Vedic Civilization

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 Vedic Civilization Facts

The Vedic Period

The Vedic Period, or the Vedic Age, refers to the period in the late
Bronze Age and early Iron Age in the history of India. It is
considered that the Vedic Age of Ancient India is the heroic age
of the ancient Indian civilization. The Vedic Age was considered a
crucial period in the history of Indian subcontinent.
Vedic Age
★ Vedic civilization was focused in the northern and northwestern
parts of the Indian subcontinent.
★ On the Indo-Gangetic Plains of the Indian subcontinent, the
civilization flourished in 1500 BCE and 500 BCE.
Vedas
★ The Vedas were composed during the Vedic Period.
★ The texts are about the life during the Vedic Period. They were
interpreted to be historical and serve as the primary source for
understanding the Vedic Period. KIDSKONNECT.COM
 Vedic Civilization Facts
★ Through these documents and
archaeological records, the evolution of
the Indo-Aryan and Vedic culture can be
traced.
★ The Vedas were composed and orally
transmitted by Old Indo-Aryan speakers
who had migrated into the northwestern
Vedas regions of the Indian subcontinent.
★ The Vedas are a collection of oral poetry and prose, hymns,
prayers, spells, and commentaries.
★ Early Indo-Aryans were organized into tribes.
★ They primarily lived a pastoral way of life and consisted of
semi-nomadic tribes led by warrior chieftain.
The Aryans

Aryans

★ The Aryans came from central Asia and spoke an Indo-European

language.
★ They brought to India a religion that was based on the worship of
several gods and goddesses. KIDSKONNECT.COM
 Vedic Civilization Facts
★ A focal part of their worship was the practice
of fire ceremonies of the god Agni.
★ They also had another god called Indra, or
the High God.
★ The Aryans also practiced the concept of
“Cycle of Life,” or reincarnation of the soul
from one life to another.
★ The Aryan culture spread eastward around
Agni
1200-1000 BCE to the fertile western
Ganges Plain.
★ The use of iron tools was adopted.
★ They settled down as rulers in India over the
Dravidian population and formed tribes and
kingdoms.
★ The kingdoms were usually at war with one
another, and the violent times can still be
heard about in the “Mahabharata,” one of the
greatest epics of ancient India. Indra

The Early Vedic Period (Rigvedic Period)

★ A collection of religious hymns and

allusions to different myths and stories is
called Rigveda.
★ It was composed in the Rigvedic Period.
★ This may be the oldest literary document in
existence.
★ Some books contain elements from the
pre-Vedic, common Indo-Iranian society.
Rigveda KIDSKONNECT.COM
 Vedic Civilization Facts
★ Between the Andronovo culture and the Mittanni kingdoms, there
were also similarities that made it difficult to define the precise
beginning of the Rigvedic period.

Features of the Rigvedic Period

Political Organization

★ During the Rigvedic Period, political units were comprised of

Grama, Vish, and Jana.
★ The “Jana” (people) was considered the biggest political unit,
next was “Vish” (clan), then lastly Grama (village).
★ “Gramani” was the term used to refer to Grama’s leader,
“Vishpati” for the Vish, and “Jyeshta” for Jana.
★ The “Rajan” (king) governs the “rashtra” (state).
★ He was also known as “Gopa,” which means protector and
“Samrat” which means supreme ruler.
★ The “Purohita” (chaplain) and “Senani” (army chief) assisted the
Rajan in his duty in protecting the tribe.
★ There were four councils named Sabha, Samiti, Vidhata, and
Gana.
★ Women were only allowed to attend Sabha and Vidhata.
★ The Sabha was less political and composed of a selected body
of the elders or nobles.
Society and Economy

★ There were various social changes in the early Vedic period.

★ The concept of Varna, or social classes, and the rules
concerning marriage were made quite strict.
KIDSKONNECT.COM
 Vedic Civilization Facts
Society and Economy

★ There was social stratification.

★ The cows and bulls were labeled with
religious significance.
★ Agriculture flourished and families became
patriarchal.
An illustration of a
sacred cow

Religious Practices

★ The main deities they

worshipped were Agni (the
sacrificial fire) and Soma.
Rishis ★ People also worshipped
Mitra-Varuna, Surya (Sun),
★ The composers of the
Vayu (wind), Usha (dawn),
hymns for the Rigveda,
Prithvi (Earth) and Aditi (the
called Rishis, were
mother of gods).
considered divine.
★ Yoga and Vedanta became
★ The principal modes of
the basic elements of the
worship were sacrifices and
religion.
verse chanting.

