introduction
The Vedic period, or Vedic age, is the period in the history of the northern Indian subcontinent between the end of the urban Indus Valley Civilisation and a second urbanisation which began in the central Indo-Gangetic Plain c. 600 BCE.
Aryans are said to be the propounders of vedic age civilization. They spoke a language called arya which was similar to later days sanskrit. Hence, they are called aryans.
Aryans
Vedic Period and Aryans- Aryans:
- The Aryans were semi-nomadic pastoral people and originated from the area around the Caspian Sea in Central Asia(Many historians have given various theories regarding their original place)
- The Central Asian theory is given by Max Muller.
- Entered India probably through the Khyber Pass(Hindukush mountain) around 1500 BC.
- Monarchial form. The tribe was known as Jan and its king as Rajan.
- The family was the basic unit of society. The family was patriarchal in nature.
- Aryans followed a mixed economy i.e pastoral and agricultural in which cattle played a predominant part.
- The standard unit of exchange was Cow. At the same time coins were also there.
- The Aryans personified the natural forces and looked upon them as living beings.
- The most important divinity was Indra who played the role of the warlord(breaker of forts- Purandar)
- Tiny tribal settlements were placed by strong kingdoms.
- Indra and Agni lost their importance. Prajapati(the creator) became supreme.
- Vishnu came to be conceived as the preserver and protector of the people.
- Oldest religious text in the world.
- Contains 1,028 hymns and is divided into 10 mandalas.
- Derived from the root Saman i.e "melody". It is a collection of melodies.
- Deals with the procedure for the performance of sacrifices.
- Mostly dealing with magic( along with personal problems of people).
- Called Vedanta
- They are the main source of Indian Philosophy, 108 in numbers.
- They explain the meaning of sacrifices and also the methods of performing them. Shatpath Brahmin on Yajur Veda is the largest among Brahmins.
- These Granths were studied in the forest. These are the books of instructions.
- It was written in Sanskrit by Ved Vyas
- It describes a war between Kauravas and Pandavas of 950 BC in Kurukshetra.
- Translation of "Mahabharat" in Persian is called Rajm nama done by Badauni.
- It was written by Valmiki in sanskrit.
- It has 24000 Shlokas, also known as Aadi-kavya.
- Its persian translation is done by Badauni and Tamil translation by Kamban.
- Ramcharitmanas is written by Tulsidas.
- Puranas are 18 in number.
- It was written during the Gupta Age in AD 4th Century. Matsya Purana is the oldest Purana.
Quiz
1. The Aryans successded in their conflicts with the pre-Aryans because?
- A. they used elephants on a large scale
B. they were taller and stronger
C . they were from an advanced urban culture
D . they used chariots driven by horses
- A. Halis
B. Dasyus
C . Bhaktas
D . Nalias
- A. Bhakti
B. image worship and Yajnas
C . worship of nature and Yajnas
D . worship of nature and Bhakti
- A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Bengal
C . Sapta Sindhu
D . Delhi
- A. French
B. Spanish
C . Pail
D . None of these
- A. There are many references to the cow in the Rig Veda
B. Most of the wars were fought for the sake of cows
C . Gifts made to priests were usually cows and not land
D . All of the above
- A. Romans
B. Greeks
C . Iranians
D . All fof the above
- A. Sapt-Saindhav Pradesh
B. Doab of Ganga-Yamuna
C . Magadh
D . Deccan
- A. They were acquainted with norses, chariots and the use of bronze
B. They were acquainted with the use of iron
C . They were acquainted with the cow. Which formed the most important form of wealth
D . They were acquainted with the use of copper and the modern ploughshare
- A. The last Chalukya ruler was defeated by the Rashtrakutas founder
B. The last Chalukya ruler was defeated by the Pallavas founder
C . Kirtivarman II was the last of the rulers of the Chalukyas.
D . The successor of Pulakesin II was Vikramaditya