How did the discovery of iron change the lives of the Aryans in later vedic age.
Answers
Answer:
The discovery of iron was a watershed moment in the history of ancient India as it helped the civilization to develop and prosper. The material culture underwent a change from simple villages to large cities through the use of iron components.
Role of iron metal in Vedic culture
Expansion of the kingdom through superior weaponry
Iron metal was most appropriate for making weapons compared to copper or bronze. This allowed large-scale war weapons to be manufactured and later used for expansion activities. The expansion allowed large kingdoms to come into existence such as Magadha, Avanti, etc.
Expansion of agriculture
Agriculture equipment such as iron plough, iron sickles, iron hoe etc was very detrimental in successful expansion. The use of equipment such as iron axe was used for cutting forests and expanding the area under agriculture. Increasing agriculture supported more population and helped the civilization to grow.
Development of commerce and trade
Development of trade and commerce activities was very central to the development of later Vedic civilization. The earliest form of hunting and scavenging was replaced by the trade of commodities. The commodities were as a result of excessive production due to the expansion of agriculture and allied activities.
The shaping of social structure
Before the expansion of agriculture, all sections of society were indulged in agriculture and as a result, most of the society was egalitarian. After new commodities came into being, the section of traders came into existence called the Vaishyas. The ruling class were completely indulged in ruling and expanding their kingdom and agriculture shifted to the lower classes called Shudras. Thus the varna system strengthened subsequently.
Hope this helps you.
Explanation:
the later Vedic age marks the beginning of the ________,________in India