18 Questions
What was the main occupation of the Early Vedic Aryans?
Animal husbandry and small-scale cultivation
In the Early Vedic society, what was the most favored medium of exchange?
Cows
Apart from daily agricultural practices, which activity supplemented the food requirements of the Early Vedic Aryans?
Hunting
Which economic activity was NOT commonly practiced by the Early Vedic Aryans?
Metal smelting
What items were priests often given as fees for performing sacrifices in the Early Vedic society?
Cows, horses, and gold ornaments
Which statement accurately reflects the economic activities of the Early Vedic Aryans?
Their products were mainly exchanged through barter
What was the main occupation of the Early Vedic Aryans?
Pastoralists
What was the system of exchange during the Early Vedic period?
Barter through medium of cow
What was the significance of cattle in Early Vedic society?
Used as a medium of exchange
What was the impact of iron technology on the economy of the Later Vedic period?
Enabled the clearing of dense forests for agriculture
What was a significant economic activity of the Early Vedic Aryans?
Hunting
What was a significant change in the economic pattern of the Aryans during the Later Vedic period?
Expansion of agriculture based on iron technology
What animal was extremely useful in plowing the swampy land during the later Vedic phase?
Buffalo
Which god acquired the epithet 'Lord of the Plough' during the later Vedic period?
Indra
What was the mainstay occupation of the Vedic people during the later Vedic phase?
Agriculture
Which of the following was NOT a variety of plant food that increased during the later Vedic period?
Potato
What was the primary system of exchange during the Early Vedic period?
Barter system
Which of the following was NOT an economic activity engaged in by the Early Vedic Aryans?
Metalworking
Study Notes
The Vedic Age (1500BC-600BC)
- Early Vedic people had knowledge of agriculture, but it was not their primary activity.
- They practiced agriculture to supplement their food requirements.
- They produced yava (barley) and other cereals.
Economic Activities
- People engaged in various economic activities, including:
- Hunting
- Carpentry
- Tanning
- Weaving
- Chariot-making
- Metal smeltry
- These activities led to the exchange of goods through barter.
- Cows were the most favored medium of exchange.
Early Vedic Period
- Priests received cows, horses, and gold ornaments as fees for performing sacrifices.
- The main occupation of the Early Vedic Aryans was pastoralism.
Changes in the Later Vedic Period
- Agriculture became the mainstay of the Vedic people during the Later Vedic period.
- New rituals were introduced to initiate the process of agriculture.
- The buffalo was domesticated for agricultural purposes.
- The god Indra was referred to as the 'Lord of the Plough'.
- The variety of plant food increased, including:
- Wheat
- Rice
- Pulses
- Lentils
- Millet
- Sugarcane
- Cooked rice was included in the items of dana and dakshina.
- Tila, a source of vegetable food-oil, was increasingly used in rituals.
Impact of Iron Technology
- The use of iron technology began around 1000 BC.
- Iron technology helped in the expansion of agriculture.
- It enabled the clearing of dense forests and the use of iron plows to make soil fertile.
Test your knowledge on the economic changes, iron technology, women's disabilities, the role of brahmanas, and the functions of popular assemblies during the Later Vedic period in ancient India.
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