IAS Exam Preparation of Ancient History Section via Infographics
You will be tested by UPSC on Questions relating to Ancient History. Vedic Age or Age of the Aryans is an important topic of Ancient India.
History for IAS Exam Preparation 2016
Topic – Early Vedic Civilization
Vedic civilization
The earliest civilization in the Indian History which is connected with the Aryans.
- Word “Aryan” > high birth
- Theory of Southern Russia or Eurasia > seems more plausible
- From this region they moved to different parts of Asia and Europe
- Migrated to India through khyber pass
- Rapidly spread to the area known as the Sapta Sindhu
Original home and identity of Aryans
- Word “Aryan” > high birth
- Theory of Southern Russia or Eurasia > seems more plausible
- From this region they moved to different parts of Asia and Europe
- Migrated to India through khyber pass
- Rapidly spread to the area known as the Sapta Sindhu
- Some part of Afghanistan > Araiya or Haraiya
- Main tribes > Hitties, Indo-Aryans, Iranians, Kassites, Mitannis and Greeks
- Boghaz koi inscriptions > peace treaty between Hitties and Marayanni rulers of Mittani >> names of vedic gods are mentioned – Indra, Mitra, Nasatya , Varuna
- Proves that Central Asia as their homeland
- Mingled with local people
- Adopted agrarian way of life after settling down in small, organized communities
Reasons behind rapid expansion of the Aryans
- Chariot driven by horses
- Weapons made of good quality bronze
- Use of armour (varman)
- Use of destructive machine called”Purcharishnu“
Sources of Vedic Civilization
- Chief source – vedic literature in sanskrit
- Composed > 1500 – 500 BC
- Vedic literature – 4 categories
- 4 vedas
- Brahmanas attached to each Samhitha
- Aranyakas
- Upansihads
4 Vedas
Rigveda
It is the oldest religious text in the world. It’s a collection of hymns recited at the time of rituals with utmost devotion. It consists of a total of 1017 hymns divided into 10 mandalas.
Samveda
It is basically a collection of melodies. It consists of 1603 verses but except 99 all the rest of the hymns borrowed from Rigveda.
Yajurveda
It prescribes the ritual for performing different sacrifices. Consists of 2 main texts – White YV (mantras-hymns), Black YV (commentary in prose).
Atharvaveda
Describes the popular beliefs and superstitions of humble folk. It is divided into 20 kandas and has 711 hymns.
Political Conditions
- Not homogeneous
- Divided into several tribes – anus, druhyus, yadus, purus, bharatas, krivis, srinjayas
- Fought among themselves for supremacy
- Popular mode of govt – monarchy
Economic Life
- Predominantly pastoral
- Cow (Gau) was the most important animal >> mentioned 176 times in Rig veda
- The terms of war were gavisthi or the search for cows
- Main occupation – cattle breeding
- Agriculture – secondary occupation
- Yava (barley) – chief food grain
Social Life
- Tribal society with kingship as the basis of social structure
- Man was identified with his tribe called Jana
- Jana was divided into Vis (group of villages) under Vispati, Vis into grama (village) under Gramnani and Grama into kulas (family) into kulapa Jana > Vis > Grama > Kulas City > Town > Village > Family
- Tribal society was broadly divided priests, warriors and people
- “Shudra” is first mentioned in 10th book (latest addition) of Rig veda
- Non aryans consisted of Dasyus and Panis
- Slavery was existent as slave women were gifted to priests.
- Untouchability and concept of gotra was unknown
IAS Exam Preparation Quiz – Vedic Period
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