in practice
- Widows’ remarriage was permitted.
Economic Life
- Cattle rearing and agriculture were the main occupations of the people during Rig Vedic Age
- Iron was used to make tools and instruments
- They destroyed the forests and made them into cultivable lands.
- Carpentry and weaving were also their occupations.
- They produced cotton and woollen clothes
- Goldsmiths made ornaments and potters made pots for household use
- Barter system was in practice.
- Rivers were used for transportation
- Their unit of currency Nishka, made of gold
Food
- They had wheat, barley, milk, curd, ghee, vegetables
- They drank intoxicating drinks like ‘Soma’ and ‘Sura’
Dresses and ornaments
- The Aryans used clothes made of cotton and wool
- Men wore dhoti and shawl.
- They also wore turbans
- Women wore upper garments and lower garments.
- Wore earrings, necklaces, bangles, anklets and wore bands on their foreheads
Religion
- The Aryans worshipped the forces of nature such as Sun, fire, air, sky and trees.
- They also worshipped Indira, Varna, Agni and Yaman.
- There was neither temple nor idol worship in the early Vedic age
- Religious sacrifices were practised
- They wrote religious principles and their explanations
- Yagas like Ashvamedha, Rajasuya and Vajapeya were conducted during poojas
Later Vedic Period: (BC 1000- BC 600)
- The period of Sama Veda, Atharvana Veda, Yajur Veda are called the Later Vedic Period
- Aryans spread over the eastern side.
- Pre Vedic Aryans spread from Kabul to Upper Ganges
- During this period the kingdoms emerge
- During this period B r a h m a n a s , U p a n in s h a d s a n d Aranyakas were also written
Political Life
- Kingdoms like Kosala, Videham, Kuru, Magadha, Kasi, Avanthi and Panchala emerged
- Kingship became hereditary.
- Sacrifices such as Rajasuya and Ashvamedha were performed to establish his undisputed authority.
- Saba and Samiti declined
Economic Life
- Metal widely used was iron
- Handicrafts improved
- They grew paddy, sugarcane, barley and wheat.
- Cow dung was used as manure
- Cattle wealth developed.
- Caste system became rigid which was called Varna Dharma.
- Who performed sacrifices and religious ceremonies were called Brahmans
- Who performed sacrifices and religious ceremonies were called Brahmans
- The Vaishyas were the traders and farmers.
Status of women
- No improvement in the status of women
- They were subordinate to men.
- They did not inherit property
- Deprived of administrative power.
- Child marriage was prevalent
- Sati, according to which the widow would throw herself into the funeral pyre of her husband, was in practice.
Education
- Brahmin students stayed in the Gurukul
- There were highly educated women like Gargi and Maitreyi
- There were highly educated women like Gargi and Maitreyi.
- Royal children alone were taught Danur Veda (military strategy).
Religion
- The prevedic Gods lost their importance
- In this period, Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra (Siva) gained importance.
- Rituals and animal sacrifices gained importance
- Rituals and animal sacrifices gained importance
- People had faith in soul, fate and moksha
- Against these meaningless rituals and costly sacrifices, Buddhism and Jainism originated.