The Later Vedic Period


What Books and Burials Tell Us I - Concepts
Class - 6th Foundation NTSE Subjects
 
 
Concept Explanation
 

The Later Vedic Period

Later Vedic period: The rest of the three Vedas, namely the Sama Veda, the yajur Veda and the Atharva Veda were composed during this period. The Ramayana, Mahabharata and some parts of puranas were also composed during this period. The Ramayana was written by Valmiki and the Mahabharata was written by Veda Vyasa.

Political life: The Rajan was no more a tribal chief now. He was now a king with a proper kingdom and a big army at his disposal. The extent of his kingdom determined his power and status. The rajan now enjoyed the titles like Samrat and Maharajadhiraja.

Economic life: Besides the Vedas, the excavations at various sites like Hastinapur, Kausambi and Atranjikhera in Uttar Pradesh have discovered remains of mud walls with pieces of mud bricks and burnt bricks. Bamboo poles were used for building roofs in these houses. The floors were made of fine yellowish earth. Large quantities of wheat, rice and barley have been found that the Vedic men must have grown. Ploughing was done with wooden ploughshares.

Society: The position of women became inferior to men. Even though the presence of women was essential in religious ceremonies, still they occupied a lower position in society. Their education had also taken a backseat. The family continued to be the basic unit of society with the father as head of the family. The boys were sent to gurukula to study in the same way as in the early Vedic period.

Difference between Early Vedic Period and later Vedic Vedic Period

           Early Vedic Period          Later Vedic Period
  The caste system was Flexible and based on profession rather than birth.The caste system became more rigid in this period with birth being the main criteria.
There was no concept of Shudra or UntouchablesShudras became a main stay in the later vedic period.Their sole functions was to serve those of the upper -caste.
 women were allowed a greater degree of freedom in this period.They were allowed to participate in the political process of the time to a certain extent.women were restricted from their participation in society by being relegated to subordinate and docile roles. 
Early Vedic society was pastroralist and semi nomadic in nature.Society became more settled in nature .It became centred around agriculture in general.
 Rigveda This text is cited as the earliest text from this period. Yajurveda ,samaveda,Atharveda

 

 
 
 


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