Economy, Social Life and Polity during Vedic Age

Economy in Early Vedic Age

• The early Vedic Aryans were pastoralists. Cattle rearing was the main occupation. They reared cattle, sheep, goats, and horses for purposes of milk, meat and hides.
• Apart from cattle-rearing and small-scale cultivation, people were engaged in many other economic activities such as hunting, carpentry, tanning, weaving, chariot-making, metal smeltry, etc. The products of these activities were exchanged through barter system.
• Rigveda reference – A wealthy person: Gomat; Daughter: Duhitri; Search for cows: Gaveshana; Barley: Yava, etc.

Economy in Later Vedic Age

• During later Vedic phase, agriculture became the mainstay of the Vedic people. Many rituals ....