Later Vedic period

 Later Vedic period (1000-500BC)

Geographical Areas

• Whole of northern India.
• Shift to Ganga.
• Mention of more rivers such as Narmada, sadanira(gandak), Chambal etc.
• Emergence of janapada (kuru combination of purus and bharatas), panchala,kashi,etc.
• Vindhyan mountain (south).
• Three divisions: Aryavarta (north), Madhya desa (Central), Dakhinapata (southern).

Expansion

• History of later Vedic period is based on vedic texts compiled after the age of rig Veda.
• The collection of Vedic hymns or mantras known as samhitas.
• The rig Veda samhitas (oldest Vedic text).
• Sama Veda samhitas for purpose of recitation, the prayers of rig Veda were set to ture.
• Yajurveda samhitas, hymns and rituals.
• Atharva Veda samhitas, charms and spells to ward of evils and diseases.
• Brahmans, composition of series of text.
• All these were compiled in upper gangetic basin in 1000-500 BC.
• These period is called painted grey wave (PGW).
• People used earthen bowls and dishes made of painted grew pottery.
• They also used iron weapons.
• They expanded from Punjab to western Uttar Pradesh.
• Covered ganga yamuna Doab.
• Bharatas and Purus were major Tribes.
• They combined and former kuru.
• In the beginning they lived between sarasvati and drishadvati.
• Kurus occupied delhi and Upper portion of Doab.
• This area is called kurukshetra or land of Kurus.
• Gradually they coalesced with panchalas.
• They occupied middle pertion of the Doab.
• They authority of kuru, panchala spread over delhi and Upper and middle part of Doab.
• They set their capital, in Hastinapur (Meerut).
• Mahabharat: Around, 950BC between Kauravas and Pandavas, both belonged to kuru Dan, as a result kuru Dan was wiped out.
• Burnt bricks not used, use mud structures, Hastinapur was flooded.

The PGW- Iron phase culture and later Vedic economy

• Around 1000BC iron oppeared in dharwar district in Karnataka.
• Some time iron used in gandhara (Pakistan), Easter punjab, western Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan.
• Iron weapons used in the western Uttar Pradesh (800BC onwards).
• Iron used for clearing forests.
• Very few agriculture tools made of Iron.
• Ploughing was done with wooden ploughshare.

Agriculture

• Chief means of livelihood.
• Not enough bullocks, (sacrifices), janaka and Balram with plough.
• In later time ploughing prohibited for upper varnas.
• It led to settled life.
• Peasants couldn't produce much , aslo engaged in other activities.
• Not contributed for the rise of town.
• Barley continue to produce.
• Rice and wheat: chief crops.
• Rice was called vrithi in Vedic texts (Hastinapur,atrasikhera), wheat produced in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

Copper

• Familiar with copper, western Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
• Used copper mines, khetri in Rajasthan.
• One of the first metal to be used by vedic people.
• Used for war and hunting also used for ornaments.

Material life

• Weaving: women (large scale), leather work, pottery and carpenter: progress, jewel work was also there.
• Acquainted with four types of pottery, Black and Red ware, black slipped ware, painted grew ware, red ware.
• These were used for rituals or eating or for both.

House and Towns

• Mud brick house or wattle and daub house.
• Structure not impressive.
• The word Nagara mentioned in Vedic books.
• Hastinapur and kaushambi can be considered as towns.
• They may be called proto urban sites.
• Agriculture became main occupation, life become settled.

Political organization

• In later Vedic period assemblies lost importance, royals power increased 
• Vidatha completely disappeared.
• Sabha and samiti continue but character changed.
• Dominated by chiefs and rich nobles.
• Women not allowed to sit in sabha.
• Big kingdoms began to formulated.
• Chief or king became more powerful.
• Tribal authorities became territory.
• Princess or chief ruled tribes.
• Rashtra means territory first appeared in this period.
• Election of chief or king appear in Vedic texts.
• Best in physical and other qualities was elected as rajas.
• He received voluntary gifts (bali).
• But later they made the position of King hereditary.
• King position was strengthened by rituals.
• He performed, Rajasuya sacrifices: To confer supreme power on him, Ashwamedha: unquestioned control over an area.
• Collection of taxes and tributes, become common.
• King was assisted by priest and commanader, chief queen, few other high functionaries.
• King didn't passes standing army 
• Tribal units were mustered in Times of war.

Social structure

• Divided into 4 varnas

1)Brahmanas

• Scrificed added power of bhahmanas.
• Prayed for success of war.
• Sometimes they fought with kshtriya for supremacy.

2)Rajanyas or Kshatriyas

3)Vaishyas

• Common people, agricultural activities, cattle breeding, etc. Some of them Artisans.
• End of Vedic period began trade.
• Only tribute payers in Vedic times.

4)Shudras

• Not allowed, sacred thread and gayatri mantra, weve called servants of others.
• There were four ashrams in post vedic texts.

1. Brahmchari or student.

2. Grihastha or House holder.

3. Vanaprastha or hermit.

4. Sannyasin or ascetic.

• Only first three mentioned in later Vedic period.

Good, Rituals and Philosophy

• Indra and Agni lost important, Prajapati supreme power(the creater), Rudra(god of animals), Vishnu, increased importance, pushan (god of Shudras).
• Sacrifices became more important both public and private.
• Involved killing of animals on large scale.
• Sacrificer known as YASAMANA, some of the sacrifice common to Aryans and Indo-European people.
• Gift or Bali: cows, gold,cloth, horse, they also clain territory.
• 600BC Upanishads compiled wars only for cattle.