school project for early vedic priod

Name of members:

Slide to Demonstrate:

Abhiroop 1-7

Abhishek 7-15

Aditya 15-16

Ankita 16-20

Apurva 21-28

Arkhodeep 29-35

Ashar 35-43

Avishek 44-48

Biprotip

Debojoti

49-52

53-55

I with my whole team like to thank our dear lovingly teacher: Mrs Shilpi mam for giving such a nice ppt project and for encouraging us to do the project….

I would also thank my dear friends of my group who collected information and made the project one of the best……

Most civilized & cultured races of the world. They were tall & fair-complexioned people with sharp features, & strong physique

Indians, English, Germans, Spanish, French & Persians pride themselves to be the true descendents of the Aryans.

They came to India during the second millennium B.C. This age is called the Vedic Age

Some of them think they are original inhabitants of India

Some regard them as invaders who destroyed the superior civilization of the original inhabitant’s whom they drove beyond the Vindhyas.

Historians agree that the original home of the Aryans was in central Asia in regions around the Caspian sea.

They might have been forced to migrate due to shortage of food and fodder to seek settlement in other lands.

Aryans who came to India are called ‘Indo-Aryans’.

Aryans first settled in Punjab Founded their first settlements on the

banks of the rivers Indus [Sindu] & Saraswathi [which has since dried up]

While driving the ‘Dasyus’ beyond the Vindhyas and thus gained the occupation of more and more land in the eastern & northern parts of the country –they renamed it as ‘Aryavarta’ [abode of the Aryans]

Evidence of the Aryans are found in the ‘Vedas’

‘Vedas’-means knowledge

Different vedas are:

Rigveda – most ancient

YajurvedaSamavedaAtharvaveda

Family life Food Games & Amusements Dress The Varnas /Castes

Lived in joint families

They followed the patriarchal family

Grihapati- eldest male member in the family who exercised full authority over all the members.

It was his duty to perform sacrifices or Yajnas

Women also occupied a position of honour – their presence was essential at all religious ceremonies. They were given right education & some even composed the Rigvedic hymns

Simple but Simple but nourishingnourishing

Wheat and Wheat and barley cakes, barley cakes, milk & milk milk & milk products like products like butter, ghee, butter, ghee, curd, Cheese.curd, Cheese.

Found leisure for enjoyment

Fond of merry-making & pastimes

Favourite amusement – horseracing, chariot racing, hunting

Fascination for gambling with Fascination for gambling with dice [this game has been dice [this game has been referred to in the Rigveda as referred to in the Rigveda as leading to ruins and slavery].leading to ruins and slavery].

Loved music & played on a Loved music & played on a flute which resembled the flute which resembled the ‘Vina’‘Vina’

Simple & generally consisted of 3 parts – Undergarment: nivi/dhoti Garment: vasa/shirt Over-garment : adhivasa

mantle/cloak of cotton & wool

Turbans were also commonly used by them

Adorned their persons with gold & silver ornaments garlands & wreaths of flowers jewels etc.

Ornaments were worn by men & women

Divided into 4 VarnasDivided into 4 Varnas Brahmanas priests Brahmanas priests

were were learned learned

people people who who

performed performed sacrificessacrifices

KshatriyasKshatriyas ruling ruling class or class or

warriorswarriors

Vaishyas Vaishyas trading class trading class farmers, farmers, goldsmiths, goldsmiths, weavers, potters weavers, potters etcetc

ShudrasShudrasdescendants of descendants of

Dasyus Dasyus –serve the 3 –serve the 3 higher higher varnasvarnas

According to the four ashrams of life a man expected to lead four stages of life:

Brahmacharya  It refers to an educational period of 14–20 years which starts before the age of puberty. During this time the traditional vedic sciences are studied, along with the religious texts contained within the Vedas and Upanishads.

GRIHASTHA The phase begins from 25 and lasts till 60 years .Grihastha is a crucial stage in one’s life where man has to balance both his familial an social duties. He is married and manages his household and at the same time looks after the needs of the world outside. This is the first stage where he puts his knowledge to use.

VANAPRASTHA This phase begins at an age of 50 and lasts till he is 74. His children are grown up and he slowly moves away for the material ties. It is his age for retirement and starts walking on a path that will lead him to the divine

SANNYASA The last stage in his life comes when his phase begins at 74 and lasts till he dies. He is completely free from the emotional attachments. It is at this age then he becomes an ascetic and completely dedicates his life to serve god.

Agriculture Domestication of animals Trade Discovery of Iron Other occupations and Industries

Primary occupation was cultivation of land

Agricultural products – barley, wheat, rice, cotton, oilseeds

Source of irrigation water – wells, canals, sometimes from lakes

People depended upon rains Fields cultivated by a pair of oxen.

Domestication of animals was another important occupation

Wealth and prosperity depended on the possession of a large number of animals [especially cows – which was held in great esteem]

Other animals domesticated bulls, oxen, horses, sheep, goats, asses, &

dogs.

They were not indifferent to trade & commerce.

Barter system – exchange of articles was in vogue

Cow was regarded as the standard of value. [value of things was measured in terms of cows]

Coinage known as “Nishka” was also prevalent

Trade was mainly carried on by road.

Trade by sea was not quite unknown

Greatest contribution of the civilization is discovery of iron

Iron was – a hard & tough metal hence better suited for making tools & weapons compared to copper or bronze

Iron was used in making axe-heads – used for clearing jungles and making land fit for cultivation

Other products made were sickles, hoes, plough-heads

Led to the development of various arts & crafts like carpentry, black-smithy, tannery etc.

Iron tools helped sculptor in creating exquisite specimens of sculptures and rock-cut temples.

Different rulers equipped their armies with different weapons such as swords, shields, arrow-heads, spear-heads etc.- laid the foundation of vast empires.

Indulged in many other professions & occupations

Chief industries referred to in the Rigveda – carpenters, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, weavers, leather’s, potters & physicians.

All work for the benefit of the people as a whole

No profession was inferior & below dignity

Status of the KingMinisters and the King

The Sabha & SamitiMode of warfare

Rigvedic Aryans lived in tribes called ‘Janas’

Each Jana had its own ruler called ‘Rajan”

Kingship was generally hereditary.

Elected monarchies were not unknown

People could select a worthy monarch of their own choice from among the members of the royal family or the nobility when situation demanded

King was assisted by a number of ministers like

Purohita religious adviser

Senani leader of the army & helped king against his enemies.

All ministers & officials were all men of high character & exercised a sort of great check on the autocracy of the king

King was helpless without ministers as a bird without its wings.

The tribes were further divided into ‘Gramas’ or the villages

King also consulted the ‘Gramini’[village headman]

Important matters were put before the two assemblies called the Sabha & Samiti.

Anybody could give his suggestions in the Samiti

Membership of the Sabha was restricted to the elders of the families

Group of villages inhabited by the people of a tribe was called the ‘Vish’ hence the king was also known as ‘Vishpati’ [lord of the ‘Vish’]

They were good warriors [developed a high standard of warefare.

King & nobles fought on chariots.

Common people fought on foot.

Warriors wore a coat of - armour, a helmet, a hand & arm guard.

For offence they used swords, spears, axes, lances, bows & arrows [some times poisoned]

Helmets, armours & shields were used for defence

They never attacked or wounded an unarmed or sleeping enemy

It was considered a sin to kill a person who did not take part in a battle

We have Completed our project in 5 days with the help of following things:

1) wikipedia.com 2)google.com 3)slide share.com 4) our Modern history book of class-9