Aryans, The Vedic Age - Economy

The Aryan civilization was largely scattered in villages. Our information regarding the organization of the villages is sketchy, we do know however that a Gramani looked after the civil and military affairs of the village. House and arable lands were owned by individuals while the grass lands were probably held by the village as a whole. Land and cattle were important commodities of value. Agriculture was the chief occupation of the people. The use of manure was known and so was irrigation. The main crops were rice and barley. Equally important as agriculture was cattle rearing and the raising of domesticated animals. Cows were considered very important, as their products formed an important part of the diet of the Vedic people. Other important animals were the draught-ox, the horse, the dog, the goat and the sheep. Despite being largely engaged in agriculture and animal rearing, they were also into trade and industry. Commerce was handled by the people known as Panni , who where probably non-Aryan. The chief articles of trade were clothes, coverlets and skins. The main index of value was the cow, but gold also served as a means of exchange. The main industrial activity of the period were the metal, leather, weaving and the wood work industries. Carpenters were in great demand at that period for they made the chariots, wagons, houses and

boats as well as artistic pieces. The metal workers made weapons, tools ,implements and ornaments. Leather workers made water casks, bow strings, slings and hand guards (for the archers). Pottery was also an important occupation of that time. The main means of transport of the period was the horse drawn chariots and the ox drawn wagons. The Vedas talk about parts of the forests being burnt to make paths for vehicles to pass. There is however some controversy on the existence of marine transport. One view believes that such travel was limited to crossing small streams and rivers, while on the other hand there are references to ships with a hundred oars that made great journeys

The Aryan civilization was largely scattered in villages. Our information regarding the organization of the villages is sketchy, we do know however that a Gramani looked after the civil and military affairs of the village. House and arable lands were owned by individuals while the grass lands were probably held by the village as a whole. Land and cattle were important commodities of value. Agriculture was the chief occupation of the people. The use of manure was known and so was irrigation. The main crops were rice and barley. Equally important as agriculture was cattle rearing and the raising of domesticated animals. Cows were considered very important, as their products formed an important part of the diet of the Vedic people. Other important animals were the draught-ox, the horse, the dog, the goat and the sheep. Despite being largely engaged in agriculture and animal rearing, they were also into trade and industry. Commerce was handled by the people known as Panni , who where probably non-Aryan. The chief articles of trade were clothes, coverlets and skins. The main index of value was the cow, but gold also served as a means of exchange. The main industrial activity of the period were the metal, leather, weaving and the wood work industries. Carpenters were in great demand at that period for they made the chariots, wagons, houses and boats as well as artistic pieces. The metal workers made weapons, tools ,implements and ornaments. Leather workers made water casks, bow strings, slings and hand guards (for the archers). Pottery was also an important occupation of that time. The main means of transport of the period was the horse drawn chariots and the ox drawn wagons. The Vedas talk about parts of the forests being burnt to make paths for vehicles to pass. There is however some controversy on the existence of marine transport. One view believes that such travel was limited to crossing small streams and rivers, while on the other hand there are references to ships with a hundred oars that made great journeys