VEDIC CIVILISATION
 
   The next important landmark in the history of ancient India is the advent of Vedic
   civilisation associated with the coming of Aryans.From where and when did the 
   Aryans come to India is still among the dilemmas of history.However,the great 
   Vedas left by them to the posterity throw some light on their political,social and 
   religious institutions and beliefs .The largely accepted view is that the Aryans
   were nomadic pastoral people who originally inhabited the Caspian Sea region of 
   the Central Asia.Some time in the middle of the third millennium BC,they started
   on a great migration towards Europe and Asia.A section of this migratory 
   population reached the frontiers of the Indian subcontinent around 2000 BC and 
   entered the country in search of pastures.Initially they met with strong opposition 
   from the well organised urban communities inhabiting India at that time.However
   the newcomers were able to break this resistance and settle down in Punjab.It is 
   here in Punjab the Hymns of Rigveda were composed .From Punjab they moved 
   eastwards and spread all over the Gangetic Valley.

   The Aryans lived in tribes and spoke Sanskrit which belongs to the Indo-European 
   group opf languages.They worshipped nature-Varuna,the god of wind and sky,
   Indra,the god of rain and thunder,Surya,the sun god.Besides these,there were 
   other deities also.
   
   Gradually the Aryans allied themselves with the local people and a historic
   synthesis was worked out between the Aryan tribes and the original inhabitants.
   They took from the local people many of their religious beliefs,their urban 
   culture and their customs,and in turn gave their own language,viz.,Sanskrit,their 
   spirit of adventure and their great literary tradition.This new synthesis of culture,
   which evolved out of the intermixing of the Aryans and the indigenous people , 
   broadly came to be known as Hinduism.

   The later Vedic period,which extends up to 600 BC, saw the expansion of the
   Aryan power into the interior of Northern India and helped to consolidate tribes 
   in bigger states through merger and extinction.The Ramayana and Mahabharata,
   two great epics of this period,give an idea of the times and culture of the later
   Vedic period.The king in the later Vedic period was an absolute ruler.The society,
   however,did not change much in its mode of living and dress.But the caste 
   system had taken roots and the divisions became more prominent.Brahmins 
   enjoyed utmost respect,though their superiority was challenged by the Kshatriyas.
   The rituals and sacrifices became more elaborate.The position of women had 
   deteriorated.
 
   The powers of kings increased and kingship became hereditary.Larger states,both 
   kingdoms and republics, were developed.The rural character of the Aryan 
   settlement had been transformed with the growth of a number of townships and 
   forts.
    
     
      |INDUS VALLEY|   |BUDDHIST-ERA|   |ALEXANDER|  |MAURYAS|  

      |SUNGAS|   |KANVAS|   |KUSHANAS|   |SATAVAHANAS|

     |GUPTAS|   |HARSHA|   |CHALUKYAS|   |CHOLAS|   |PALLAVAS|