EARLY VEDIC PERIOD (1500-1000BC):

After the disappearance of a flourishing civilization in India around 1500BC a group of people
known as Aryans came to India. There are different theories regarding about the origin of Aryans
and one of the most convincing theory is that they migrated from central Asia and settle in India.
The entire region in which the Aryans first settle in the subcontinent is called the land of the
seven rivers. The earliest Aryans live in the geographical area covered by Afghanistan, north
Western Frontier Province of Punjab and the fringes of western U.P. After settling in the region
of Sapta Sindhu or seven rivers for a while they penetrated and pushed in to interior to settle in
the valley of the Ganges and the Yamuna. We got useful information about the prevailing
condition during the Rig Vedic or early Vedic from Rig Veda which is regarded as the oldest
literary. There are four Vedas- Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda. Though
Rig Veda was not a historical work it provides useful information about the history of the early
Aryans in India. It tells us about the early Aryan civilization was confined to the Sapta Sindhu
rivers which subsequently became to be known as Punjab. On their arrival in India they came in
conflict with the indigenous inhabitants known as Dasyus or dasas, who were black skinned and
spoke a language which was totally different from that of the Aryans. The Aryans owing to their
superior military equipment scored a victory against the indigenous people who were probably
the Harappans.

1. SOCIETY: The society during early Vedic period was highly organized.
TRIBE AND FAMILY: Social structure was based on Kinship and a man was identified by the
clan he belongs. People primarily gave loyalty to the tribe, known as Jana. The people were so
attached to the tribes as neither a control over territory nor the kingdom was established. The
earliest Vedic society was a tribal society and in which kinships ties are predominant. Patriarchal
system was followed by the early Vedic people where the father was the head of the family
known as grihapati or dampati. The father was regarded as the embodiment of all that was good
and kind. In case of the death of the father the eldest son took charge of family. The behavior of
the father towards every member of the family was polite and impartial. The relation between the
child and the parent was one of close affection. He used to perform all religious ceremonies
along with his wife. Hospitality was another basic feature of the RIG VEDIC people and the
guest were treated well and warmly welcome. The joint family system was prevalent in the early
Vedic society. The birth of a son in the family was mainly desired and they usually prayed to
God to give them brave sons to fight the wars. The ownership of property was rested in the head
of the family and the property was passed down from father to the sons. However, if a person
died without leaving a son the property was handed over to the daughters son.

POSITION OF WOMEN: During the early Vedic period women hold high esteem position and
were also treated par with men in all walks of life. In fact even in religious field various rituals
and ceremonies women participated and in some case without the presence of the women the
rituals were not even perform. They also occupied an important place in the social and religious
gatherings. Many educated women emerged and they participated in philosophical debates and
discussions. Some of the notable scholars of this age are Apala, Vishwavara, Nivavasi and
Ghosha etc who composed hymns and attained the titles of Rishis. Women had sound knowledge
about music and dancing. The woman enjoyed position of great respect and equality with men,
they were generally expected to live under the care of men throughout their life. Before marriage
they lived under the care of their father and after the marriage they lived under the protection of
their husband. They were given freedom to choose their husband for marriage when they attain
full maturity and no such other social evils like sati, purdah etc prevail. However, dowry and
bride prices were in vogue. Marriage was considered as a divine and institution and performed
with the recitation of hymns. The marriage was indissoluble by any human action. The main aim
of the marriage was provision of a male child to continue vansha or dynasty. Monogamy was the
popular types of marriage even though polygamy prevails in some parts/areas. Widows were also
given permission to re- married after the death of their husband. Thus, the position of women
was quite respectable during early Vedic age. There are several references to prove participation
of women in public functions, performances and festive gatherings

AMUSEMENT: During their spare or free time people of early vedic period engaged themselves
in various activities like gambling, war dancing, chariot racing, dicing, horse racing, hunting.
Both man and woman danced during this age and singing was also highly esteemed. We came
across several references in the Rig Veda about dancing by maidens. Some other amusement
even includes music, accompanied by flute, lute and drum.

FOOD: The Aryans were both vegetarian and non-vegetarian eaters. Some of the main principle
food grains includes wheat, barley and rice was introduced later. They also consumed milk,
butter, ghee, curd, sugarcane, fruits and other vegetables etc. The meat was taken by people only
on special occasions. People make flour out of the grains and prepared cakes by mixing it with
butter and milk. At the times of religious ceremonies and sacrifices two most popular drinks are
soma, an exhilarating juice regarded as sacrificial drink and sura, is a mild intoxicating drink was
taken and consumed by the people. Sura was obtained by distillation of grain and was regarded
as impure by the Priests.

