Later Vedic Period | KPSC KAS Preparation: All subjects - KPSC KAS (Karnataka) PDF Download

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Later Vedic Period (1000 – 600 BC) 
By B. C. E 1000, the Aryans started moving towards the 
Gangetic plain. From the Sapta Sindhu region, the Aryans 
migrated to the areas adjoining the Gangetic plain by 
clearing the forests. Tools made of iron helped them a 
lot in this. Information regarding the life of the Aryans 
from 1000 to 600 B.C.E from later vedas, namely 
Atharvaveda, Samaveda and Yajurveda. 
Rigveda  - Book of Hymns 
Yajurveda - Book of Rituals, Sacrifices 
Samaveda  - Book of Music 
Atharvaveda - Book of Medicine, Magical and Technical Formulae 
The Aryans who reached the Gangetic plain cleared the forest using iron implements. They 
started farming in the fields using iron ploughshares. With the expansion of agriculture, the 
Aryans were transformed into a settled society. 
The place where they started to settle permanently came to be known as 
Janapada. The head of the tribe became the king. Kingship became 
hereditary. The importance of the assemblies of each tribe diminished.  
The farmers started the system of giving a part of their yield as tax to 
the king in return for protecting agricultural land. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
  
 
Later	Vedic	Period
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Later Vedic Period (1000 – 600 BC) 
By B. C. E 1000, the Aryans started moving towards the 
Gangetic plain. From the Sapta Sindhu region, the Aryans 
migrated to the areas adjoining the Gangetic plain by 
clearing the forests. Tools made of iron helped them a 
lot in this. Information regarding the life of the Aryans 
from 1000 to 600 B.C.E from later vedas, namely 
Atharvaveda, Samaveda and Yajurveda. 
Rigveda  - Book of Hymns 
Yajurveda - Book of Rituals, Sacrifices 
Samaveda  - Book of Music 
Atharvaveda - Book of Medicine, Magical and Technical Formulae 
The Aryans who reached the Gangetic plain cleared the forest using iron implements. They 
started farming in the fields using iron ploughshares. With the expansion of agriculture, the 
Aryans were transformed into a settled society. 
The place where they started to settle permanently came to be known as 
Janapada. The head of the tribe became the king. Kingship became 
hereditary. The importance of the assemblies of each tribe diminished.  
The farmers started the system of giving a part of their yield as tax to 
the king in return for protecting agricultural land. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
  
 
Later	Vedic	Period
 
   
 
Great changes occurred in beliefs and customs during this period. Lord Indra and Agni lost their 
prominence. The Gods like Prajapathi (the creator), Vishnu (the protector) and Rudra (the 
destroyer) became more and more important. 
Simple rituals and practices gave way to complicated and complex ways of worship. Means of 
worship and religious practices including the sacrifice of animals became costly. The priests 
became more powerful.  
Social Structure during Later Vedic Period 
The society was stratified into four divisions based on their job nature called four Varnas. The 
concept Varna system is mentioned in Purusha Sukta of Rigveda. Later the Varna system became 
hereditary. 
 
Among the Varnas, The Brahmanas enjoyed the top most 
position as they are priests performing rituals and sacrifices 
for other Varnas and stays close to the gods. Kshatriyars were 
rulers or military class people who were responsible for 
protecting the land from attack of enemies. Vishyas were 
traders, land owners and owner of cattle. The bottom most 
Varna was Shudras, they were the servers of other Varnas. 
There were people outside this Varna system and called 
untouchables (native people). 
Upanishads (800 to 500 BC) 
Upanishads are part of Vedas written at the end of Later Vedic Period due to 
strong reaction against domination of priests and rituals during the later Vedic 
period. Priests tried to exploits the rituals and sacrifices to maintain they level 
in Varna system. Thus they are philosophical thoughts criticizing rituals and 
sacrifices of priests. It is the major source of Indian philosophical system. 
There are more than 108 Upanishads and one notable is Mundaka Upanishad.  
It is the shortest Upanishad and part of Atharva Veda. The national motto 
‘Satyameva Jayate’ is taken from Mundaka Upanishad. 
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Later Vedic Period (1000 – 600 BC) 
By B. C. E 1000, the Aryans started moving towards the 
Gangetic plain. From the Sapta Sindhu region, the Aryans 
migrated to the areas adjoining the Gangetic plain by 
clearing the forests. Tools made of iron helped them a 
lot in this. Information regarding the life of the Aryans 
from 1000 to 600 B.C.E from later vedas, namely 
Atharvaveda, Samaveda and Yajurveda. 
Rigveda  - Book of Hymns 
Yajurveda - Book of Rituals, Sacrifices 
Samaveda  - Book of Music 
Atharvaveda - Book of Medicine, Magical and Technical Formulae 
The Aryans who reached the Gangetic plain cleared the forest using iron implements. They 
started farming in the fields using iron ploughshares. With the expansion of agriculture, the 
Aryans were transformed into a settled society. 
The place where they started to settle permanently came to be known as 
Janapada. The head of the tribe became the king. Kingship became 
hereditary. The importance of the assemblies of each tribe diminished.  
The farmers started the system of giving a part of their yield as tax to 
the king in return for protecting agricultural land. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
  
 
Later	Vedic	Period
 
   
 
Great changes occurred in beliefs and customs during this period. Lord Indra and Agni lost their 
prominence. The Gods like Prajapathi (the creator), Vishnu (the protector) and Rudra (the 
destroyer) became more and more important. 
Simple rituals and practices gave way to complicated and complex ways of worship. Means of 
worship and religious practices including the sacrifice of animals became costly. The priests 
became more powerful.  
Social Structure during Later Vedic Period 
The society was stratified into four divisions based on their job nature called four Varnas. The 
concept Varna system is mentioned in Purusha Sukta of Rigveda. Later the Varna system became 
hereditary. 
 
Among the Varnas, The Brahmanas enjoyed the top most 
position as they are priests performing rituals and sacrifices 
for other Varnas and stays close to the gods. Kshatriyars were 
rulers or military class people who were responsible for 
protecting the land from attack of enemies. Vishyas were 
traders, land owners and owner of cattle. The bottom most 
Varna was Shudras, they were the servers of other Varnas. 
There were people outside this Varna system and called 
untouchables (native people). 
Upanishads (800 to 500 BC) 
Upanishads are part of Vedas written at the end of Later Vedic Period due to 
strong reaction against domination of priests and rituals during the later Vedic 
period. Priests tried to exploits the rituals and sacrifices to maintain they level 
in Varna system. Thus they are philosophical thoughts criticizing rituals and 
sacrifices of priests. It is the major source of Indian philosophical system. 
There are more than 108 Upanishads and one notable is Mundaka Upanishad.  
It is the shortest Upanishad and part of Atharva Veda. The national motto 
‘Satyameva Jayate’ is taken from Mundaka Upanishad. 
 
   
 
Rise of Cities 
The fertility of the soil and the use of iron made 
the Gangetic plain a better agricultural land. This 
facilitated surplus production and also the 
growth of exchange centers. These exchange 
centers later developed into cities. People 
started to settle down in cities for trade. Among 
such cities, the most prominent were Rajagriha, 
Sravasthi, Vaishali, Benares, Kushinagara and 
Kausambhi. Trade routes connecting these cities came into existence. A new social category thus 
grew up in cities on the basis of trade and handicrafts. Coins began to be used for the exchange 
of goods.