The Vedic Period 2024-25 Past Paper PDF

**[Resource]** **SUBJECT: HISTORY & CIVICS** **GRADE: 9** **TOPIC: THE VEDIC PERIOD** **Q 1: DISCUSS THE LITERARY SOURCES OF THE VEDIC PERIOD.** There are two types of literary sources available: - The Vedas - The Epics **THE VEDAS \[4\]** - The Rig Veda: It is the oldest religious te...

**[Resource]** **SUBJECT: HISTORY & CIVICS** **GRADE: 9** **TOPIC: THE VEDIC PERIOD** **Q 1: DISCUSS THE LITERARY SOURCES OF THE VEDIC PERIOD.** There are two types of literary sources available: - The Vedas - The Epics **THE VEDAS \[4\]** - The Rig Veda: It is the oldest religious text in the world The Rig Vedic hymns are the authentic sources of knowledge of the life of people of the time. It also contains the famous \'Gayatri mantra\'. - The Sama Veda: The term, \'Sama\' means \'Sweet Song\' or the melody. In this Veda, some hymns are borrowed from the Rig Veda. - The Yajur Veda: It deals with hymns recited during the performance of Yajnas. The hymns in this Veda throw light on the social and religious life of the Aryans. - The Atharva Veda: The hymns contained in this Veda deal with magic and charm. Most of the hymns are taken from the Rig Veda. **THE EPICS \[4\]** The Ramayana and the Mahabharata are important epics. Ramayana: The Ramayana was originally composed in Sanskrit. The Sanskrit version is said to be the work of Maharishi Valmiki. Mahabharata: Believed to be the work of sage Vyasa, Mahabharata is written in Sanskrit language. Originally, it was called Jaya or the collection dealing with victory. **Q 2: WHY ARE THE VEDAS IMPORTANT? \[3\]** **The Importance of the Vedas** - The Vedas give us insights into the lives of people during the Vedic age, including their society, economy, politics, and religion. - Even though the Vedas are mainly about religious beliefs, they also provide valuable information on many other topics. For example, music, medicine, history, philosophy, grammar, astronomy, art, and architecture. - The Vedas are important as they are the main source of information about the Vedic Age. **Q3: WHY IS IT NEEDED TO HAVE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE EPICS? \[4\]** **The Importance of the Epics** - They give us valuable information about the political institutions, social structures, and cultural organization during the Epic Age. - Epics provide insights into various Aryan Kingdoms, including details about their armies and the weapons they used. - The Epics are known as some of the greatest literary works from ancient times. - The Epics tells us about the family life of the Aryans. - The great heroes portrayed in the Epics serve as role models. - The Bhagwad Gita, tells us about the philosophy of Karma and the immortality of the soul. **Q 4: DISCUSS IRON ARTEFACTS AS A SOURCE OF THE VEDIC PERIOD. \[3\]** **IDENTIFY THE PICTURE AND THE PERIOD TO WHICH IT BELONGS. DISCUSS IT AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION.** Agriculture and Iron Tools in Ancient India The picture denotes iron implements/artefacts from the vedic period. In India, the iron age began in 1000 BC. Iron was started using widely because it was a harder metal than copper and bronze and also for its easy availability. - Agriculture: By the use of iron tools( plough heads, sickles and hoes) it became easy to convert dense forests into cultivable land. - Occupation: The use of iron gave rise to new occupations like weaving, spinning, carpentry, tanning and tool making. - Defence: Iron was use in making weapons like swords, armours and shields. **Q 5: EXPLAIN POTTERY AS A SOURCE OF THE VEDIC PERIOD. \[3\]** - Pottery forms an important source of information. - The green ware (GW) and the painted grey ware (PGW) pottery discovered is believed to belong to the Rig Vedic Aryans. The use of earliest iron objects i.e PWG belong to the later Vedic period. The PWG is very fine, smooth and even coloured pottery. - After the PWG , the Northern Black Polished Ware (NBPW) phase, started in the 700 BC. The NBPW was glossy and shiny and is believed to be used by the elite group. **Q 6: COMPARE THE POSITION OF WOMEN IN EARLY AND LATER VEDIC PERIOD.