DRESS AND ORNOMENTS: It is said that the people of early Vedic used clothes made of
cotton, wool and animals skin etc., as they paid special attention to their dress and ornaments.
The dress was of three types known as vasas or lower garment, adhivasa or upper garment and
paridhan or an over garment. The ladies, women used garment called as nivi or under garment.
Both men and women used ornaments like necklaces, earrings, anklets, shoes etc to adorn
themselves. Gold ornaments and floral wreaths were used especially during festive seasons. Men
and women also worn turban and their hair were long oiled and combed nicely. The art of
shaving was also known to the people even though men generally supported beards of various
types. People oiled and combed their hair.
SOCIAL DIVISIONS: The four fold varna system was virtually absent during the Rig vedic age.
The division during this period was mainly on occupations base. The RIG VEDA refers to non-
existence of rigid castes system in these words: “I am a poet, my father is a physician, my mother
grinds corns on stone” being engaged in different profession we lived in peace and happiness.
The factor which contributed most of the creation of social divisions was the conquest of
indigenous by the Aryans. The dasas and dasyus, conquered by the Aryans were treated as slaves
and Sudras. Gradually the tribal society was divided into three groups- warriors, priests and the
people on the same pattern in Iran. The fourth division called the Sudras appeared towards the
end of the Rig Vedic period. R.S SHARMA had asserts that in the age of Rig Veda divisions
based on occupations had started. But, the society was still tribal and largely egalitarian.

EDUCATION: Great importance was attached to education during the early Vedic period.
Educational set up like a modern present institution was virtually absent but Vedic people gave
priority to education. The entire system of education was given orally and it was essentially base
on religious in character. The common method of imparting education was that first teacher
recited a Mantra from Veda which was then repeated by the students. The main purpose of the
education was to sharpen the intellect of the person and develop his character. The education was
essentially religious in character and system. At the Ashram the child was provided free lodging
and boarding. the girls received education from women teachers and in their learning great
emphasis was laid on learning of music and dancing. Apart from the study of various religious
works they were imparted training in military science, logic, medicine, astrology etc. The
students were not required to pay any fees but they used to pay dakshina on the completion of
their studies to the guru. Thus, education during the early Vedic period covers not only on
religious bound but on other fields like physical, moral, intellectual as well as spiritual
development of the students were took into considerations.

DWELLING PLACE: The people during the early Vedic period mainly lived in the villages.
Their houses were built of bamboo and clay. As regards the description of these houses the
columns were set upon firm ground with supporting beams leaning obliquely against them and
connected by rafters on which long bamboo rods were laid, forming the high roof. At the later
stage number of towns and cities also appeared. The two important cities which came in to
existence were Indra-prastha and Hastinapur.

2. POLITY ORGANISATION:
During the early Vedic period the Aryan were essentially pastoral people and did not develop
any political structure which can be compared with the state in ancient or modern sense. Early
Vedic political institutions is characterized by tribal polity. The people lived in small villages
and the family or the kula was the basic unit of their political and social organization. The family
or kula is headed by the kulapa or grihapati means that eldest member enjoyed complete control
over other members of the family. The next unit was grama or village headed by the gramani. A
number of families formed a grama. A number of gramas or villages formed Visya. The visya or
a group of villages was headed by vispa ti. The highest unit, jana or tribe consisted of a group of
visya headed by the tribal chiefs known as Rajan. During this period the kingship was a tribal
institution and the king primarily ruled over the tribe rather than a specified territory. The post of
the king was hereditary but he did not exercise unlimited power for he had to reckon with the
tribal organizations. His authority was considerably restricted by the tribal assemblies, especially
the Sabha and Samiti. The king function in such a manner where he could retain the confidence
of the people. The king was called the protector of his tribes as he protects its cattle, fought wars
and offered prayers on behalf of the people his tribe.

The Army: During the Rig Vedic period the king does not have a regular and bureaucratic set up
of standing army and so when in case of needs of an army all the male members in the society
had to represent and participate in the war to fight for the king. Generally, the king and nobles
fought from the chariots while the common people fought on foot.

Popular assemblies: In the early Vedic period several tribal or the clan- based assemblies such as
Sabha, Samiti, Vidatha, Gana were present and it was mentioned in the Rig Veda. Though
nothing can be said for certain about these assemblies it is commonly held that they were popular
institutions. They exercised deliberative, military and religious functions. The Vidatha was an
assembly for settling various dispute prevailing in society and the Sabha, some scholars are of
the view that Sabha comprised elected members representing different section of the people.
With reference from “RIG VEDA’ the persons of great wealth and noble birth attend it. The
meeting of Sabha took place in an assembly hall so both political and non-political matters were
discussed. It is the assembly of the elders and make more exclusive because it deliberated on the
issues and problems of the community and took decisions. Thus, it consisted only of the elders
who were considered to be wise and capable of taking such decisions. Therefore, it was a body
of elders and nobles. Samiti was like a national assembly of the people and the people were
expected to be present during its sessions. This was the largest assembly of the people in general.
The most important function of Samiti was to elect the king and the presence of the king is a
must in this assembly. All the important matters relating to the welfare of the people were
discussed in this two institution.

