Professional Documents
Culture Documents
on
THE VEDIC AGE
Name:- Daksh
VI-B
Roll No 5
Aryans
Aryans
Most civilized & cultured races
of the world. They were tall &
fair-complexioned people with
sharp features, & strong
physique
Aryans
Indians, English, Germans,
Spanish, French & Persians
pride themselves to be the true
descendents of the Aryans.
They came to India during the
second millennium B.C. This age
is called the Vedic Age
Original home
of the Aryans
Spread of
Aryans in
India
Life of the
Aryans
Social life
Social life
Family life
Food
Games & Amusements
Dress
The Varnas /Castes
Family life
Lived in joint families
They followed the patriarchal
family
Grihapatieldest
male
member in the family who
exercised full authority over all
the members.
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
Food
Simple but nourishing
Wheat and barley cakes,
milk & milk products like
butter, ghee, curd, Cheese.
Dress
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
Economic life:
their
occupations
Agriculture
Domestication of animals
Trade
Discovery of Iron
Other occupations and
Industries
Agriculture
Primary occupation was
cultivation of land
Agricultural products
barley, wheat, rice, cotton,
oilseeds
Agriculture
Source of irrigation water
wells, canals, sometimes from
lakes
People depended upon rains
Fields cultivated by a pair of
oxen.
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]
Domestication of animals
Other animals domesticated
bulls, oxen, horses,
sheep, goats, asses, &
dogs.
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]
Trade
Coinage known as Nishka
was also prevalent
Trade was mainly carried on
by road.
Trade by sea was not quite
unknown
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
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.
Discovery of Iron
Other occupations an
Industrie
All work for the benefit of
the people as a whole
No profession was inferior &
below dignity
Government or
political life
Government or political
life
Status of the King
Ministers and the King
The Sabha & Samiti
Mode of warfare
Mode of warfare
They were good warriors
[developed a high standard of
warefare.
King & nobles fought on
chariots
Common people fought on foot
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]
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