The Vedic Age

• The Vedic Age of Ancient India is the 'heroic age' of Indian Civilisation. The period between 1500-600 BC and Indo-Aryans are believed to be the composer of Vedic texts. Vedas recorded not only the religion of the Vedic people but also details of their lives that gave us a look at their political, social, and economic patterns.

Origin of the Aryans

• The term "Aryan," signifying noble, was utilized by the Indo-Iranian people.
• According to a well-established and evidence-based theory, the Aryans, fair-skinned individuals, migrated from Eurasia and settled in ancient Iran and Northern India around 1500 BC.
• The initial settlement of Aryans in the Indian subcontinent occurred in the region known as the Land of the Seven Rivers. They entered the North-Western part of the subcontinent through Iran from Central Asia, subsequently moving Eastward into the Deccan Plateau through the plains around the Ganges River.
• While it's challenging to assert that all early Aryans belonged to a single race, their culture displayed a remarkable degree of similarity.

• The introduction of new literature, belief systems, and other Aryan influences deeply impacted socio-cultural and political life in India.
• Aryans spoke the Indo-European language, and their primary occupations included pastoral herding and agriculture.

The reasons behind the Rapid Expansion of the Aryans were as follows

• Chariot driven by horses.
• Weapons made of good quality bronze.
• The use of armor (Burman).
•  Use of a destructive machine called Purcharishnu

Origin Places of Aryans According to Some Scholars

Sources of the Vedic Age:

• We can explore the Early Vedic period through two primary sources: Literary and Archaeological sources. The literary sources, particularly the four Vedas—Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, and Atharva Veda—provide insights into the knowledge of the Vedic age.
•  In addition, ecological excavations conducted over the last 70 years in regions such as Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Northern Rajasthan, along the Indus and Ghaggar rivers, have uncovered numerous Vedic settlements.

Early Vedic Age (1500-1000 BC):

• The Early Vedic Age, also known as the Rigvedic Age, aligns with the composition of Rigvedic hymns, estimated to be between 1500 BC and 1000 BC.

Geographical Extent:

• The Early Vedic period was established along the Sapta Sindhu (area of seven rivers) region.
• The seven rivers collectively known as Sapta Sindhu include Indus (Sindhu), Jhelum (Vitasta), Askini (Chenab), Purushni (Ravi), Vipasa (Beas), Sutudri (Sutlej), and Naditarna (Saraswati).
• In the Later Vedic period, Aryans occupied the upper Gangetic Doab.

Political Life:

Political life during the Early Vedic period was tribal and highly democratic.

• The tribal chief, known as Rajan, was central to the administrative machinery. The position was hereditary, and the king (Gopajanasya) acted as the protector of the tribe and cattle rather than ruling a specific territory.
• Various tribal assemblies such as Vidhata, Sabha, and Samiti emerged, exercising military and religious functions. Women occasionally attended these assemblies.
• The Doctrine of Divinity was not associated with kingship, with only one king, as described in Purushasukta, being termed as Ardhadeva (semi-divine) in Rig Veda.
• Important officers included Purohita, Senani, Kulpati (head of the family), Vishpati, Brajpati, Gramini, Sparsa (spy), and Duta (messenger).

Differences between Indus Valley People and Vedic People

Economic Life

• Rig Vedic people were predominantly pastoral. The cow (Gau) was the most important animal (mentioned 176 times in Rig Veda).

Various Terms Related to Cow

• Wealth in the early Vedic society was often expressed through gifts, with priests receiving offerings of cows and women slaves. The Rig Vedic texts emphasized the sacredness of cows through the term "Aghanya," urging their protection and care.
• Cattle breeding was the primary occupation, involving the domestication of horses, sheep, goats, dogs, and asses.
•  Agriculture played a secondary role, with references to barley (Yava) in Rig Veda, and a practice of shifting agriculture.
• Panis, the trading class, faced condemnation for their perceived greed and harsh demeanor. 
• Presentations, involving the exchange of courtesies, weapons, and cattle at the group level, were crucial for the economy.
• Economic stratification existed, although there were no explicit references to beggars, wage earners, or wages in the Rig Veda. The common metals in use were copper and bronze (Ayas), with recognized weights such as Nishkas, Hiranyapindas, and Manas.
• The prevalent pottery type was Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP), although Black and Red Ware types were known. The taxation system was undeveloped, and voluntary contributions, known as Ball, were made to the king.
• Wooden plows like Phala, Langala, and Sira were mentioned in the texts, reflecting agricultural practices.

Social Life:

• The early Vedic society was based on tribes, with social relations centered around kinship ties (gotra). Society was divided along clan lines, including kings, priests, and artisans within clan networks.
• The semi-nomadic and tribal nature of the society was evident, with Aryan tribals referred to as Janas, led by a chief known as Rajan/Gopa/Gopati. Jana was further divided into Vis (groups of villages), Grama (village), and Kulas (family).
• Inter-tribal conflicts were frequent, exemplified by the Battle of the Ten Kings mentioned in the Rig Veda. Sudas, the Bharata king, emerged victorious, establishing the supremacy of the Bharatas.

• The Rig Vedic society was largely egalitarian, with no caste division.
• Occupation was not birth-based, allowing members of a family to adopt different occupations.
• Varna, initially based on color, served as the basis for differentiation between Vedic and non-Vedic people.
• Thus, the Rig Veda mentions Arya Va