THE ARYANSMost histrians believe that the Aryans lived in North-east Iran or in CentralAsia.Due to difficulties in their original homeland,they migrated to other places.Some moved to Europe,others to western Asia and some moved to India.VEDIC TEXTSThe Aryans composed the four Vedas-Rig Veda,Sama Veda,Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda.These texts contain religious hymns in praise of different gods and goddesses.These hymns were passed on orally from one generation to another until thay were finally written down.EARLY VEDIC PERIODThe main source of information about this period is the Rig Veda.This is why this period is also known as the Rig Vedic Age.POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONThe Aryan were divided into many tribes,called janas.Each tribe settled in a particular area.People were loyal towards the tribe to which they belonged.Very often,the different tribes fought against one another.SOCIAL LIFESocial divisions The Rigvedic society came to be divided between the fair-skinned Aryans and the dark-skinned Aryans called the dasas or dayus.Recreation Chariot-racing hunting gambling singing dancing and playing musical instruments such as the flute were the popular forms of entertainment.ECONOMIC LIFEThe early Aryans moved around from place to place.They domesticated the cow.There are many references to it in the Rig Veda.The Cow was an important elements of wealth.Aman,s prosperity was estimated in terms of the numbert of cows he owned.The horse was also an important animal.It was used to pull chariots.LATER VEDIC PERIOD:The period from 1000-600 BC is called the Later Vedic Age.The Three later Vedas-Sama Veda,Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda,are our main source of information about this period.We also get to know about this period from the Brahmans,the Upanishada and the two epic-the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.SOCIAL LIFEVillages The villages were much bigger and better-planed now.Each village consisted of a nhumber of huts.These were built of straw,bamboo and wood and were usually rectangular in shape.The huts were srrounded by fences.Feiled lay close to the huts.GURUKUL SYSTEM OF EDUCATIONThe Aryans used to send their sons to the gurukul,the residence of the teacher.Here the pupils stayed as member of the guru's family.They learned the Vedas and subject such as logic,mathematics,grammar and medicine.Education was imparted orally.RELIGION LIFEThe gods of the Rig Vedic Age lost their important.Prajapati(Brahma),Vishnu and Shiva became the important gods.Brahma was worshipped as the creato of the world.Vishnu as the preserver;and Shiva as the destroyer.The Vedic Age ended around 600 BC when big territorial units callled 'janapadas'came to be formed.The tribsl set up of the Aryans gave way to the formation of republic and monarchies.

Economics History +4 more

by Pretha Biswas

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CHANDRAGUPTA I (AD 320-335)The first ruler of the dynasty was Sri Gupta but the first powerful ruler was Chandragupta I.His capital was Pataliputra.He built up a large and powerful empire.SAMUDRAGUPTA (AD 335-375)Samudragupta,son of Chandragupta I,was greatest ruler of the dynasty.We know about his conquests from the Allahabad Piller Inscription (Prayag Prashasti) composed by Samudragupt's cpurt poet,Harisena.CHANDRAGUPT II (AD 375-415)Chandragupta II,son of Samudragupta,succeeded his father to the throne.He is also known as Vikramaditya.He defeated the Shakas and rained control over three-ports-Broach,Cambay and Sopara that controlled trade with the western world.This added to the properity of the empires.FA HIEN'S ACCOUNTFa Hien was a Chinese pilgrim.He came to india to study the Buddhist scritures.He reached India in AD 405 and spent the next six years visiting the Buddhist wrote a detailed account of his stay in India and about the different aspects of Life under tha Guptas.EDUCATIONThe Gupta king encouraged education Kumaraghupta founded the unversity at Nalanda,in Bihar.Other famous universities of the period were located at Taxila Vallabhi and Ujjain.ECONOMYAgrictulture was the main occupation of the people.Most of the revenue came from land.Towards the end of the Gupta period,there was a decline in trade.The invasion of the Hunas may have been responsible for this decline.The towns which depends on trade also suffered.SCIENCEThe study of all branches of science,particularly astronomy,mathematics.metallurgy and medicine flourished under the Guptas.RELIGIONHinduism was the most popular religion.Most Gupta king were worshippers of Vishnu.They gave donations for constructing temple.They also performed religious sacrifices.

Indian History +2 more

by Pretha Biswas

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For many year after the discovery of the differentsites,it was belived that this civilization was limited to the valley of River Indus and its tributaries.Civilization was spread over a much lager area.Besides Harppa and Mohenjo-daro,remains of this civilization have been found at Banawali(Haryana),Rupar(Punjab),Alamgirpur(Utter Pardesh)Kalibagan (ajasthan) and at many more place.SOURCEOur knowledge of the Indus Valley Civilization is largely derived from archaeological sources such as the granaries at Harppa,the Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro,and artefacts such as ornaments,pots ,statues,seal,ect.The INdus script,being undeciphered till now ,has not been of much help to us.PERIODThe Indus Valley Civilization flourished roughly between 2500-1500 BC.In some areas,it continued even after this.It existed around the same time as civilization in Egypt,Mesopotamia and China.MAIN FEATURESMost Indus cities were divided into two parts-the citadel and the lower town.THe citadel was built on a raised ground and enclosed by high walls.The lower town,which was much lager,contained the houses and workplaces of the common peopleBUILDING ON THE CITADELHarappa Amongst the most impressive building found at Harppa,mention must be made of the two rows of six granaries,popularly known as the Great Granary.DOCKYARDA Dockyard built of bricks has been excavated at Lothal.It shows that the Harppa were familiar with ships.Godos made in the Harppa cities were probaly exported fom here and goods coming from outside were also unloaded here.SOCIETYThe society probaly consisted of three social groups.Priests and rich merchants formed the ruling class.They lived in the citadel.The second group was that of small merchants,artisans and craftsmen.They lived in the lower town.The lived in samll huts outside the city.FOODWheat and barely were the main crops.They wee used to make bread.OIl was extracted from mustard.Evidence from Lothal suggests that rice was cultivated.People ate meat,fish,eggs,milk,fruits,and vegetableRELIGIONWe know about the religion of the Harappan people from the objects discovered from different sites.No temple have been found.The Great Bath might be arelgious structure.Probaly.it was used for ritual bathing.

Indian History +3 more

by Mousumi Manna

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