3. RIGVEDIC PERIOD A and B

 A. EARLY VEDIC OR RIGVEDIC PERIOD (1500-1000BC)

Region

-Rig veda is the only source of Knowldege for this period Rig. veda Menstion 40 rivers. The Nadisukta hymn of hte Rig veda Mentions 21 rivers which include the Gangas in the east and the Kubha (kabul) in the west. Rigvedic people, who called themselves aryans, wee confined in the area which came to b known as sapta sidhu (land of hte seven Rivers0 sapta sindhu comprises sindhu and thier five tributaries.

- According to the Rig veda the most mentioned rivers is sindhu river the mot pios river is saraswati river, mention of the ganges river  1 time  mention of Yamuna river 3 times

-The Dasrajan war 9the battle of ten Kings0 Dasrjan war was the  intercine war of the Aryans 

The  Dasrajan war gives names of ten  kings who participated ina war against sudas who was bharata king of Tritus family The ten kings were of the states of purus, yadus. Turvasas Anus, Druhyus Alines  pakhts, Bhalanas sibis and vishnanins The Battle was fought on the Bank of parushuni (ravi) in which sudas emerged victorious.

Political Organisation

-The basic social unit was the Kula or the family and Kulapa was the head of the family. Many clans (vis) formed atribe villages were headed by Gramini who used to represented village in  sabha and samiti.

-The family was partiarchal in nature . but women enjoyed equal poer with men Marriage was usually monoamouse and indissolube

 but there were few instances of poliyandry levirate and widow- marraige There were no example of child - Marrige.

Tribe was Known as jan and its kings as rajan, He was the leader in battle and protect of tribe. His  oofice was not hereditary and was selected among the  clan's men The rajan was not an absolute monarch for the government of the tribe  was in part of hte reponsibility of hte tribal for the governmetn of the tribe was in part of the reponsibality of the tribal councils like sabha samiti gana nd vidhata even women attended sabha and vidahata.

- The king was assisted by a number of officers of which purohita was the most important. The next important functionary was the which purihita wa s the most  important. The next importnat funcationary was the senani 9leader of the army) although there was no regular of standing army.

-They ws no regular revenue system and the kingdom was maintaned by the vluntary tribute (bali) o fthis subjects and the booty won in battle.

RELEGION

- -Bghazkai Inscription (Turkey) mentions 4 vedic gods indra, varuna, mitra and nasatyas, Didi not belive in erecting temples or idol woship woshipped in oepn air through yagans.

The most important divinity wa indra who played the role of warlord breaker of Frots - purandar. The second positions was held by (fire -god) he s considered as an

intermediary beween gods and men varuna occuiped the third posotions He personified water and was supposed to upold the natural order, He was enthnically the higest of all Rigvedic gods.

surya (sun) was considered to be god of plants Marututs personified the storms.

-Some female deiteis are also mentioned like Aditi and ushas's who representes the apperance of dawn, savithri ( the god of light) the famousr Gayatri mantra is addressed to her.

ECONOMY

- Aryans followed mixed eeeeconomy, pastrol and agriculturla in which cattel eplayed a predominant part. Most of thier wara were fought for cow (The most important froms of wealth)

-The standard unit of exchange was cow, At the same time cions weere also three (gold cions like nishka Krishnal and satmana)

-gavyauti was used as measure od ditance and goduli as a mesure of time physicicans were there called Bhishakas.

-The stample crop was yava which meant barley, Alcohal drinks sura and soma. wee also consumed.

B. LATERVEDIC PERIOD (1000-600 BC)

REGION

-In a legand of  sataptha Brahmana, tje expasion of people towards the east indicates how videha Madhava migrated from the saraswati region crossed sadanira and came to the Land of videha (modern Tirthut)

-As per Aryavarta during the Later vedic period the Aryan settlements coerd virtully the whole of Northern india. The centre of culture now shifted from saraswati of Ganges (Madhya Desa) Reference to thea tearritorial Divisions the later vedas gives threee broad divisions of India. viz 

(i)  Aryavarta (Northern india)

(ii) Madhya Desa (central India) and

(iii) Dakhninapth 9southern India)

-In the beggining they cleared the land by buring later with the use of iron tools which became common.

Polotical organisation

-The term rashtra indicating territory first appeared in this period. Emergence of janapadas -Kuru (combination of purus and Bharatha) panchala (Combination of Truvashes and Krivis) etc, in tthe doab region.

-Tiny tribul settlements were replaced by strong kingdoms. power of the king who was called samrt increased The importance of assemblies declined women were no longer permitted to attend assemblies.