• The age of the Vedic Civilization was between 1500 BC and 600 BC. This is the next major civilization after the Indus Valley Civilization till 1400 BC. 
• The name of this age and period were composed after Vedas. The Vedas give information about this era. The Vedic Age started from the time of the Aryans or Indo-Aryans. 

The Aryans

• The Aryans fall in the group of semi-nomadic pastoral people. 
• The word Aryan is taken from the Sanskrit word “arya” which means noble, not ordinary. 
• About the original homeland of the Aryans different experts have different opinions. Some of them say that they came from the area around the Caspian Sea in Central Asia. This Central Asia theory is given by Max Muller. Others think that they originated from the Russian Steppes. But Bal Gangadhar Tilak was of the opinion that the Aryans came from the Arctic region following their astronomical calculations. 
• Sanskrit, an Indo-European language was their language for communication. 
• They lived in rural, semi-nomadic life in contrast to the Indus Valley people who were generally urbanised. 
• It is said by experts that they entered India through the Khyber Pass. 

Early Vedic Civilization or Rig Vedic Period (1500 BC – 1000 BC)

At first, the Aryans lived in the land known as “Sapta Sindhu” meaning Land of the Seven Rivers. The names of the seven rivers were: Sindhu (Indus), Vipash (Beas), Vitasta (Jhelum), Parushni (Ravi), Asikni (Chenab), Shutudri (Satluj) and Saraswati. 

Political Structure

• The head of the government was known as Rajan. 
• The largest political and administrative unit was Jana in Rig Vedic times. 
• The name of the basic unit of political organization was ‘Kula‘. 
• Multiple families together formed a ‘grama‘. 
• Leader of ‘grama’ was called ‘Gramani‘. 
• Groups of villages were known as ‘visu’, headed by ‘vishayapati‘. 
• Tribal assemblies were known as Sabhas and Samitis. The names of tribal kingdoms are- Bharatas, Matsyas, Yadus and Purus. 

Social Structure

• Women occupied respectable positions and were allowed to participate in Sabhas and Samitis. There were women poets such as Apala, Lopamudra, Viswavara, and Ghosa. 
• Cows became very important among cattle. 
• Monogamy was practiced but polygamy was present among royalty and noble families. 
• There was no practice of child marriage. 
• Social distinctions existed but were not followed rigidly and hereditary. 

Economic Structure

• Aryans were generally pastoral and cattle-rearing people. 
• Their occupation was agriculture. 
• Carpenters made chariots and ploughs 
• A huge number of articles were made with copper, bronze, and iron by workers. 
• Spinning was done for making cotton and woolen fabrics. 
• Goldsmiths designed ornaments and potters made various kinds of vessels for domestic use. 
• Trade was done by the barter system at first but later it shifted to gold coins called ‘nishka‘ for large transactions. 
• Transportation was done through rivers. 

Religion 

• They worshipped natural forces like earth, fire, wind, rain, thunder, etc. by personifying them into many gods. 
• Indra (thunder) was the most important god. Other gods were Prithvi (earth), Agni (fire), Varuna (rain) and Vayu (wind). 
• Female gods were Ushas and Aditi. 
• There were no rituals for temples and idol worship.