Underline the changes in the field of society and economy from the Rig Vedic to the later Vedic period.
Society
- Tribal kinship of early Rig-Vedic clans transformed into territorially defined janapadas ruled by stronger rajas.
- The once fluid social order hardened into a hereditary four-fold varna hierarchy; Brahmanas and Kshatriyas asserted supremacy over Vaishyas and Shudras.
- Women—formerly active in assemblies and rituals—suffered diminished education, inheritance and public authority; widow-remarriage declined.
- Popular assemblies (sabha, samiti) weakened before the rise of hereditary monarchies and elaborate courts.
Economy
- Pastoral cattle wealth broadened into iron-plough agriculture, generating surplus.
- Use of iron (kṛṣṇa-ayas) axes enabled forest clearance of the upper Ganga-Yamuna doab, opening new agrarian frontiers.
- Cultivation diversified with rice, barley, wheat and pulses, especially across the eastern plains.
- Private land rights and obligatory taxes (bali, bhāga) replaced earlier voluntary tributes.
- Surplus sustained specialised crafts and proto-guilds (śreṇis); barter was supplemented by niṣka and kārṣāpaṇa proto-currency and expanding trade routes.
- Lavish rajasūya and aśvamedha sacrifices showcased royal affluence, deepening socio-economic inequalities.
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Important Questions from GS1
How far is it correct to say that the First World War was fought essentially for the preservation of the balance of power?
How far was the Industrial Revolution in England responsible for the decline of handicrafts and cottage industries in India?
The groundwater potential of the Gangetic valley is on a serious decline. How may it affect the food security of India?
What are aurora australis and aurora borealis? How are these triggered?
What is a twister? Why are the majority of twisters observed in areas around the Gulf of Mexico?
