CH.5 THE VEDIC AGE
Key Words





Pasture: Grassland for cattle to feed on
Rigid: Not willing to change
Sacred: Something which is holy
Epidemic: Outbreak of deadly disease causing widespread illness and death
Hereditary: Passed on from one generation to the next
Answer the following questions in one or two sentences.
1. In addition to the Vedas,what are the other texts that from a
part of vedic literature?
The Brahmanas, Aryanakas, Upanishads, Ramayana and
Mahabharata were some of the other texts of the Later Vedic period.
2. Which were some of the gods worshipped during the Early Vedic
literature?
In the Early Vedic Age, some of the gods worshipped
were Indra, Vayu, Agni, Surya, Soma, Usha, Varuna and Yama.
3. Why is the Later Vedic Age called the Epic Age?
The Ramayana and Mahabharata, the two greatest
epics of India were composed in the Later Vedic Age. Hence, it is also
known as the Epic Age.
4.Name the four ashramas in a person’s life.
The four ashramas in a person’s life are brahmacharya,
grihastha, vanaprastha and sanyasa.
5. What do you know about the diet of the people in the Later
Vedic Period?
The diet of the people in the Later Vedic period
included rice, wheat, barley, vegetables, fruits, honey, milk and milk
products. The people also drank an intoxicating drink made from the
soma plant. They also ate meat and fish of different varieties.
Answer the following questions in four or five sentences.
1. What is the significance of the Rig Veda?
o The Rig Veda is the oldest Veda.
o Most of the information of the Early Vedic Age comes from the
Rig Veda.
o It is a collection of prayers in honour of gods and goddesses.
o It consists of 1,028 hymns composed in 10 books.
o It tells us a lot about religion, society and culture of the period.
2. Compare the political organization of the Early and the Later
Vedic period?
o During the Early Vedic Age, the king was known as the rajan.
o He was the head of the tribe and was usually elected by the
assembly.
o He was assisted by the assembly and was more of a first among
equals.
o By the Later Vedic Age, the king’s position had become supreme
and powerful.
o The assembly had little or no power.
o The king also conducted many sacrifices such as the rajasuya,
ashvamedha and vajapeya to consolidate his power.
3. Why did the people pay a lot of emphasis to cattle in the Later
Vedic period?
o In the Later Vedic Age, nomadic life hadgiven way to settled
agriculture.
o The rich plains of the Ganga were used for cultivation.
o Domestication of cattle took place and it was considered a form
of wealth.
o If a person had a large number of cows, he was considered to be
very rich.
4. What do you know about the caste system in the Later Vedic
period?
o In the Later Vedic period, a person’s caste was determined by
birth.
o A person could not change his caste.
o The four main castes were the brahmanas (priestly class),
kshatriyas (warrior class), vaishyas (agriculturists and traders)
and the shudras (menial class).
o The brahmanas and kshatriyas assumed the highest position,
while the position of the vaishyas and shudras declined.
5. Write a note on the site of Inamgaon.
o Inamgaon is a Chalcolithic settlement located on the banks of the
river Ghod that dates back between 700 BCE and 600 BCE.
o Archaeologists have dug out many mud houses thatched with
grass.
o They have also unearthed pots, copper tools, jewellery and
terracotta figures.
o The economy of the people was based on farming and cattle
rearing.
o Graves have been found and it is believed that the body was
buried along with vessels containing food and water.