1. THE VEDIC CULTURE: THE RIGVEDIC AGE

2. Original home of the Aryans
Some of them think they are original inhabitants of India
Some regard them as invaders who destroyed the superior civilization of the original inhabitant’s whom they drove beyond the Vindhyas.

3. Original home of the Aryans
Historians agree that the original home of the Aryans was in central Asia in regions around the Caspian sea.

4. Original home of the Aryans
They might have been forced to migrate due to shortage of food and fodder to seek settlement in other lands.
Aryans who came to India are called ‘Indo-Aryans’.

5. Spread of Aryans in India

6. Spread of Aryans in India
Aryans first settled in Punjab
Founded their first settlements on the banks of the rivers Indus [Sindu] & Saraswathi [which has since dried up]

7. Spread of Aryans in India
While driving the ‘Dasyus’ beyond the Vindhyas and thus gained the occupation of more and more land in the eastern & northern parts of the country –they renamed it as ‘Aryavarta’ [abode of the Aryans]

8. Life of the Aryans

9. Life of the Aryans Evidence of the Aryans are found in the ‘Vedas’
‘Vedas’-means knowledge

10. Different vedas are: Rigveda – most ancient Yajurveda Samaveda
Atharvaveda

11. Social life

12. Social life Family life Food Games & Amusements Dress
The Varnas /Castes

13. Family life Lived in joint families
They followed the patriarchal family
Grihapati- eldest male member in the family who exercised full authority over all the members.

14. Family life It was his duty to perform sacrifices or Yajnas
Women also occupied a position of honour – their presence was essential at all religious ceremonies. They were given right education & some even composed the Rigvedic hymns

15. Food Simple but nourishing
Wheat and barley cakes, milk & milk products like butter, ghee, curd, Cheese.

16. Games & Amusements Found leisure for enjoyment
Fond of merry-making & pastimes
Favourite amusement – horseracing, chariot racing, hunting

17. Games & Amusements
Fascination for gambling with dice [this game has been referred to in the Rigveda as leading to ruins and slavery].
Loved music & played on a flute which resembled the ‘Vina’

18. Dress Simple & generally consisted of 3 parts –
Undergarment nivi/dhoti
Garment vasa/shirt
Over-garment adhivasa /mantle/cloak of cotton & wool

19. Dress Turbans were also commonly used by them
Adorned their persons with gold & silver ornaments garlands & wreaths of flowers jewels etc.
Ornaments were worn by men & women

20. The Varnas /Castes Divided into 4 Varnas
Brahmanas priests were learned people who performed sacrifices
Kshatriyas ruling class or warriors

21. The Varnas /Castes
Vaishyas trading class farmers, goldsmiths, weavers, potters etc
Shudras descendants of Dasyus –serve the higher varnas

22. Economic life: their occupations

23. Economic life: their occupations
Agriculture
Domestication of animals
Trade
Discovery of Iron
Other occupations and Industries

24. Agriculture Primary occupation was cultivation of land
Agricultural products – barley, wheat, rice, cotton, oilseeds

25. Agriculture
Source of irrigation water – wells, canals, sometimes from lakes
People depended upon rains
Fields cultivated by a pair of oxen.

26. Domestication of animals
Domestication of animals was another important occupation
Wealth and prosperity depended on the possession of a large number of animals [especially cows – which was held in great esteem]

27. Domestication of animals
Other animals domesticated bulls, oxen, horses, sheep, goats, asses, & dogs.

28. Trade They were not indifferent to trade & commerce.
Barter system – exchange of articles was in vogue
Cow was regarded as the standard of value. [value of things was measured in terms of cows]

29. Trade Coinage known as “Nishka” was also prevalent
Trade was mainly carried on by road.
Trade by sea was not quite unknown

30. Discovery of Iron
Greatest contribution of the civilization is discovery of iron
Iron was – a hard & tough metal hence better suited for making tools & weapons compared to copper or bronze
Iron was used in making axe-heads – used for clearing jungles and making land fit for cultivation

31. Discovery of Iron Other products made were sickles, hoes, plough-heads
Led to the development of various arts & crafts like carpentry, black-smithy, tannery etc.

32. Discovery of Iron
Iron tools helped sculptor in creating exquisite specimens of sculptures and rock-cut temples.
Different rulers equipped their armies with different weapons such as swords, shields, arrow-heads, spear-heads etc.- laid the foundation of vast empires.

33. Other occupations and Industries
Indulged in many other professions & occupations
Chief industries referred to in the Rigveda – carpenters, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, weavers, leather’s, potters & physicians.

34. Other occupations and Industries
All work for the benefit of the people as a whole
No profession was inferior & below dignity

35. Government or political life

36. Government or political life
Status of the King
Ministers and the King
The Sabha & Samiti
Mode of warfare

37. Status of the King Rigvedic Aryans lived in tribes called ‘Janas’
Each Jana had its own ruler called ‘Rajan”
Kingship was generally hereditary.

38. Status of the King Elected monarchies were not unknown
People could select a worthy monarch of their own choice from among the members of the royal family or the nobility when situation demanded

39. Ministers and the King King was assisted by a number of ministers like
Purohita religious adviser
Senani leader of the army & helped king against his enemies.

40. Ministers and the King
All ministers & officials were all men of high character & exercised a sort of great check on the autocracy of the king
King was helpless without ministers as a bird without its wings.

41. The Sabha & Samiti
The tribes were further divided into ‘Gramas’ or the villages
King also consulted the ‘Gramini’[village headman]
Important matters were put before the two assemblies called the Sabha & Samiti.

42. The Sabha & Samiti Anybody could give his suggestions in the Samiti
Membership of the Sabha was restricted to the elders of the families
Group of villages inhabited by the people of a tribe was called the ‘Vish’ hence the king was also known as ‘Vishpati’ [lord of the ‘Vish’]

43. Mode of warfare
They were good warriors [developed a high standard of warefare.
King & nobles fought on chariots
Common people fought on foot

44. Mode of warfare
Warriors wore a coat of - armour, a helmet, a hand & arm guard.
For offence they used swords, spears, axes, lances, bows & arrows [some times poisoned]

45. Mode of warfare Helmets, armours & shields were used for defence
They never attacked or wounded an unarmed or sleeping enemy
It was considered a sin to kill a person who did not take part in a battle

46. Thankyou