WBBSE Notes For Class 6 History Chapter 4 Ancient History Of The Indian Sub Continent

Chapter 4 Ancient History Of The Indian Sub Continent First Few Words

We told you at the end of the previous chapter that one of the causes of the decline of the Indus valley civilization might have been the Aryan Inroads into India.

It is assumed that from about 2000 B.C. to 1600 B.C. There were a series of Aryan inroads into India. They came from central and western Asia.

It is said that the advent of these Aryans probably led to conflicts with the people who had already been living in India. In all probability, the pre-Aryans in most areas were defeated and the Aryans spread far and wide in the country.

But who were these Aryans? The Aryans were a nomadic race that spoke a language called the Aryan language. And that is why they are called Aryans.

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Chapter 4 Ancient History Of The Indian Sub Continent The Aryan Language

Every language is a member of a language family, just as every individual is a member of a family. Actually, the Aryan language is not just a language. It is a language group.

And the language family from which the Aryan language evolved is called the Sndo-European language family. There are other language families and this Indo-European is the largest.

Most of the languages of Europe and Asia are members of this family. Every individual of a family has some physical or other affinities with other members. Similarly, every language of a language family has some similarities with other languages of the same language family.

How can we be so sure about it? How do we know that English and German, Latin and Sanskrit have similarities? In 1786, Sir William Jones, an Indologist who was then a judge in Calcutta (now Kolkata) said in a lecture that there was a striking familiarity in Greek, Latin, and Sanskrit.

He assumed that these three languages evolved from the same original language. Most scholars accepted his opinion. And the idea of language family came into being. The languages of the world were grouped into nine or ten language- families.

Sanskrit, Latin, Greek, English, German, French, Italian, and the endian languages like Bengali, Hindi, and Marathi are all said to belong to the same Indo-European language family.

The Indo-European originated from Proto-Indo-European which does not exist today. But what about the Aryan language? What is its relation with the Indo-European? People who spoke Indo-European were a nomadic race.

In course of their journey from Central Asia, they spread to other regions. One group moved westward to Europe, another went to Iran. These groups made these countries their home and lived there for hundreds and hundreds of years.

Their language began to change. Those who made Iran their home spoke a language called Indo-Iranian. Alternatively, this Indo-Iranian is called the Aryan language or the Indo-Aryan language.

About 2000 B.C. people who spoke Indo-Iranian or Indo-Aryan language began to migrate eastward. A few hundred years later they came to India. This is how the Aryans came to India. They were not simply invaders.

As we know, they settled in India and created a very great civilization, known as the Aryan or Vedic civilization.

Chapter 4 Ancient History Of The Indian Sub Continent The Early Life Of The Aryans In India

The settlement of the Aryans in India was not an easy matter. At first, they lived in the region which they called Sapta Sindhu or severs rivers. These were Indus with its tributaries, the Saraswati and Orishadvati.

They then came up to the Yamuna in the east. As they tried to settle, they had to fight their way. It is possible that they fought against the Harappans and subjugated them.

In the Rig Veda, the earliest literature of the Aryans, we have the description of a battle of ten kings. It was a tribal conflict.

The Battle of Ten Kings

A king of the Bharata tribe called Sudas was ruling in the region which is identified with modern West Punjab. Some Aryan tribes wanted to challenge the authority of Sudas. They were ten kings, five Aryans, and five non-Aryan, A battle ensued.

It was fought along the river Parushns, identified with modern Ravi. Sudas won the battle. This battle established the supremacy of the Bharata tribe.

The other tribes at this time were the Purus, the Kurus, the Fanchalas, and the Yadus. Some non-Aryan tribes of the time were the Ajas, the Bhedas, and the Yakshus. Most of these tribes receded to the upper Gangtic basin and had their sway there.

Chapter 4 Ancient History Of The Indian Sub Continent The Literature Of The Aryans

Whatever we know about the Aryans in India is from the Vedas, the early literature of the Aryans. The word ‘Veda’ means knowledge. The Vedas did not at first exist in written form. The Vedic hymns were recited by sages to their disciples. The hymns were preserved orally from one generation to another.

For this reason, the Veda is also called ‘Shruti’ which means hymns that is heard. Later on, the hymns were compiled in four parts known respectively as Rig Veda, Same Veda, Yajur Veda, and Arthava Veda.

The Rig Veda is the oldest among the four, Each Veda was divided into four parts—Brahmana, Aranyaka, Samhita, and Upanishad. Till now about ISO Upanishads have been found.

The ‘Upanishad’ is called Vedanta/ The Vedas laid down the guidelines for worship, sacrifice, and rituals. They also depicted the ways of conducting disciplined lives. They also laid down philosophical principles.

The Vedas were not the only literature of the Aryans. There were six ‘Vedangas\ namely, Siksha, Kalpa, Chhanda, Yctish, Vyakarana, and Mirukta. There were six ‘darshanas’ too, namely, Sankhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaishesik, Purba Mimangsa, and Uttara Mimangsa.

