Vedic Age : Vedas [1500 BCE – 600 BCE] :-

Vedic Age refers to the time when vedic sanskrit texts were composed in India. There are mainly four vedas namely – RIGVEDA, SAMAVEDA, YAJURVEDA, ATHARVAVEDA. Alongwith them Brahmana literature, Aranyaka literature, Upanishads and then Vedanta which is the end of Vedas. So let’s get a brief knowledge about Vedas.

Lifestyle of Rigvedic Age and Later Vedic Age

1. Culture :

The Early Vedic Age is also called Rigveda Age (1500 BCE to 1000 BCE)
During that period, they used to live in a Tribal Polity. There were no kings and no ruling system.
In a tribe, a head was chosen and he was called Jana or Rajana i.e. Chief of the tribe.
There were no army, no officers during that period.
The head of the tribe was chosen democratically by all the people of the tribe.
There were also divisions but not on the basis of birth but by the number of cattles they posses.
The person who had the most number of cattles were most likely to be chosen as ‘ Jana ‘ of the tribe.
Their main occupation during the Early – vedic period was cattle rearing particularly cows.
The people of that time led a nomadic life as they mostly lived on Posture lands (These are such lands which cannot exist for long time i.e. they lose fertility soon; hence they kept on moving from one place to another).
They had no settled life.

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2. Geographical Area :

The Early Vedic Age people mostly lived in the North-Western part of India, it is the land between Afghanistan and Rajasthan.
This area was also called land of Seven Rivers (Saptsindhava).
They worshipped Gods for obtaining material benefits but not spiritual benefits i.e. food, wealth, health.
Dharma existed in this period but it was not like an occupation but only for the well being of the people.
There were no class system during this period based on birth.
Situation of women were very good socially during this time.
There were no caste system, no divisions, no discrimination during this period.
They specially believed in a God named ‘ Pushan Devta ‘ and worshipped him.

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3. Later Vedic Age :

In Later Vedic Age, the people lived in the region started from Western Uttar Pradesh to Eastern Bihar i.e. Ganga – Yamuna region.
During this period, they developed knowledge about Iron and also knew the use of Alluvial soil. So development of agriculture started and it became the main occupation of the period.
There was ‘ surplus ‘ production of crops and hence trade started to develop and alongwith it wealth and greed among people also developed.
Gradual development of ‘ Monarchial Government ‘ became during this period.
The Rajana of a tribe gradually developed into ‘ Janapada ‘ Kingdom during this period.
Socio – Political situation changed during this period.
The post of King became hereditary.
The status of women in the society gradually started to deteriorate.
Army and other officials gradually developed during this time.
The Army and other officials were paid food by the Rajana to fight for them.
Tax came into play as it became a surpluss economy, to feed the army and officials.
Then after this the Janapadas became Mahajanapadas and started to fight against each other to expand their kingdom. All these events gradually happened around 600 BCE.
There were a total of 16 Mahajanapadas formed.
Basically Kshatriyas started revolution as they were not given much importance in the political and religious purposes which were still managed by Brahmanas, despite of them protecting the Mahajanapadas.
Social situation of Shudras were worst during this time, even though whatever or how good work they do, they were not given any respect and were treated like slaves.

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4. Art and Crafts :

The main occupation of that time was Agriculture.
The people now had settled life during Later Vedic Age.
They started to develop crafts and also did trades.
They started to live in towns which was the second urbanisation in history. The first one being during Indus Valley civilisation.
After this, caste system were made basically on the work a group of people did.
‘Gotra‘ and Exogamy came into being during the later vedic period.
Also the practice of Varna system came in Mandal – 10 of Rigveda.

5. Religious Rituals / Ceremonies :

Many rituals and ceremonies developed during later vedic period. Such as –
‘Rajasuya Sacrifice’ : Royal Corronation.
‘Vajapeya Sacrifice’ : Drink of strength.
‘Ashwamegha Sacrifice’ : Horse Sacrifice.

Ancient Indian History Notes for SSC and RRB exams

SSC RRB Notes

Vedic Age : Vedas [1500 BCE – 600 BCE] :-

Lifestyle of Rigvedic Age and Later Vedic Age

1. Culture :

The Early Vedic Age is also called Rigveda Age (1500 BCE to 1000 BCE)

During that period, they used to live in a Tribal Polity. There were no kings and no ruling system.

In a tribe, a head was chosen and he was called Jana or Rajana i.e. Chief of the tribe.

There were no army, no officers during that period.

The head of the tribe was chosen democratically by all the people of the tribe.

There were also divisions but not on the basis of birth but by the number of cattles they posses.

The person who had the most number of cattles were most likely to be chosen as ‘ Jana ‘ of the tribe.

Their main occupation during the Early – vedic period was cattle rearing particularly cows.

The people of that time led a nomadic life as they mostly lived on Posture lands (These are such lands which cannot exist for long time i.e. they lose fertility soon; hence they kept on moving from one place to another).

They had no settled life.

2. Geographical Area :

The Early Vedic Age people mostly lived in the North-Western part of India, it is the land between Afghanistan and Rajasthan.

This area was also called land of Seven Rivers (Saptsindhava).

They worshipped Gods for obtaining material benefits but not spiritual benefits i.e. food, wealth, health.

Dharma existed in this period but it was not like an occupation but only for the well being of the people.

There were no class system during this period based on birth.

Situation of women were very good socially during this time.

There were no caste system, no divisions, no discrimination during this period.

They specially believed in a God named ‘ Pushan Devta ‘ and worshipped him.

3. Later Vedic Age :

In Later Vedic Age, the people lived in the region started from Western Uttar Pradesh to Eastern Bihar i.e. Ganga – Yamuna region.

During this period, they developed knowledge about Iron and also knew the use of Alluvial soil. So development of agriculture started and it became the main occupation of the period.

There was ‘ surplus ‘ production of crops and hence trade started to develop and alongwith it wealth and greed among people also developed.

Gradual development of ‘ Monarchial Government ‘ became during this period.

The Rajana of a tribe gradually developed into ‘ Janapada ‘ Kingdom during this period.

Socio – Political situation changed during this period.

The post of King became hereditary.

The status of women in the society gradually started to deteriorate.

Army and other officials gradually developed during this time.

The Army and other officials were paid food by the Rajana to fight for them.

Tax came into play as it became a surpluss economy, to feed the army and officials.

Then after this the Janapadas became Mahajanapadas and started to fight against each other to expand their kingdom. All these events gradually happened around 600 BCE.

There were a total of 16 Mahajanapadas formed.

Basically Kshatriyas started revolution as they were not given much importance in the political and religious purposes which were still managed by Brahmanas, despite of them protecting the Mahajanapadas.

Social situation of Shudras were worst during this time, even though whatever or how good work they do, they were not given any respect and were treated like slaves.

4. Art and Crafts :

The main occupation of that time was Agriculture.

The people now had settled life during Later Vedic Age.

They started to develop crafts and also did trades.

They started to live in towns which was the second urbanisation in history. The first one being during Indus Valley civilisation.

After this, caste system were made basically on the work a group of people did.

‘Gotra‘ and Exogamy came into being during the later vedic period.

Also the practice of Varna system came in Mandal – 10 of Rigveda.

5. Religious Rituals / Ceremonies :

Many rituals and ceremonies developed during later vedic period. Such as –

‘Rajasuya Sacrifice’ : Royal Corronation.

‘Vajapeya Sacrifice’ : Drink of strength.

‘Ashwamegha Sacrifice’ : Horse Sacrifice.

Ancient Indian History Notes for SSC and RRB exams

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