Vedic Period

Question 1

Rig Vedic Society (Early) Features

Answer 1

1. Family: Foundation of social life was family. Eldest member known as Grihapati who exercised full authority. Thus family was patriarchal but women were not discriminated.
2. Women: No purdah. No child marriage. Freedom in choosing their husbands. Re-marraige.
3. Varna system: Divided into four varnas. But discriminatory caste system did not exist.
4. Economic life: Pastoralists. Agriculture was secondary occupation. Barter system. Nishka coins. Anybody can choose any profession.
5. Political life: Aryans lived in Tribes called Jana. Kingship was not hereditary. King was elected by the members of Jana. Women were part of sabha. Sabhas worked on democratic lines. No regular taxation system. Voluntary tributes. No evidence of bureaucracy and standing army.
6. Religious life: Material happiness. Polytheistic. Priestly class was absent.

Question 2

Later-Vedic society features

Answer 2

1. Society: The Brahmans though continued to be respected in the society now lost much of their control on the power of the state. All power is concentrated in the hands of Kshatriyas. The centre of gravity was king not priest.
2. Women: Slowly lost their equal position. Not allowed to take part in political life. Excluded from inheriting property. Practises like Sati, child marriage, Purdah system crept into society.
3. Varna: More rigid. More or less hereditary.
4. Economic life: Agriculture became the chief occupation. Barley, wheat, rice and few grains and beans began to be cultivated.
5. Trade was practised. Guild system. The cow as a unit of value was gradually replaced. Many cities have sprung up.
6. Political life: Vast empires and Royal power. Monarchy and hereditary. Elaborate bureaucracy. Regular army.
7. Religious life: Rituals became prominent. Cult of sacrifice. Towards the end of the period, there was strong resistance against the sacrificial practises and rituals. Many sects like Ajivikas, Buddhism, Jainism, etc arose.

Question 3

Sixth century BCE Features -

Answer 3

1. Mahajanapadas: Evolution of Mahajanapadas was a welcome change given the fact that cities declined with the end of Harappan civilisation. Cities like Magadha, Kosala were major centres of trade, arts, craft etc.
2. Religious ideas: Jainism and Buddhism evolved as an opposition to the Hinduism which created a social division in the society. People found a new vent to get out of the clutches of caste oppression.
3. Agricultural developments: Prominent use of iron ploughs and
   implements brought about a overhaul by increasing agricultural
   production. Construction of lakes, canals for irrigation purposes also increased agricultural productivity.
4. Literary development: India got its share of rich literature with the compilation of Mahabharata, Ramayana, Jatakas, Vedas, Upanishads, etc.
5. Currency: Enhancement of trade was ushered in by minting coins made of gold and silver.
6. Specialised craft: The existence of different crafts shows the
   specialisation of craft headed by guild. For example, Buddhist work refers to 18 guilds in rajagriha like needle making, gold smithery, carpentry, Ivory etc.
7. Cultural dominance: Gangetic valley originates as a region of cultural dominance in this era.
8. On the whole, 6th century India is worth analysing for the subsequent repercussions that shaped the life of the people back then.