Chapter 4 Ancient History Of The Indian Sub Continent The Geographical Setting

The Vedas give us a lot of information about the geography of the places where the Aryans first settled in India as also about the places where they moved to later. We are now almost sure that the Aryans entered Into India through Afghanistan.

In the Rig Veda, there is a reference to seven rivers or Sapta Sindhu. These, we told you a little while ago, are the five Indus rivers the Saraswati and the Drishadvati. Saraswati is now a lost river.

The Aryans settled as far east as the Yamuna. The Rig Veda refers to the Himavat mountain which is none other than the Himalayas. The other three Vedas were composed much later.

And the geographical setting changed quite a lot in the later Vedic period. As time went on, the Aryans moved towards the east and they settled along the Ganges. They made parts of Bihar their home.

That hordes of Aryans settled in Mithila is very much certain. So we can say without any doubt that the Aryans in the later Vedic period settled between the Indus and the Ganges. Gradually the upper half of the Indian sub-continent came under the sway of the Aryans.

Use Of Metals In Ancient Days

The use of copper and bronze was widespread in the Vedic period. Some historians, therefore, call it a copper-bronze or thaieoiithlc civilization. But in the later Vedic period we come across the use of iron.

Iron was first profusely used in Egypt and Babylonia. But soon iron came to be used in other places also. About 1200-1000 B.C. iron was vary well known in India.

Iron now was used in making arrowheads, spearheads, rings, nails, fishhooks, daggers, etc. On the other hand, copper and bronze were used in making ornaments, human figurines, etc.

Chapter 4 Ancient History Of The Indian Sub Continent The Vedic Civilization

When we study the Vedic Civilization, we must remember that this civilization had two clear-cut divisions—early Vedic and later Vedic. The Rig Veda, the first of the four Vedas was composed much earlier than the other three.

There was a gap of a few hundred years. Society, politics, religion, and economy changed considerably in the later Vedic periods.

The Vedic Society

The Aryans lived in an orderly society where the head of the family or the Grihapati who was the highest authority in each family. The father was the head of the family. So the Vedic family was patriarchal.

But still, women were held in respect and enjoyed the right of education. They could take part in discussions of the ‘shastras’ and religious affairs apart from performing household duties. Widows were allowed to remarry.

Some of the highly educated women of the period were Apaia, Ghosha, Lopamudra, Maitreyee and Gargi. There was no class difference in Vedic society for many years.

But the defeated non-Aryans were thrown into a lower and degraded position. Gradually, the society was divided into two classes, Aryans and the degraded non-Aryans, The black-skinned non-Aryans too were regarded as a degraded class.

There were, of course, differences of castes. At first, there were three castes, Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas, These were not based on birth. These were rather functional or occupational castes.

Later, another caste came into existence, the Shudras. The Brahmanas performed religious practices and were the most powerful caste, and the Kshatriyas were the warrior caste.

Kings normally were chosen from among the Kshatriyas. The Vaishyas were the merchant caste. The Shudras were a degraded caste. The early Vedic age was a rural civilization.

The village was the basis of economic life. People were mainly engaged in cultivation and livestock farming. We find references to the small or cottage industry, to various artisans, like carpenters and potters. Trade was in its infancy.

The Aryan Language Use Of Metals The Vedic Civilization Education In The Vedic The political Life Of The Vedic People

The Vedas are chiefly religious literature, But we are able to glean facts about the politics of those days. The family was the basis of the Vedic state. Several families grouped together to form a village.

Just as the Grihapati was the head of a family, so the head of a village was a Gramani. Several villages grouped together to form a Vish or Jana. The ruler of the Vish was called Vishpati or Rajan.

The Vish or Jana was like a state and was ruled by the Vishpati or Rajan. At first, the Vedic Aryans had no king. The Vishpatis ruled with the assistance of the Sabha and Samiti.

These were composed of learned and worthy persons. As time rolled on, the power of the Vishpati or Rajan increased and at one-time kingship came into existence. Kingship was hereditary.

The kings enjoyed special status and power. There were spies to inform the kings on important matters. In order to expand their kingdom the kings often set out to conquer neighboring countries.

There were kings who performed ‘Ashwamedha7 or the horse sacrifice in order to display their might. The subjects had to pay three kinds of taxes known as ‘bail’ ‘bhaga7 and ‘shuka’. It was the duty of the king to protect the subjects.

In the later Vedic age, the king was called ‘Bhupati’. It was now his duty to protect the life and land of the people. On the other hand, the king was the protector of the earth.

In the later Vedic age, the power of kings increased. Powerful kings often conquered the kingdom of the weaker kings and expanded their kingdoms. Extensive kingdoms rose.

