Later vedic age

Later vedic age

1. Sources of information

   • Yajur veda
   • Sama veda
   • Atharva veda

2. Developements

   • Text refers to use of black metal
   • shifted their base from sapatasindhu (Brahmavarta) To gangetic valley( Aryavarta)

3. Political organization

   • Kingship was no longer tribal
     • started ruling territories
   • Sabha and Samiti lost their importance
   • King adopted titles like 'Adhiraja' and 'samrat'
   • people payed regular taxes to the king
   • Along with purohita, senani and gramani officers called amatayas assisted the king with his duties

4. Social life

   • Family
     • male was very important
     • welcomed birth of a son
     • position of women declined
       • didn't attend samiti meetings
   • caste system
     • birth decided caste and occupation
       • could not change caste or occupation
     • People of different castes or varnas were not encouraged to intermingle
     • Brahmans and Kshatriyas= Rulers
       • Vaishyas and shudras= Were ruled
   • brahmans gained power shudras declined steadily
   • 4 ashramas
     • brahmacharya
       • received education
     • Grihasta
       • Married, led family life
     • vanaprastha
       • meditation in forest
     • Sanyasa
       • Gave up everything

5. Education

   • pupils stayed as family members of their gurus
   • learnt logic, mathematics, grammar and medicine
   • imparted orally
     • each pupil paid gurudakshina (fee)
     • shudras were not allowed to be educated

6. Religious life

   • brahma, vishnu and shiva became more important
   • brahma= Creator of the world
     • vishnu= the preserver
       • Shiva= destroyer
   • king performed large community sacrifices

7. Economy

   • main occupation= agriculture
   • began to cultivate rice and wheat
   • used iron to make implements
   • domesticated dog, sheep and goat