Economic Condition During The Later Vedic Period

203-ASSIGNMENT PAPER
ON
ECONOMIC CONDITION DURING THE
LATER VEDIC PERIOD
HISTORY DEPARTMENT
BODOLAND UNIVERSITY
SUBMITTED BY
NAME = NANDITA DAS
CLASS = M. A 2nd SEM
ROLL NO = 53
CONTENTS
Sl.No. Chapters Page
1. Introduction 1
2. Economic condition during
the Later Vedic period. 1-5
3. Conclusion. 5-6
4. Notes and Refferences. 6

INTRODUCTION
During the later Vedic Age (1000-600B. C) the Aryans

thoroughly sabdued the fertile plains watered by Rivers like Yamuna,
Ganges ans Sadanira Chronology. The period of 1500 B. C and 600 B. C
was divided into Early Vedic Age (Vedic period) and Later Vedic Age.
Great changes occurred in the Aryan mode of life during the

later Vedic age, extending from 1000 to 600 B. C when the three vedas,
Yajur, Sama and Atharva, the Brahmanas and a few early Upanishads
were composed. The later vedic works show a wider knowledge of
Indian geography than is found in the Rigveda. It would appear that
during the period of the composition of the later Vedic texts the Aryans
became generally familiar with the major portion of the Gangetix valley
where they gradually settled. During the later Vedic period the Aryans
shifted their Scene of activity from panjab to nearly the whole of
present -day western Uttar Pradesh covered by the Ganga -yamuna
doab. The Bharata and purus, the two important tribes, came together
and formed the kuru people. There must have been a good deal of
changes in the social, religious, economic and political life, there was
also a shift in the habitate of the people from North -west to South
-East .
ECONOMIC CONDITION DURING THE LATER VEDIC PERIOD
The people, including even men of weath, still lived
mostly in village, but the amenities of city life were no longer unknown.
In certain villages peasant proprietors, working in thier own fields were
being replaced by class of landlords who obtained possession of entire
villages. Transfer of land, however, did not meet with popular approval
during this epoch, and allotments could only be made with the consent
of clansman.
The Shatapatha Brahmana devotes an entire section to rites

connected with ploughing and enumerates various agricultural
operation. References to the yoking of six, eight, twelve and twenty
-four oxen to the plough indicate deep ploughing. This clearly shows
that the plough must have been very heavy and large. The natural
manure of animals was used in the fields to increase the fertility of the
fields. The Atharvaveda gives a ritual for leading river -water into new
channels; it also speaks of spells to avoid drought and excessive rain.
The buffalo seems to have been tamed for agriculture. Barley, Wheat
and rice were the chief crops, Cotton which was also grown became
very popular later. The ploughing, sowing reaping and threshing were
the main operations of agriculture. The buffalo seems to have been
tamed for Agriculture. Beans and sesamum were also known; the later
assumed ritual importance in course of time. The name of the crops
were after the name of the month in which these were sown. The name
of the fields were given after the names of the crops grown on them.
There is a reference to the
picking up of grains from the field by the ascetics. The ripe grain was
cut absence of pests, good crops, adequate and timely rain. The cattle
constituted an invaluable possession. Agriculture continued to be one
of the principal occupations of the people. Considerable improvement
was effected in agricultural implements and new kinds of grain and fruit
trees were grown on the soil. But the cultivator was not free from
trouble, and an Upanishad passage refers to a hailstorm or a swarm of
locusts that sadly afflicted the land of the Kurus and forced many
people to leave the country.
Astrologers, Butchers, Herdsmen, Carpenters, imbroiders,

basket -makers, Jiwelers, the yoker and unyoker of horse, elephant
-keepers, Sura -makers, metal -workers artists of weaving and dyeing
and potters were the significant artists. There is reference of dancers
and vocalists. There are also references to the guilds of the various
crafts.
Implements vessels and various type of articles of cooper,

