Question

give an account of the early vedic society polity religion and economy

Answer 1

political life:the lowest unit of administration in rig vedic period was the family or kula headed by kulapa . a number of families together formed a vis or clan under a vispati .next was a grama or a village headed by gramini.a number of grama together formed a rajya or tribe.it is interesting to note that in rig vedic age king ruled over a tribe rather than territory and wars were fought for cattle as it was real wealth of that time. in later vedic period the tribal assemblies lost their importance and king become more powerful . now wars were fought between territory.permanent settlement in one area gave a geographical identity to jana or a clan or confederacy of clans . subsquently , this identity took a concrete shape when a clan claimed a particular territory to be its own.social order of vedic age time was based on varna and caste system. varna had become very rigid and caste was based on profession . the later vedic period witnessed division of society into four castes or varnas namely brahmins,khsatriyas ,vaishyas and shudras .the authors of rig veda were patoralists who by the end of the period practised agriculture .the rig veda mentions artisians such as the carpenter,chariot maker , weaver , leather worker and potter .the term ayas is used for copper and bronze.this indicates metal working was known .shymaayas meant iron .currency started being used and were reffered as nishka and satamana...

Answer 2

Vedic period exist from 1500BC to 500BC, till second urbanization. It called vedic period because of the text prevalent at that time e.g.  Rigveda, yajurveda, atharavveda, samaveda.

Early vedic society had pastoral society and tribal culture, with the development of agriculture and other social, economical development's later vedic society i.e from 1000BC onward developed into agricultural settlement with tribal culture.

Rigveda, Zenda avesta and illiad and odyssey ancient text mention about the society, polity, religion and economy of early vedic people.

Society :-

Early vedic people had pastoral life and move from one place to another, so no civil administration and justice administration exist.

There is mention of only 2 varna's i.e. Arya varna and Dasa varna, in which dasa's were defeated by arya's in battle of ten kings.

Jana term mentioned 275 times in Rigveda, which means tribe. Rigvedic people were loyal to their jana's.

Polity :-

Every vedic tribe had chief called "rajan" elected by tribal council called sabha or samiti. Rajan was responsible for protector of tribe, protection of cattle, fought wars and perform ritual and sacrifices to gods.

Sabha conduct democratic decisions and military functions. Rajan was supported by other official's in day to day administration e.g Purohita, senani, sanghitri, spies.

Rajan doesn't had standing army and during the war assemble men from other tribes called vrata.

Rajan get voluntary tribute's called Bali.

Religion :-

Major vedic gods include

Indra :- destroyer of dwelling unit also called purandar.

Maitrya :- God of storm

Varuna :- water god

Soma :- intoxicating drink

Agni :- fire god

Also have some hymns about river Saraswati.

Vedic people worship natural power's as god. they worship god by offering sacrifices and chanting mantra's mentioned in rigveda's.

Fire cult was called "vedi" in rigveda

Aswamedha yajna, rajasuya yajna and vajapeya (chariot race) mentioned in ancient texts.

Economy :- Since early vedic people were pastoral livelihood scope of tribute's earning was limited and no tax administration structure exist.

Cattle was major source of wealth and battle's were fought for cattle's called Gavasthi.

Carpenter, chariot maker, leather worker, smiths, occupation's mentioned in rigveda.

Few official's enjoy large tract of land's called vrajapati.