The Late Vedic Period

★ After the 12th century BCE, the principal economic activity during
the Later Vedic Period was agriculture.
KIDSKONNECT.COM
 Vedic Civilization Facts
★ The use of iron axes and ploughs was improved and this
enabled the Indo Aryans to settle in the forests of western
Ganges Plain.
★ Cattle rearing became significant.
★ Land and protection became important as well because there
were several large kingdoms that emerged.
★ Agricultural expansion paved way for the increase in trade and
competition for resources.
★ The Indo-Aryans cultivated wheat, rice, and barley.
★ Also developed were new crafts, such as carpentry, leather work,
tanning, pottery, jewelry crafting, textile dying, and wine making.
★ Economic exchanges were done through gift giving while barter
was done using cattle as their currency unit.

★ In some hymns, trade items in the

form of gold, silver, bronze, copper,
tin, and lead were mentioned but
the use of coins was not indicated.
★ The beginning of outside influence
in Vedic society was manifested
with the invasion of Darius I.
★ It continued into what is known as
the Indo-Greek Kingdom.
★ It mostly covered different parts of
South Asia and was focused
mainly in modern Afghanistan and
Pakistan.
Darius I KIDSKONNECT.COM
 Vedic Civilization Facts
Features of the Late Vedic Period

Political Organization

★ There was an increasing power for the king.

★ Political units became huge kingdoms called Mahajanapadas
and urbanization began.
★ Regions that were separated by far distances were easily
accessed and commerce and travel flourished.
★ Rituals were widespread such as rajasuya, (royal consecration),
vajapeya (chariot race), and ashvamedha (horse sacrifice).

Society and Economy

★ Varna became stricter than before.

★ The social status of Brahmanas and
Kshatriyas increased and there was a
restricted social mobility.
★ Kshatriyas started collecting wealth
and utilizing the services of the
Brahmins.
Brahmana and Kshatriya

★ Some castes were slowly degraded.

★ It was stated that the proper pronunciation of verses was
considered as essential for prosperity and success in war.
★ The later Vedic Period started giving rise to the period of the
Middle kingdoms of India.
KIDSKONNECT.COM
 Vedic Civilization Facts
The Varnas

Shudras

They were the artisans and workers. Shudras was the only class in
society who could accept another’s employment. Other Varnas were
sufficient financially and in terms of occupation.

Vaishyas

They were the farmers, merchants, and business people. This class
was considered as the productive class. Vaishyas, Kshatriyas, and
Brahmanas were also referred to as twice-born. This meant that they
accepted the sacred thread and must perform some rituals and
passage rites.

Kshatriyas

They were the warriors, police, and administrators. This class was
the nobility and was considered as the protectors of the society.
Along with a number of privileges however, they were expected to
show a significant strength of their body and character.

Brahmanas

This class consisted of the priests, teachers, and intellectuals. They

often provided education and spiritual leadership. Even though they
were expected to live frugally, their basic needs were fulfilled in
order to dedicate themselves to their spiritual tasks.
KIDSKONNECT.COM
Name: ________________________________

Vedic Political Unit

In the Vedic Age, there were political units that
helped them be an organized community. Identify
what is being asked and write your answers in the
boxes provided.

The term that means “state”

and is governed by the king.

The term that means “king.”

Both of these assist the king

in his duty in protecting the
tribe.

POLITICAL UNITS COUNCILS

Give the
Identify the three Identify the term names of the
political units from used for the leaders four councils.
biggest to smallest. of each unit.

Vedic Civilization Worksheets KIDSKONNECT.COM

 Vedic Political Unit

Answer Key

The term that means “state”

RASHTRA
and is governed by the king.

RAJAN
The term that means “king.”

PUROHITA SENANI Both of these assist the king

in his duty in protecting the
tribe.

POLITICAL UNITS COUNCILS

Give the
Identify the three Identify the term names of the
political units from used for the leaders four councils.
biggest to smallest. of each unit.
SABHA
JANA JYESHTA
SAMITI
VISH VISHPATI VIDHATA
GRAMA GRAMANI GANA

Vedic Civilization Worksheets KIDSKONNECT.COM

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