Vedic Culture: Economy: Nature, Agriculture, Industry and Trade

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Economy

Nature

In the early Vedic period the Aryans were still migratory and were depending mainly on a pastoral economy their main occupation be-ingrate breeding Though agriculture some basic crafts and primitive trading were known to the early Aryans these activities were car- ride on only as part-time occupations in their spare time In the later Vedic period however the three sectors of the economy (agriculture, crafts and trade) developed as full-time occur- potions with the beginning of settled agar- Ian life by the Aryans

Agriculture

Illustration: Agriculture

Though agriculture was practiced to a lime- tied extent from the beginning it became the main occupation of the Aryans only in the later Vedic period Wheat (godhead) and rice (rishi) became the staple diet of the people in the upper middle and lower Gang etic valleys respectively Other crops like barley cotton oil-seeds pulse, etc. were also cultivated Various agricultural activities like sloughing seeding weeding and cropping are mentioned in the Vedic texts

Industry

Some of the basic crafts such as carpentry metal working tanning weaving pottery etcpractised from the Rig Vedic time but more prelibation and specialization in the later Vedic period with several new occupations coming into existence

Trade

It was practiced from the Rig Vedic period but not on an extensive Recalls; carried on mainly through barter, but use of cows and nick (gold ornaments of fixed value) as media of exchange there were improvements in the later Vedic period like organisation of merobadts into guilds (games) use of stamina and krishnala besides nick as medic of exiling.

Society

Kula or Family

It was the foundation of the social structure In the later Vedic period there was an increase in the powered of the father over the family members The law of primogeniture (the eldest son succeeding the father) came to be practiced in the princely families

Varna System

Initial division of the tribal society Rig Vedic into three groups – warriors orients and commodore – on the basis of occupations Appearance of the fourth division viz Sutras only towards the end of the Rig Vedic period mention of the Sutras in the 10th book or mandala of the Rig Veda the Porsha Suita in this book clearly mentions the four-fold di- vision of the society But significant changes took place in the Varna system during the later Vedic period increase in the privileges of the two higher classes Brahmins and Kshatriyas at the cost of the two lower classes Vishay՚s and sutra՚s

Aromas or Stages of Life

They came into existence in the later Vedic period for regulating the life the male memo- beers of the higher classes Aitareya Brahman – earliest mention of the concept Chhandogya Upanishad- clear reference to the first three stages Kabala Upanishad – mention of the four stages brahinacharin or student life grihastha or life of the householder vanaprastha or partial retirement and canvasing or complete retirement or ascetic life full recognition of the fourth stage only in the post Vedic period

Institution of Gogra

Literally meaning cow – pen, it came to signify descent from a common ancestor; appeared only in the Vedic period (Atheroma Veda) ; beginning of the practice of gore exogamy i.e.. prohibition of marriage between persons be- longing to the same gore

Position of Women

Illustration: Position of Women

Rig Vedic Period Monogamy (a man having one wife) – very common; Polygamy (a man having more than one wife) though known not common remarriage of widows permit ted child marriages – unknown; prevalence of symbolic self-immolation (sati) by widows; women՚s participation in religious ceremonies and tribal assemblies (Sabha and VI data) no evidence of seclusion of women In the later Vedic period their loss of political rights of attending assemblies; instances of child mar rages, etc.

Institution of Slavery

Prevalent from the Rig Vedic times; mainly women slaves, employed for domestic purr- poses decent treatment of slaves and even enjoyment of certain rights by them

Education

Illustration: Education

Illiteracy (lacking the art of writing and reading of the early Aryans; Possibility of the Use of script by the later Vedic Aryans from 500 CB onwards but the earliest evidence for the use of a script in India besides the picot- graphic script of the Harappan comes from the Maury a period In the form of Asoka edicts) restriction of education only to the higher classes.