Vedic Culture in North India and Megalithic Culture in South India Online Test – 6th Social Science Lesson 9 Questions

The first phase of urbanisation in India came to an end with the decline of Indus Civilisation. A new era, called Vedic Age began with the arrival of Aryans.

Vedic Age is a period in the History of India between 1500 BC (BCE) – 600 BC (BCE). It gets its name from four ‘Vedas’

The Aryans were Indo–Aryan language speaking, semi nomadic pastoralists.

Aryans came from Central Asia in several waves of migration through Khyber Pass of Hindu Kush Mountains.

Though cattle rearing was Aryans main occupation, they also practised slash and burn agriculture.

Slash and burn agriculture is a farming method that involves clearing the land by cutting and burning all the trees and plants on it. Though cattle rearing was their main occupation, they also practised slash and burn agriculture.

Slash and burn agricultural cultivation is done there for a short time and then abandoned. People then move to a new piece of land for cultivation.

Geographical range - North India, Period - Iron Age, Time - 1500 BC (BCE) – 600 BC (BCE), Sources - Vedic Literature, Nature of Civilisation – Rural

Geographical range - North India, Period - Iron Age, Time - 1500 BC (BCE) – 600 BC (BCE), Sources - Vedic Literature, Nature of Civilisation – Rural

Aryans of the Rig Vedic Period were seminomadic. They were basically pastoral people with cattle as their main source of wealth.

In the Rig Vedic times, the Aryan homeland was the Punjab, which was at that time called Sapta Sindhu, the land of seven rivers.

Around 1000 BC (BCE), Aryans in India moved eastward and settled in Indo-Gangetic Plain.

Use of iron axes and ploughs became widespread during the rig Vedic period

Vedic literature can be classified into two broad categories. They are Shrutis and Smritis

The Shrutis comprise the four Vedas, the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas and the Upanishads. They are considered sacred, eternal, and an unquestionable truth.

'Shruti' means listening (or unwritten) ones that were transmitted orally through generations.

A body of texts containing teachings on religion such as Ithihasas, Puranas, Tantras and Agamas are called as Smritis

A body of texts containing teachings on religion such as Ithihasas, Puranas, Tantras and Agamas. Smritis are not eternal. They are constantly revised.

The Shrutis comprise the four Vedas, the Brahmanas, the Aranyakas and the Upanishads. They are considered sacred, eternal, and an unquestionable truth.

'Smriti' means definite and written literature. A body of texts containing teachings on religion such as Ithihasas, Puranas, Tantras and Agamas. Smritis are not eternal. They are constantly revised.

National Motto “Satyameva Jayate” “(Truth alone triumphs)” is taken from Mundaka Upanishad.

Material remains of Aryans such as iron implements and pottery from the archaeological sites in Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan along the Indus and the Ganges.

Two phases of Vedic Age – Early Vedic Period 1500 – 1000 BC (BCE) Later Vedic Period 1000 – c.600 BC (BCE)

Grama was headed by Gramani. A group of villages was called Vis (clan) and was headed by Vishayapati.

The Rig Vedic polity was kinship - based. Kula (clan) was the basic unit of the polity. It was under a head called Kulapati.

Rajan was the head of the Jana (tribe) and he was addressed as Janasyagopa (guardian of the people).

There were several tribal kingdoms (Rashtras) during Rig Vedic period (Bharatas, Matsyas, Puras).

The main responsibility of the Rajan was to protect his tribe. His powers were limited by tribal assemblies namely Vidhata, Sabha, Samiti and Gana.

The main responsibility of the Rajan was to protect his tribe. His powers were limited by tribal assemblies namely Vidhata, Sabha, Samiti and Gana. Of these Vidhata, (the tribal assembly) was the oldest.

The main responsibility of the Rajan was to protect his tribe. His powers were limited by tribal assemblies namely Vidhata, Sabha, Samiti and Gana. Of these Vidhata, (the tribal assembly) was the oldest.

