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NIOS Class 10 Social Studies Chapter 1 Ancient World, Introduction Part 7
India: The Vedic Age
- Around 1500 BC in India, the Vedic Age marks a new phase in ancient Indian History which began with the arrival of the Aryans.
- It lasted for almost a thousand years, in the course of which a number of incidents took place;
- The Vedic Age is accordingly divided into two periods of about equal duration;
- Early Vedic Period
- Later Vedic Period.
- Vedas are the most important source of information on the Vedic Age.
- The Early Vedic period is known mainly for the Rig Veda, which was the first Veda to be composed.
- Horses
- Goats and sheep were also important
- Raja; The chief of the tribe.
- Sabhas and Samitis; Popular assemblies of all members of the Janas, had an important say in public affairs.
- The Later Vedic literature consisted of the following books, that is, the three Vedas;
- Sama Veda
- Yajur Veda
- Atharva Veda
- There were also commentaries on all the four Vedas;
- Brahmanas
- Aranyakas
- Upanishads
- PGW sites; They are all marked by a typical pottery called Painted Grey Ware (PGW) .
- During the Later Vedic period, there was a large scale toward the east development of the Aryan people group to Indo-Gangetic Doab and Upper Ganga fields.
- Towards the end of the period, three important kingdoms came up further East:
- Kashi
- Koshala
- Videha
- The main occupation was agriculture, and number of crops including rice;
- wheat
- sugarcane was grown.
- Castes began to emerge and crystallise in the form of four Varnas;
- Brahmanas
- Kshatriyas
- Vaishyas
- Shudras
- The significance of the god Indra subsided; new divine such as Prajapati figured noticeably.
The Post-Vedic Age
- Mahajanapadas; In the 6th century BC there came up large territorial states in northern and eastern India.
- There were sixteen such states, which are more powerful namely;
- Anga
- Magadha
- Vajji
- Kashi
- Koshala
- Malla
- Kuru
- Vatsa
- Avanti
- Kamboja
- Gandhara
- Assaka
- Chedi
- Matsya
- Shurasena
- Among these the most powerful states are;
- Magadha
- Kosala
- Avanti
- Some gave rise to new forces in the society that is;
- The extension of agriculture
- Growth of trade industries
- Rise of territorial states
- Beginning of urbanization
- The 6th century BC was also a period of socio- religious transformation.
- This period is called the Ancient Period in History, which saw the rise of two important religions called;
- Jainism
- Buddhism
Buddhism
- In 563 BC at Lumbini which is situated near the Indo-Nepal Border, the founder of Buddhism, Gautama Buddha was born.
- He was the son of Shuddhodhana
- He was the chief of Shakya of Kapilavastu
- Under a pipal tree, at the age of 29, Gautama left home and attained Bodhi at Bodhgaya.
- His teachings included;
- Four Noble Truths (Arya Satya)
- Eightfold Path (Ashtangika Marga)
- According to Buddha:
- the world is full of misery (dukkha) ;
- desire (trishna) is the cause of this misery;
- if desire is conquered, then all sorrows can be removed;
- This can be done by following the Eightfold Path; which included:
- right memory
- right aim
- right speech
- right action
- right livelihood
- right efforts
- right memory
- right meditation
- Buddha suggested a ‘Middle Path’ .
- ‘Middle Path’ means away from both extreme luxury as well as extreme austerity.
- For his followers he also laid down a code of conduct such as;
- Non-killing
- Non- stealing
Jainism
- The first Tirthankara, Rishabhanath, who is known to be the founder of Jainism.
- Vardhamana Mahavira - 24th Tirthankara of this sect.
- Parshvanath - 23rd one.
- In 540 BC at Kundagram near Vaishali Mahavira was born.
- Chief of Jhatrika Kshatriya clan was his father.
- At the age of 30 he became a Mahavira, in 468 BC pawapuri near Rajagriha he died.
- The followers of Mahavira are known to be ‘Jainas’ .
- Opposed the caste system
- Accepted the doctrine of Karma and rebirth.
- Jainism has five cardinal principles:
- Ahimsa or non-violence
- Truthfulness
- Abstention from stealing
- Non-attachment
- Celibacy or Brahmacharya
- The three jewels (Triratna) of Jainism are:
- Right vision (Samyak Darshana)
- Right knowledge (Samyak Jnana)
- Right Conduct (Samyak Charita)