iron, stone, and earthen ware were manufactured. Golden and silver
spoons were used at home. Clothes were made of shup's wool, linen
and cotton. The spinning and weaving were the popular cottage
industries. Dyeing industry also existed. Thus, a number of professions
occupation, arts, crafts and industries flourished in the later vedic
period. Weaving was practised on a wide scale and perhaps remained
confined mostly to women. Leather work, pottery and carpentry were
connected with building activities, of which we
have some evidence in this period. Glass hoards and bangles found in
course of excavations provide evidence of working in glass; these
objects may have been used as prestige items by a limited number of
people. The later vedic texts refer not only to various arts and crafts,
indicating progress in the differentiation of economic ffunctions, but
also to the seas and sea voyages. All this indicates the rudimentary
beginning of some kind of commerce in Which the Vaishyas
participation. Reference to money lending first occurs in the Shatapatha
Brahmana, which describes a usurer as kusidin, though definite
evidence of the use of money is lacking. The term 'nishka' occurring in
contemporary literature has sometimes been taken to mean a coin, but
so far no actual specimens of coins of this period have come to light.
Trade and industry flourished A class of hereditary merchants

came into being. There was inland trade with the kiratas inhabiting the
mountains who apparently exchanged the druge which they dug up on
the high ridges for clothes, mattresses and skins. The sea was known
intimately and the mention of the legend of the flood in the Satapatha
Brahmana is taken by some authorities to point to intercourse with
Babylon. Commerce was facilitated by the use of convenient units of
value like the nishka, the satamane and the krishnala but it is doubtful if
these had ecquired all the characteristics of a regular coinage. The
nishka,formerly a necklet, was now probably a lump of gold possessing
a definite weight equal to
three hundred and twenty ratis,which was also the weight of a

satamana. A Krishnala weighed one rati, that is 1-8 grains Merchants
were probably organised into guilds, as appears from references to
ganas or corporations and the sreshthins or oldermen.
The variety of industrial occupations was remarkable.

Specialisation had gone far. The Chariot -maker was distinguished from
the carpenter, the maker of the bows from the maker of the bow
-strings and of arrows, the tanner from the hide -dresser or furrier.
Women took part in industrial life as makers of embroidered garments,
workers in thorns, dyers, etc.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it is seen that Agriculture evolved a

lot during this age, the plough was drawn by six, twelve and even
twenty four Oxen. The economic condition of the Aryans of the later
Vedic period also underwent significant change The Aryans of the later
vedic period lived in the village. In the villages small peasant owners of
land were replaced by big landlords who secured possession of entire
village.This clearly shows that the plough must have been very heavy
and large. From the above study a number of professions, Occupations,
arts, crafts and industries flourished in the later vedic period. The study
reveals that Agriculture continued to be one of the principal
occupations of the people. Due to the emergence of caste system
various occupations also appeared. The emergence of caste system
brought varieties of
means of livelihood. There are references about money lenders, chariot

makers, dyers, weavers, barbers goldsmith, iron smiths, washer men,
bow makers, carpenters, musician etc. The art of writing probably
developed in this period. The use of silver was increased and
ornaments were made out of it.
NOTES AND REFFERENCES
1.D.N Jha,"Ancient India in Historical Outline ",New Delhi 2015.
2.R.C Majumdar, "An Advanced History of India ",published by

Macmillan and co of India LTD Delhi ,1967.
3.Ritu Bhushan, "Ancient Indian History ",published by Shree publishers
&Distributors, 2010.
4.S.C Raychoudhary, "History of Ancient India ",2015.
5.Rama Shankar Tripathi," History of Ancient India",Mitilal Bunarsidass

publishers privat Limited, Delhi, 2014.

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203-ASSIGNMENT PAPER

2. Economic condition during

the Later Vedic period. 1-5

4. Notes and Refferences. 6

During the later Vedic Age (1000-600B. C) the Aryans

Great changes occurred in the Aryan mode of life during the

ECONOMIC CONDITION DURING THE LATER VEDIC PERIOD

The people, including even men of weath, still lived

The Shatapatha Brahmana devotes an entire section to rites

Astrologers, Butchers, Herdsmen, Carpenters, imbroiders,

Implements vessels and various type of articles of cooper,

Trade and industry flourished A class of hereditary merchants

three hundred and twenty ratis,which was also the weight of a

The variety of industrial occupations was remarkable.

From the above discussion it is seen that Agriculture evolved a

means of livelihood. There are references about money lenders, chariot

NOTES AND REFFERENCES

1.D.N Jha,"Ancient India in Historical Outline ",New Delhi 2015.

2.R.C Majumdar, "An Advanced History of India ",published by

4.S.C Raychoudhary, "History of Ancient India ",2015.

5.Rama Shankar Tripathi," History of Ancient India",Mitilal Bunarsidass

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