Powerful kings assumed titles like ‘Samrat7, 7Ekarat7, etc. These meant emperor. The idea that kings enjoyed the divine right to rule gradually arose. Three kinds of sacrifices were performed in the later Vedic Period.

These were the Ashwamedha or horse sacrifice, the Vajapeya, and the Rajasuya sacrifices. In Ashwamedha, a horse was set free. It roamed and roamed. All territories covered by the horse would be acquired by the king who owned the horse.

Whoever would restrain the horse would have to go to war. When after about a year, the horse returned a sacrifice would be performed in which the horse would be sacrificed.

In the Vajapeya sacrifices a chariot race was held. After that, a throne was offered to the king. The priest chanted a song in praise of the king. The Rajasuya sacrifice took place continuously for two years.

Holy water was sprinkled on the king’s head. The king offered presents to the dignitaries. This sacrifice confirmed the sovereign rule of the king.

The Religious life of the Vedic Aryans

The religious life in the Rig Vedic Period was simple and unceremonious. Image worship was unknown. Natural elements were worshipped as gods and goddesses. The Vedic Aryans looked upon natural calamities with awe and wonder.

So they worshipped rain and wind as deities. Gradually gods and goddesses were named. Indra the god of rain and thunder was the principal god. Indra was called Purandara. Baruna was the god of the sea.

There were other gods like Agns and Vayu. In the later Vedic Period, religious cults became complex. Sacrifices and rites appeared. The Brahmins became highly influential. New gods came into existence. They were Vishnu, Shiva, and Prajapati the creator.

The Aryan Language Use Of Metals The Vedic Civilization Education In The Vedic

All learning was oral in the Vedic period. The teacher taught orally and the disciples were used to oral learning. Before a student is accepted as a disciple he or she had to undergo a ceremony. This was called the Upanayana.

Generally, the disciples lived in the teacher’s house. Reciting the Vedas was the first step in learning. Other subjects like grammar, and mathematics too were taught. The disciples offered fees mostly in kind to the gurus.

Rituals were held at the successful end of a disciple’s education. The disciple took a bath, called snana in Sanskrit. After this ritual bath, he was called a snataka.

Chaturashrama

In the later Vedic Period, the life of an Aryan was divided into four stages Brahmacharya, Garhasthya, Banaprastha, and Sannyasa. In the first stage, one lived in the guru’s home and learned the shastras.

In the second stage, one married and lived in the family. In the third, one went to the forest and spent days in meditation. In the fourth stage, one left the worldly life and becomes an ascetic. This is called the Chaturashrama.

Chapter 4 Ancient History Of The Indian Sub Continent About Nachiketa And Uddalaka

The story of Nachiketa

The Upanishads and the Puranas are full of educative stories. The stories of Nachiketa, Uddaiaka, and Ekalavya are as interesting as they are educative, The Katha-lJpanishad relates Nachiketa’s story, Nachiketa was the son of Vajashraba.

One day, Vajashraba, desiring to attain heaven, gave away all his belongings. At that time his son Nachiketa told his father that he had not given away his all. For, he had not given away his son.

His father, very angry at this, said, I will give you to Death. So Nachiketa went to Yama but the god of Death was away. Nachiketa sat in meditation and when Yama came he offered him boons.

But Nachiketa said he only wanted to know the truth and nothing else. Yama then told him about the soul or atman. Atman or soul cannot be seen but it is there in every human being and it directs his activity.

The story of Uddalaka

Ayodadhaumya was a great guru. He had three sincere pupils. Veda, Upamanyu and Aruni. One day the guru asked his disciples to build a dam to check the water of his agricultural field going out.

Aruni started work but was not able to restrain the flow of water. He then lay on the ridge. Ayodadhaumya was too pleased to see Aruni going all out to obey his guru. He gave Aruni a new name Uddalaka.

This story teaches us how great was a pupil’s respect for his guru in those days.

A note on Inamgaon

Inamgaon is in Maharashtra. Here a few years ago a post-Harappan agrarian village was discovered on the bank of the Ghod river in the Bhima valley. The discovery is regarded as a landmark in the history of ancient India.

The village is as old as about 1400 B.C. So historians believe that it flourished at about the time when the Aryans were already in India. The villagers were engaged in cultivation, livestock farming, and fishing.

About 135 rectangular mud houses have been discovered. The main crops were rice, wheat, barley, and pulse. Large barrels and fire pits suggest that food grains were stored regularly.

Among the domesticated animals were cattle, dogs, horses, and goats. For cultivation people did not depend on rain. They stored flood water and used it by flowing it down the channels to the fields.

Quite a number of female figurines of burnt earth have been found. Some of them might have been the figures of the Mother Goddess. A very important fact about Inamgaon is that megaliths or huge upright stone blocks have been unearthed here.

From the graves skeletons of little boys and girls have been unearthed. The girls had stone ornaments on.