Officials: For the administration purpose the king was assisted by a few functionaries like Senani
or general, Purohita or the priest was an important person owing to his great power served as
check upon the powers of the king and he is also the spiritual Guru of the king. The office of
Purohita was generally hereditary. The Gramani or the head of the village was the village officer
and looked after village administration. The next important functionary was Senani, who was the
head of the army and was responsible for equipping the same. In addition, the king was assisted
by a number of other officials. The existence of a large number of officials during this early
Vedic age shows that great attention was paid to the welfare of the people. Formal bureaucratic
set up of administration does not prevail during this age. It does not even mention about any
officers administering concerned with tax collection. Developed taxation system had not yet
come up and the main source of the state, king’s income was from Bali which was a nature of
voluntary donation made by the subjects or peoples.
Judicial administration: The administration of judicial was quite advanced during early Vedic
period. This borne out by the presence of several common legal terms in different languages.
Justice was imparted by the king on the basis of customary laws. He was assisted in
administration of justice by Purohita and the elders. Death sentence was generally avoided by
this culture and in case of murder the culprit was make to pay a fine of 100 cows.

3. ECONOMY:
The Rigvedic Aryans were primarily an agricultural people. They lived in the village and were
essentially agricultural people. The Rig Vedic people were conversant with the art of cultivation
of land and used several instruments like ploughs, harrows, hoes for agriculture purpose. Early
Vedic economy was essentially a pastoral form of economy. Homestead and arable lands in the
village appear to have been owned by individuals or families, while grass lands were probably
held in common. Cattle breading and rearing was the main occupation and economic activity of
the people. They gave great importance to the cows. The Rig Veda contains numerous references
about the cows. In fact, the early Aryans fought most of their wars for the sake of the cows
because they regarded them as the most valued possession and chief form of their wealth.
Different types of animals likes cows, buffaloes, sheep, horses etc., were domesticated by the
Aryans people. Among, all cows are the most valued possessions. One of the main reasons why
people fight and had inter-tribal wars was because of cattle and the word battle is known as
Gavishti which means search for cows. Even in their prayers they asked God for increase of
cattle. The cows are the chief medium of exchange and the sacrificial Priests were often
rewarded for their services with cattle. There were pastures for the grazing of cattle and the
references of the herdsmen. The wealth of a person was measure in terms of cattle, horses etc.,
he possessed.

The occupation of agriculture was a secondary activity and it was also given much importance.
In order to plough the land oxen were used. Early Vedic people did not used iron technology and
they used stone tools and they were fairly simple and primitive. They usually ploughed the fields
with the help of a pair of the oxen bound to the yoke and their ploughshare were probably made
of wood. They make artificial means of irrigation and watered the land through artificial canals.
The main crops were wheat and barley and they started cultivating rice later. The implements
used by them were simple tools like plough, ploughshare, hoe, sickles, oxen etc. generally they
grew two crops a year.

In addition to agricultural they also practice various crafts. Carpentry and other type of crafts too
played an important role in the Vedic society. There are also several other craftsmen known as
chariot makers, weavers, potters, metal workers, blacksmith etc. Weavers included men as well
as women. The Rig Vedic make a reference to all this which suggests that all these crafts were
being practiced. People also knew the art of metal working because the term ayas has been used
for copper and bronze. These metals were used for making of implements as well as utensils.
The other profession which was practiced by the people which had been mentioned in the Rig
Veda, include medicine, dancing, barbers. The physician treated the patients with herbs and
plants and probably also performed some sort of surgery. Magic and spells were also used for
treatment of people during those days.

We do not come across any clear evidence to support the view that the people carried on trade
and commerce. If at all any trade or commerce existed, it was of rudimentary nature. Trade
during the early Vedic age it was probably carried on by barter system and the cows were also
used as a means of exchange. So, barter system was in Vogue at that time. According to some
scholars coins known as Nishka were in circulation and things were sent to different parts of the
country through bullock carts, horses and chariots. Trade guilds were also there during that time
and they form this group to promote and protect the interest of the merchants. The principal
means of transport by land were chariots and wagons, the former usually by horses and the latter
by oxen
About, the controversy and possibility of foreign trade there emerged two views on that ground.
According to Professor R.S. Sharma, he is of the opinion that Aryans did not engage in any
foreign trade because they were not aware about the knowledge of sea and ocean trade and not in
conversant with cities and its life. On the other-hand Dr.R.C. Mazumdar is of the view and
supports that foreign trade flourished and they have trade relations with other foreign countries
of western Asia and naturally there must have been some system of exchange. However, nothing
can be said with certainty about trade links and network with foreign countries.