Early vedic economy - Ancient India History Notes

The Vedic period, also known as the Vedic age (1500–c. 500 BCE), spans India's history from the end of the Indus Valley Civilisation to the present day. Village culture dominated Vedic culture. Civilization and culture were measured by the village. Village life was preferred by the Aryans over the lavish comforts of urbanisation. As a result, sustaining a good fiscal standard was inevitably dependent on the rural economy. This article will explain to you the Early vedic economy which will be helpful in Ancient History preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Early vedic economy

• The Vedic Aryans were pastoralists in the beginning. Their primary activity was cattle raising.
• For milk, meat, and skins, they raised cattle, sheep, goats, and horses.
• Many terms are derived from the word ga, which means cow.
• A wealthy guy was known as gomat, while his daughter was known as duhitri, which means "cow milker."
• Givenshana means "hunt for cows," but it also means "war" because numerous fights were fought over cattle.
• Cows were supposed to be the source of everything.
• Prayers are made for a boost in livestock numbers. This is not to say, however, that the early Vedic people were ignorant of agriculture.
• In comparison to pastoral activities, the evidence for agriculture in the early stages is few and primarily late insertions. A few sources indicate that they were aware of agriculture and used it to enhance their food supply.
• They grew yava (modern jau or barley), which was a general term for grains at the time.
• People engaged in a variety of economic pursuits in addition to cattle raising and small-scale agriculture.
• Hunting, carpentry, tanning, weaving, chariot-making, metal smelting, and other industries were examples.
• Barter was used to exchange the fruits of these activities. Cows, on the other hand, were the most popular means of commerce.
• The Atharva Veda addressed economic factors. It described a number of prayers aimed at bringing economic prosperity to farmers, shepherds, businessmen, and others.
• Ploughing, sowing, rainfall, a rise in livestock, affluence, and exorcism against beasts, wild creatures, and thieves are all detailed in the Atharva Veda.
• Sira was the name of the plough, while Sita was the name of the furrow.
• Manure was made from cow dung.

Agriculture

• Agriculture was the mainstay of the Aryan economy. It was the people's primary occupation.
• The cornfield, known as 'urbara' or 'kshetra,' was ploughed by Bullock pulled ploughs. Irrigation and manure application systems were not unknown.
• Several vedic hymns were written in praise of Gods and Goddesses who prayed for a prosperous crop, timely rain, or the welfare of domestic animals.
• The main products were barley and wheat. Oil seed and cotton plantation were also common terms at the time.
• Paddy was created on a small scale in life.
• Aryans, on the other hand, were true agriculturists who saw agriculture as their primary source of economic strength.

Animal Husbandry

• The economy of the early Vedic period was agro-pastoral in nature.
• Agriculture, along with animal husbandry, had an equally essential part in raising people's economic standards.
• Cattle-rearing was a significant vocation, and the cow was revered and respected by the Aryans as a source of wealth and economic prosperity.
• Gauda and Gopa were responsible for daily pasture-feeding of cows, buffaloes, sheep, and other domesticated animals such as horses, dogs, donkeys, and goats, among others.
• The animals were particularly branded by their owners for their identification amid enormous herds of cattle.

Craft and Technology

• The other fields of economic progress, such as craft and technology, were not ignored by the Vedic Aryans.
• Indeed, they had demonstrated exceptional skill in woodworking, metallurgy, pottery, and tannery.
• Carpenters' main products were chariots, automobiles, and boats.
• Metalworkers used to make a variety of decorations and weapons. Spinning and weaving were handled by the waver community.
• There was a special class of artists who prepared leather items, mat stitching, and horn works.
• The existence of physicians who knew how to make remedies from diverse herbal plants is documented in Vedic literature.
• Only one metal is described as 'ayas' in the Rig Veda, which has been identified as copper.
• However, at this time, a new metal, iron, was invented. As a result, we have the terms' shyam ayas' (iron) and 'lohit ayas' (copper).
• In addition to gold, lead and tin are listed.
• Copper was used to make vessels while iron was used to make weapons and other devices such as nail-papers, hammers, clamps, and ploughshares
• Ornaments, bowls, and other items were made out of silver (rajat) and gold.

Trade and Commerce

• Trade and commerce were major aspects of the early Vedic economy, which valued both internal and external trade equally.
• In the Rig Veda, we find unique prayers for achieving fortune through maritime pursuits.
• Pani was a guild of merchants who monitored and managed economic activity.
• The medium of weight was Mana, and the car was an important unit of commerce.
• The Aryans' commercial vocation is evidenced by the vedic descriptions of their sea trips and trading activity.

Transport

• A well-functioning transportation system is a sign of a developed economy.
• Horse or bullock pulled chariots were the mode of travel on the land route, while boats and ships were the mode of transport on the sea route.
• As a result, both local and international commerce contributed to the country's continued economic growth.

Conclusion

The early Vedic civilization was pastoral, with cow raising as the most common employment. Agricultural production is less important in a pastoral civilization than animal riches. Pastoralism is a subsistence strategy used by individuals who live in locations where large-scale agriculture is impossible to practise owing to natural and cultural restrictions.