The king appointed a purohit (chief priest) to assist him. In economic, political and military matters, the king was assisted by the Senani (army chief). Gramani was the leader of the village.

When the Aryans moved east ward- into Ganges-Yamuna-Doab regions, the early settlements were replaced by territorial kingdoms. Hereditary kingship began to emerge.

Many Janas or Tribes were amalgamated to form Janapadas or Rashtras in later Vedic period. The importance of Samithi and Sabha diminished and the Vidhata completely disappeared.

Bali is a voluntary tax consisting of 1/6 of the agricultural produce or cattle for a person.

Bali was a voluntary contribution of the people to the King. In the later Vedic period bali was treated as tax and collected regularly.

The Kuru and Panchala kingdoms flourished and large cities like Ayodhya, Indraprastha and Mathura also emerged during Later Vedic period.

The Vedic family was patriarchal. Within the early Vedic Society there were three divisions (Treyi) ; the general public were called Vis, the warrior class was called Kshatriyas and the Priestly class was named Brahmanas.

The fair complexioned Aryans distinguished themselves from dark complexioned non-Aryans whom they called Dasyus and Dasas.

At a later stage of Vedic period, when the Aryans had to accommodate non-Aryan skilled workers in their social arrangement, a rigid four-fold Varna system was developed, i.e., the priestly Brahmanas, the warrior Kshatriyas, the land owning Vysyas and the skilled workers sudras. Thus, a graded social order emerged.

In Rig Vedic society, women relatively enjoyed some freedom. The wife was respected as the mistress of the household.

Child marriage and sati were unknown. There was no bar on the remarriage of widows. Nevertheless, the women were denied right to inherit property from their parents.

In the later Vedic period, Polygamy became common. Widow remarriage was not encouraged.

In the later Vedic period the role of women in society, as well as their status, even within the family, declined. Polygamy became common. Widow remarriage was not encouraged. Education was denied to women. Inter-caste marriages were spurned.

Though occupation of Rig Vedic Aryans was cattle rearing, there were carpenters, chariot makers, potters, smiths, weavers, and leather workers.

Ochre Coloured Pottery (OCP) was attributed to the Vedic period. Horses, cows, goats, sheep, oxen and dogs were domesticated. In addition to craftsmen of early Vedic period there were also jewellers, dyers and smelters. Pottery of this period was Painted Grey Ware Culture.

When Aryans permanently settled in Sindh and the Punjab regions they began to practise agriculture. The staple crop was yava (barley).

There is no mention of wheat or cotton in the Rig-Veda, though both were cultivated by the Indus people. Two crops a year were raised.

In the later Vedic period the Aryans tamed elephants, apart from cow, goat, sheep and horse.

Trade became extensive. Barter system was prevalent (exchange of goods). They used Nishka, Satmana (gold coins) and Krishnala (silver coins) for business transactions.

Metals Known to Rig Vedic People Gold (Hiranya) Iron (Shyama) Copper/ Bronze (Ayas)

Rig Vedic Aryans worshipped mostly the earthly and celestial gods like Prithvi (Earth), Agni (fire), Vayu (wind), Varuna (rain), Indra (Thunder).

There were also lesser female deities like Aditi (goddess of eternity) and Usha (appearance of dawn). Their religion was Yajna centred.

The mode of prayer was recitation of Vedic hymns. People prayed for the welfare of Praja (children) Pasu (cattle) and Dhana (wealth).

Cow was considered a sacred animal of Vedic age people. There were no temples. Idol worship had not yet come into existence.

Prajapathi (the creator) Vishnu (the protector) and Rudra (the destroyer) became prominent. Sacrifices and rituals became more elaborate.

The gurukula system is an ancient learning method. The gurukula system is an ancient learning method. The shishyas resided with their guru and served them and simultaneously learnt and gained knowledge.

The subjects of the study in Gurukula included the four Vedas, Ithihasas, Puranas, grammar, logic, ethics, astrology, maths and military science.

