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The Age of Vedas

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14 views9 pages

The Age of Vedas

enjoy....................

Uploaded by

anjanajha6353
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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THE AGE OF

VEDAS
Advent of Aryans

• Aryans were people of central Asia.


• They rode horses and chariots driven by horses.
• They worshipped fire and were performing sacrifices.
• Few words spoken by them resembled Sanskrit.
• By 1500 BCE, Aryans migrated to different parts of world.
• Reason: an increase in population or dry and barren land.
• Aryans came to India through Hindukush Mountains and were called
the Indo-Aryans.
THE ARYAN SETTLEMENTS
• First Aryans settled in the region of the declining Indus Valley Civilisation.
• Gradually, they moved eastwards along the River Ganga.
• Finally they settled in the region between the River Ganga and Yamuna.
• That area is known as the Ganga – Yamuna Doab.
• They bought with them horses and chariots.
• They overpowered the original inhabitants of the Ganga-Yamuna Doab.
• They reduced their status to slaves or dasyus.
SOURCES

• Two types of sources are available:


 Literary
 Archaeological
LITERARY SOURCES
The Vedas
• World oldest religious scriptures
Composed in Vedic Sanskrit
Four Vedas- the Rigveda, the Samaveda , the Yajurveda and the
Atharvaveda
• The Brahmanas
• Lengthy commentaries on the Vedas.
• Each Veda has one or more of its own Brahmanas.
• It means the explanation of a ritual by learned priest.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOURCES
• The most important archaeological source is pottery.
• Unearthed relics provide information the Aryans and their religious and
social beliefs.
• EXAMPLE:
Remains of Vedic Age pottery, excavated in the Ganga Valley, have been
termed as Painted Grey Ware (PGW).
The Painted Grey Ware Pottery was followed by Northern Black Polished
Ware (NBPW).
In about 3000 BCE, people started making iron tools in West Asia.
In India, iron implements came to be used from about 1,000 BCE.
LIFE OF PEOPLE

• During vedic age the term jana denotes a tribe.


• Small kingdoms were called janapads.
• Village or grama was smallest unit.
• The head of tribes was elected by samiti and was called Rajan.
• He was assisted by senani, purohit and gramani.
• Two assemblies, the sabha and samiti advised the king on important
matters.

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