Chapter Two

The Vedic Period

A. Short Answer Question:-
1. Name any two Early Vedic settlements.
Two Early Vedic settlements were in the Sapt Sindhu region (Punjab) and Gangetic
Valley.
2. Which is the oldest work of Vedic literature? What does it contain?
The oldest work of Vedic literature is Rig Veda. It contains1028 hymns sung in praise of
various gods and goddess like Indra, Varuna and Agni of the Aryans.
3. What is meant by Sapt Sindhu region?
Sapt Sindhu region means land or region of seven rivers. They are Jhelum, Chenab,
Ravi, Beas, Satluj, Indus and Saraswati.
4. What were the two main occupations of the people during the early Vedic period?
Pastoral and agricultural were the two main occupations of the people during the early
Vedic period.
5. What was the region occupied by the Aryans during the later Vedic period?
Kosala (East U.P.), Kashi (Varanasi), Videha (North Bihar) and Magadha (South Bihar)
were the region occupied by the Aryans during the later Vedic period.
6. What were the Varna Ashramas?
The term Ashrama means a stage in the long journey of life of a man. Ashramas are the
stages of life which provide training and environment for realising the ideal of our life.
There are four Ashramas in all: Brahmacharya (student life), Grihasthya (family life),
Vanaprastha (retired life), and Sanyasa (life of renunciation). The first two provide the
training and environment for the Pravrtti Marg (worldly life) and the last two for the
Nivrtti Marg (Spiritual life) of development.
7. Why is the Vedic literature known as Shruti?
The Vedic literature is known as Shruti because it is believed to have been revealed to
the sages by God and passed on from generation to generation orally.
8. What was the position of women in the later Vedic period?
In the later Vedic period women were given subordinate position. They were prohibited
from actively participating in affairs of state. Polygamy began to be practised, widow
remarriage was discouraged and education for women was restricted. They did not enjoy
the right to property.
9. Mention two literary sources the help reconstruction of the history of the later
Vedic age?
The Brahmans, Aranyakas and Upanishads are literary sources the help reconstruction of
the history of the later Vedic age.
10. Why and how did the Brahmins gained importance in the later Vedic period?
In the later Vedic period Varna system became rigid and the religious rituals more
complicated. The Brahmans had vast knowledge of chanting mantras in a meaningful
manner to perform the holy rituals for a purpose, wish or other reason. Hence Brahmans
gained important place in the later Vedic period.
11. Name the two epics and their authors.
The Ramayana was written by Maharishi Valmiki and the Mahabharata was written by
rishi Ved Vyasa.