** **EARLY VEDIC PERIOD**: - Women were respected - Daughters were given the freedom to choose their husbands - The System of Widow remarriage was prevalent. - Marriageable age was 16-17 years for girls **LATER VEDIC PERIOD:** - The decline in the status of women - Their participation in Yajnas was not considered necessary. - They do not enjoy the right to property. - The women were not allowed to select their partners. **Q 7: DISCUSS THE CHANGES IN THE CLASS DIVISIONS IN THE EARLY AND LATER VEDIC AGE. \[3\]** The early Vedic period marked the class divisions based on the profession people followed. The people were allowed to chose their own occupations. While the later Vedic age marked the beginning of the caste system that divided the society into 4 main castes: Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. The caste division became rigid and the occupations became heredity. **Q 8: WHAT DO THE PICTURE DEPICT? DISCUSS.**  - The picture above depicts the caste system in India. - It features the four castes in the society. The Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras 1. Brahmins are the priests who performed religious rituals. 2. The Kshatriyas were warriors who fought wars. 3. The Vaishyas engaged in business and trade. 4. The Shudras served the upper castes. **Q 6: HOW IS THE LIFE SPAN OF AN ARYAN DIVIDED ?** **OR** **DISCUSS THE FOUR ASHRAMS OF LIFE. \[4\]** The whole lifespan of an Aryan was divided into 4 stages: **The Brahmacharya**- It lasted up to the age of 25 years, people were expected to acquire knowledge in gurukul and observe strict discipline. **Grihastha Ashrama**- In this a man was supposed to marry and raise the family. The period lasts from the age of 25 to 50 years. **Vanaprastha Ashrama**- it lasts from 50 to75 years of age. In this a Man retires from worldly life and acquires spiritual and philosophical knowledge. **Sanyasa Ashrama**- This lasts from the age of 75 to 100 years. It is the period of renunciation. In this the Man leaves everything forever and goes into meditation to achieve moksha or salvation **Q 7: THE RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF PEOPLE IN THE LATER AND EARLY VEDIC PERIOD WERE DIFFERENT FROM EACH OTHER. DISCUSS. \[4\]** **EARLY VEDIC PERIOD**: - 1.In the Early Vedic age people worshipped the nature and natural phenomenon. - 2.The most important Gods of this period were Indra, Agni, Varuna, Mitra, Surya etc. - 3.There were no temples and idol worship. They worshipped the forefathers and believed in life after death. **LATER VEDIC PERIOD**: - 1.The religion became more complex. - 2.Brahma, Rama and Krishna as reincarnations of Vishnu and Shiva were worshipped. - 3\. Many rituals and superstitions were introduced. New doctrines of Karma, Dharma and Moksha were developed. **Q 8: COMPARE AND CONTRAST THE EARLY VEDIC AGE WITH THE LATER VEDIC AGE BASED ON SOCIETY, EDUCATION AND ECONOMY. \[4\]** +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | | EARLY VEDIC AGE | LATER VEDIC AGE | +=======================+=======================+=======================+ | SOCIETY | Family was the basic | Joint family system | | | unit. | prevailed | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | EDUCATION | There was Gurukul | Gurukul system was | | | system of education. | further enlarged. | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | FOOD | Food included milk, | Consumption of meat | | | barley, fruits, | was reduced. Rice | | | vegetables and meat. | became staple cereal. | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+ | ECONOMY | - In the beginning | - Agriculture | | | the main | became the chief | | | occupation was | occupation while | | | domestication of | domestication of | | | animals and | animals also | | | agriculture was | continued. | | | secondary. | | | | | - Land was the | | | - Cattle was the | important source | | | important source | of wealth, | | | of wealth. | | | | | - Traders guilds | | | - Many engaged in | had come up and | | | trade and | trade had become | | | commerce. Dyeing, | very important. | | | embroidery; | | | | carpentry, | - Besides | | | weaving, pottery, | occupations of | | | crafts in gold | earlier period, | | | and iron were | many new | | | important | occupations like | | | occupations. | physicians, | | | | musicians, and | | | | many other | | | | professions | | | | emerged. | +-----------------------+-----------------------+-----------------------+