The students were also trained to lead a disciplined life. Only Dvijas could be Shishyas. No women could have formal education.

Towards the end of the later Vedic period, the concept of four stages in life (the four ashramas) developed. Brahmacharya (Student Life), Grihastha (Married Life), Vanaprastha (Going to the forest to meditate), Sanyasa (Leading a life of an ascetic so as to attain Swarga)

The early Vedic culture in northern India coincided with Chalcolithic cultures that prevailed in other parts of the sub-continent.

The early Vedic culture in northern India coincided with Chalcolithic cultures that prevailed in other parts of the sub-continent. Since, people used copper (chalco) and stone (lithic), it was called Chalcolithic period.

The term ‘Megalith’ is derived from Greek. ‘Megas’, means great and ‘lithos’ means stone. Using big stone slabs built upon the places of burial is known as Megalith.

Megalithic Period in ancient Tamilakam synchronised with the Pre-Sangam period. The Black and Red Ware Pottery became the characteristic of the Megalithic period.

Adichanallur - Thoothukudi District, Among the artefacts unearthed were Urns, pottery of various kinds (Red Ware, Black Ware), iron implements, daggers, swords, spears and arrows, some stone beads and a few gold ornaments.

Bronze objects found in Adichanallur representing domestic animals and wild animals like tiger, antelope and elephant have been unearthed.

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) excavated an ancient town dating to Sangam Age in Keezhadi village at Tirupathur taluk, Sivagangai District.

Tamil – Brahmi inscription on pottery, beads of glass, carnelian and quartz, pearl, gold ornaments and iron objects, shell bangles, ivory dice have been unearthed in Keezhadi.

In 2017, ASI sent two samples of these for Radio carbon dating to Beta Analytic, Florida, USA. They dated samples as 200 BC (BCE). The Roman artefacts found at the site add to the evidence of ancient Indo -Roman trade relations.

Hero stones are found at Maanur village near Palani, Dindigul district, Vellalankottai, Tuticorin district, and Pulimankombai, Dindigul district

Kodumanal – Erode District is identified with the Kodumanam of Pathitrupathu. More than 300 pottery inscriptions in Tamil – Brahmi have been discovered there.

In Kodumanal, Archaeologists have also discovered spindles, whorls (used for making thread from cotton) and pieces of cloth, along with tools, weapons, ornaments, beads, particularly carnelian.

Paiyampalli – Vellore District, the date of this culture, based on radio carbon dating, is 1000 BC (BCE).

Iron artefacts, along with Megalithic Black and Red Ware Pottery have been found. Evidence for iron smelting has come to light at Paiyampalli.

Menhir–In Breton Language 'Men' means “stone” and 'hir', “long.” They are monolithic pillars planted vertically into the ground in memory of the dead. Menhir at Singaripalayam in Tirupur District and at Vembur in Theni District points to the existence of an ancient settlement along the banks of River Uppar. Menhir are found at Narasingampatti, Madurai district, Kumarikalpalayam and Kodumanal in Erode district.

Menhirs are found at Narasingampatti, Madurai district, Kumarikalpalayam and Kodumanal in Erode district.

Hero Stones – A Hero Stone is a memorial stone raised in remembrance of the honorable death of a hero in a battle or those who lost their lives while defending their village from animals or enemies.

Dolmens are Megalithic tombs made of two or more upright stones with a single stone lying across the burial site. Megalithic Dolmens have been found in Veeraraghavapuram village, Kanchipuram district, Kummalamaruthupatti, Dindigul district, and in Narasingampatti, Madurai district.

The discovery of iron sickle, pike, and tip of ploughs provide evidences that they had the practice of rice cultivation in Tamil Nadu. A pot of rice from Porunthal site proves that rice was people’s staple food.

Periplus mentions the steel imported to Rome from Peninsular India was subjected to duty in the port of Alexandria.

The term ‘Megalith’ is derived from Greek. ‘Megas’, means great and ‘lithos’ means stone. Using big stone slabs built upon the places of burial is known as Megalith.