Q. Underline the changes in the field of society and economy from the Rig Vedic to the later Vedic period.

 

Q. Underline the changes in the field of society and economy from the Rig Vedic to the later Vedic period.

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Introduction:

The Vedic Age (1500–600 BCE) is broadly divided into two phases — the Rig Vedic Period (1500–1000 BCE) and the Later Vedic Period (1000–600 BCE). While the Rig Veda reflects a semi-nomadic, pastoral society, the Later Vedic texts (such as the Samaveda, Yajurveda, and Atharvaveda) reflect a more settled, complex, and stratified social and economic order.

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Changes in Society:

Aspect	Rig Vedic Period	Later Vedic Period
Social Structure	Society was more egalitarian; Varna system was flexible	Society became highly stratified; Varna system rigidified into caste-based hierarchy
Position of Women	Women had relatively higher status, could attend sabhas and samas, and were educated	Decline in status; women were excluded from assemblies and higher education (e.g., Upanayana rites)
Family and Marriage	Monogamy was common; joint families were the norm	Patriarchy deepened, primogeniture (eldest son inherits), dowry and child marriage began to appear
Assemblies	Sabha and Samiti played vital roles in governance	Decline in political role of sabhas; power concentrated in kingship and priestly class
Religion and Rituals	Simple nature worship, fire (Agni), Indra, Varuna were central deities	Rituals became elaborate and expensive, Brahmanical dominance rose; Prajapati, Rudra, and Vishnu gained prominence

Changes in Economy:

Aspect	Rig Vedic Period	Later Vedic Period
Occupation	Pastoral economy, cattle rearing was primary	Shift to agriculture as primary occupation
Land Ownership	No clear concept of private land ownership	Land became a symbol of wealth and power; land grants to priests appeared
Tools and Technology	Use of stone and copper tools	Iron (krishna-ayas) introduced, improving agriculture and warfare
Trade and Commerce	Limited barter-based trade, no coined money	Increased internal trade, emergence of urban centers; use of Nishka and Satamana as currency-like objects
Social Role of Economy	Wealth measured in cattle (Dhana)	Rise of property-based hierarchy, economic inequality deepened

Conclusion:

The transition from the Rig Vedic to the Later Vedic period marked the shift from a tribal, semi-nomadic society to a settled agrarian one. Socially, the rise of Brahmanical orthodoxy and patriarchy led to rigid hierarchies. Economically, agriculture and iron tools reshaped the structure, laying foundations for urbanization and state formation in early historic India.