The Vedic Age [1500 BC - 1000 BC] |
The Aryans migrated from the North-west to the area called Sapta-Sindhava (the land of the seven rivers) - Eastern Afghanistan, Punjab and the fringes of western Uttar Pradesh. All that is known of the half millennium following the fall of the Indus Civilization comes from the Vedas, a collection of sacred hymns attributed to the Aryans. They prepared the first and oldest collection of mystical hymns, known as the Rig Veda, which is the only source of information on early Vedic life. The other three Vedas, Sama, Yajur, and Atharva were written much later. |
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Early Aryans were semi-nomadic and kept
large herds of cattle. As they settled down in villages, they also
became cultivators, using ox to draw their ploughs. They were ruled by
warriors, who depended upon priests to perform the rituals to protect
their crops and cattle, and insured victory in war. The strength of the
Aryan tribes was determined by its Jana (people) and not Janapada
(land). The Indian sub-continent got it's name Bharat Varsha after the
tribe Bharata, which was the strongest one. |
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During the later Vedic phase, the Aryans moved away from their early settlements to the Ganga-Jamuna- Doab. The Ramayana has partly unfolded the tale of the Aryan advent into the south.