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practised. Even sea-trade has been mentioned in soldiers, elephant-soldiers, horse-soldiers, chariot-
the Vedas. They knew about other civilisations and soldiers etc. They were very efficient in chariot-
learnt a number of occupations from them, like warfare and bow-arrow.
cutting of jewels, dyeing etc. The barter system
was gradually replaced by the coins. CHALCOLITHIC SETTLEMENTS IN THE SOUTH
Political Life You have read that while the Harappan
As the Aryans moved towards the Gangetic plains civilisation witnessed the Copper Age, there were
from the north-west, they started to lead a settled Chalcolithic settlements in the Deccan covering
life in the Later Vedic Age. Initially they were the areas of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh,
organised into small tribes or clans under the Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. These
command of a Rajan , who was the bravest or wisest Chalcolithic settlements vary in period—some of
among them; but with the passage of time, the them are pre-Harappan, some of them are
post of Rajan became hereditary. He ruled with the contemporary to Harappan and some are post-
help of popular assemblies—the Sabha and the Harappan.
Samiti . The Sabha was the general assembly in
which all grown-up people participated while the Just Think!
Samiti was the assembly of the elders. The king
was assisted by several ministers in the discharge Which culture was the product of the Bronze Age?
of his duties. The two important ministers were the CASE STUDY : THE DECCAN
Purohit who was the spiritual head and advisor,
and the other was the Senani or the army The important Chalcolithic sites have been
commander. These ministers were men of high excavated from the following places :
character, so they had moral binding on the 1. Ahar, Balathal and Nagda in Rajasthan.
actions of the Rajan. The people offered Bali (gift)
to the Rajan, which was used for meeting different 2. Jorwe, Chandoli, Songaon, Nevasa in
types of expenditure of the ruler. Maharashtra.
3. Gujarra and Navdatoli in Madhya Pradesh.
With the passage of time, the Aryans organised
themselves into larger kingdoms with powerful 4. Maski and Brahmgiri in Karnataka.
kings at the head. The kings called themselves 5. Arikamedu in Tamil Nadu.
Maharajas or Samrats depending upon the territory
under their rule. Some of the powerful kingdoms of We shall study these settlements in brief.
this time included Kashi, Magadha, Kuru, Panchala, Social and Economic Life
Kosala, Anga etc. The kings often fought with one
another in an effort to expand their territory. The The Chalcolithic settlements were primarily rural in
Ashwamedha Yajna was a popular sacrifice for the nature. As they had discovered iron during the
expansion of a king’s territory. Neolithic Age, they entered the Iron Age from the
Stone Age, and did not know about copper. They
The large kingdoms had a chain of officials who made tools and weapons from iron. Their metal
looked after different aspects of administration, pottery was quite remarkable. It was painted in red
like collection of taxes, justice, law and order, and black colours.
construction of public places etc.
They did not master the use of animals as well as
Warfare the Aryans. They constructed their houses using
As the kingdoms became larger, the kings stone, mud bricks and mud. The use of stone made
maintained well-equipped armies. The discovery of their houses quite strong. Lime was used for
iron helped to manufacture better weapons like painting the houses.
lances, spears, swords, maces, javelins etc. The The Chalcolithic people cultivated both Kharif and
army had different departments like those of foot Rabi crops. Their main crops were wheat, rice,
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