About Vedic Period in Ancient history of India

 Vedic Period 

Rig vedic Period (1500-1000 BC)

. The Aryans were semi-nomadic pastoral people and originally believed to live somewhere in the steppes stretching from Southern Russia to central Asia. 

. The whole region in which the Aryans were first settled in India, called the Land of 7 Rivers or Sapta Sindhawa.

Political organisation 

. The Dasrajan war Battle of 10 kings against Sudas (Bharata king of Tritsus) on the bank of river Parushni. Sudas emerged victorious. It was mainly tribal system of government in which the military element was strong.

. Tribal was known as jan and its king as Rajan.

. Traces of election of the king by the assembly, called Samiti.

. Villages were headed by Gramini.

. In day-to-day administration, king was assisted by Purohita (most important), a Senani and Vrata, Gana, Grama and Sardha (tribal groups performing various military functions).

Society 

People were loyal to tribe, called Jana (mentioned 275 times in Rigveds) as kingdom/territory was not yet established. Women enjoyed freedom and respect.

Religion 

. Worshipped Nature, India (also called Purandara-breaker of forts) was the most important divinity.

. Soma was considered to be the God of plant. 

. People worshipped mainly for Praja(children), Pashu (cattle), food, health and wealth. No temple or idol worship. 

Economy 

No regular revenue system, kingdom maintained by voluntary tribute called Bali and booty won in battles. 

. Aryans' main occupation-mainly pastoral people agriculture being secondary.

. Cow was standard unit of exchange. Gold coins-Nishka, Krishnal and Satmana.

. The staple crop was yava (barley).

Regvedic Terms 

Indian History (Ancient)

ANCIENT INDIA 

Pre-Historic  Preiod 

Palaeolithic Period

. Homo sapiens first appeared in the last of this phase.

. In this period, man barley barely managed to gather his food and lived on hunting.

. Palaeolithic period is divided into three phases.they are

1.lower palaeolithic 

2.Middle palaeolithic 

3.Upper palaeolithic 

Mesolithic  period  

.Domestication of animals (dog) began and characteristics tools used were called microliths.

.Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh, is known for ancient caves

depicting pictures of birds, animals, and humans. 

Neolithic period 

.Neolithic people knew about making fire.

Chalcolithic period 

.Use of copper and stone made tools.

.They practised agriculture, venerated mother Goddness and

worshipped the bull.

Indus Valley Civilisation 
.Indus Valley Civilisation is one of the four earliest Civilisation of the world. 
.According to radiocarbon dating, Indus Valley Civilisation spread from the year 2500-1750 BC.
.The Great Bath (Mohenjodaro) was used for religious bathing. There were changing rooms along side. No usuage of station. 
.Six granaries in a row were found in the citadel at hararppa.
. The towns were divided into 2 parts; Upper part or Citadel and Lower part. 
. Hararppa were ruled by a class of merchants as no evidence of weapons are found there.
.Produced wheat,barley,rai, peas,sesamum, rice and mustard. 
. Indus people first produced cotton as Greeks called it Sindon (derived from Sindh).
.Animals known were oxen, sheep, buffaloes, goats, pigs, elephants, dogs, cats, asses and camels. 
. Well-knit external and internal trade. Barter System was prevalent. 
. Occupation practiced were spinning,  weaving,  boat-making,  goldsmiths,  making pottery and seal-making.



Indus Valley Civilisation 

Site                                    Discovery/Finding

Hararppa  - Situated on river Ravi in 
Montgomery district of Punjab (Pakistan). It was excavated by Daya Ram Sahni in 1921-23. The Indus Civilisation is named after it as the Hararppa Civilisation. Stone dancing Natraja and Cemetery-37 have been found here.



Mohenjodaro -    Situated on river Indus in Larkana district of Sind (Pak). It was excavated by RD Babnerji in 1922. The main building includes the Great Bath,the Great Granary,the Collegiate Building and the Assembly Hall. The dancing girl made of bronze, has been found here.  Pashupati Mahadeva/proto Shiva seal; fragment of woven cotton.