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Early and Later Vedic Period ICSE Class 9 History

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History & CivicsICSE Class 9 · The Vedic Period

Early and Later Vedic Polity, Society and Economy (ICSE Class 9 History)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

The Rig Veda is the main source for the Early Vedic period, when society was tribal and pastoral, the king (rajan) was a tribal chief checked by the Sabha, Samiti and Vidatha, and women enjoyed fair freedom. In the Later Vedic period agriculture and iron spread, kingdoms grew, assemblies lost power, women's position declined and varna became rigid.

Understand Early and Later Vedic Polity, Society and Economy

1. Sources. The four Vedas: *Rig Veda* (hymns, the oldest), *Sama Veda* (melodies), *Yajur Veda* (sacrificial formulas) and *Atharva Veda* (charms and daily life). The epics (Ramayana and Mahabharata) are later sources.

2. Early Vedic family and king. The family (kula) was patriarchal and joint, headed by the *grihapati*. Families made a village (grama), villages a clan (vis) and clans a tribe (jana). The king (*rajan*) was a tribal chief who protected the tribe and cattle and led in war. He was not an absolute ruler.

3. Assemblies. *Sabha*: a smaller council of elders; *Samiti*: a general assembly of the tribe that could elect the king; *Vidatha*: probably the oldest, with religious, military and social functions, in which women also took part.

4. Women. In the Early Vedic period women were respected, educated and took part in sacrifices and assemblies; some composed hymns (Ghosha, Apala, Lopamudra). In the Later Vedic period their position declined: they were excluded from assemblies and their role in sacrifices reduced.

5. Economy. Early: pastoral, with cattle as wealth, barley the main crop and barter trade. Later: agriculture became the main occupation in the Ganga valley, iron tools were used, crafts and trade grew, and kings gained larger kingdoms.

6. Varnas and ashramas. Four varnas: Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. In the Early period divisions were mainly occupational and flexible; in the Later period they became hereditary and rigid. The four ashramas (brahmacharya, grihastha, vanaprastha, sannyasa) developed later. Education was oral, in the guru's house.

Early and Later Vedic Polity, Society and Economy: key facts

Vedas
Rig Vedahymns
Samamusic
Yajursacrifices
Atharvacharms
Assemblies
Sabhaelders
Samitigeneral assembly
Vidathaoldest
Early Vedic
  • Pastoral
  • Cattle wealth
  • Barley
  • Women honoured
  • Flexible varna
Later Vedic
  • Agriculture
  • Iron
  • Rigid varna
  • Women's status declined
  • Larger kingdoms

Early and Later Vedic Polity, Society and Economy in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

A school council

Suppose a school has a big general body of students that elects a captain, and a smaller committee of senior students that advises the captain.

Which Vedic assemblies resemble them?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. General body: Samiti.
  2. Senior committee: Sabha.

Answer: Samiti and Sabha.

Memory hook: Large body Samiti, small body Sabha.

Tricks to remember Early and Later Vedic Polity, Society and Economy

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • SSV

    Sabha, Samiti, Vidatha.

    Use it when: Assemblies.

  • Cow = wealth

    Early Vedic wealth was cattle.

    Use it when: Economy.

Early and Later Vedic Polity, Society and Economy: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Define · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

Name the four Vedas. [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva Veda.

Answer: Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda and Atharva Veda.

Example 2: Assemblies · 2 marks · Short answerBoard level

Distinguish between the Sabha and the Samiti. [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Sabha: smaller council of elders and important men.
  2. Samiti: larger general assembly of the tribe which could choose the king.

Answer: The Sabha was a small council of elders; the Samiti a large general assembly.

Example 3: Women · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

A scholar says women once composed hymns and sat in assemblies, but later lost these rights. Identify the two phases and explain what changed and why it matters for historians. [4]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Early: respected, educated, composed hymns.
  2. Early: attended assemblies and sacrifices.
  3. Later: excluded from assemblies.
  4. Later: their role in rituals and education was reduced.

Answer: Early Vedic phase: education, hymns and assembly attendance; Later Vedic phase: exclusion from assemblies and reduced ritual role. Historians must separate periods when describing society.

Example 4: Economy change · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain how the shift from a pastoral to an agricultural economy changed Later Vedic society. [4]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Settlement in the Ganga valley with iron tools.
  2. Larger and more settled population.
  3. Growth of crafts and trade.
  4. Kings gained larger territories and the varna system hardened.

Answer: Agriculture and iron led to settled life, larger kingdoms and more social divisions.

Example 5: Source: hymn · 6 marks · Source-basedHOTS / competency

Source. A Rig Vedic hymn asks the gods for cattle, horses and brave sons, and a poem is credited to a woman, Ghosha. (i) Name the Veda. [1] (ii) What does the request show about wealth? [1] (iii) What does Ghosha show about women? [2] (iv) Why is the Rig Veda a reliable source for the Early Vedic age but not by itself for the Later Vedic age? [2]

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (i) Rig Veda.
  2. (ii) Cattle and horses were valued.
  3. (iii) Some women were educated and composed hymns.
  4. (iv) It belongs to the early period; later periods are described in the other Vedas and texts.

Answer: (i) Rig Veda (ii) Cattle were wealth (iii) Women composed hymns (iv) It records the early phase.

Where students lose marks in Early and Later Vedic Polity, Society and Economy

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Writing Samiti for the council of elders

    Names swapped.

    Do this: Sabha elders; Samiti general.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Describing women of the Later period as the Early period

    Periods mixed.

    Do this: Name the period.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Calling Vedic king absolute

    Assemblies ignored.

    Do this: Mention checks.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Write Early and Later Vedic as separate columns.
  • Use Vedic terms in transliterated form.
  • Give evidence from the Rig Veda.
  • Treat social inequality neutrally and factually.

Practice questions on Early and Later Vedic Polity, Society and Economy

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    In the Rig Vedic tribe, the leader who protected the cattle and led in war was the:
    (a) samrat
    (b) rajan
    (c) maharaja
    (d) adhyaksha

    Hint

    Tribal chief.

    Answer

    (b) rajan.

  2. Q2 · 2 marks · Very short answerBoard level

    What were the grama and the jana? [2]

    Hint

    Units.

    Answer

    The grama was a village; the jana was a tribe.

  3. Q3 · 1 mark · Very short answerBoard level

    Name the main crop of the Early Vedic people. [1]

    Hint

    Barley.

    Answer

    Barley (yava).

  4. Q4 · 1 mark · Assertion-reasonHarder board level

    Assertion (A): The Samiti could elect the king.
    Reason (R): The Samiti was a general assembly of the tribe.
    (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
    (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
    (c) A is true but R is false.
    (d) A is false but R is true.

    Hint

    Whole tribe.

    Answer

    (a).

  5. Q5 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    State three differences between the Early and Later Vedic economy. [3]

    Hint

    Pastoral/agrarian.

    Answer

    Early: pastoral, cattle wealth, barter; Later: agriculture, use of iron, growth of crafts and trade.

  6. Q6 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    A student says varna was always hereditary and rigid. Correct her by describing both phases. [3]

    Hint

    Rigid.

    Answer

    She is wrong: in the Early Vedic phase divisions were largely occupational and flexible; in the Later Vedic phase they became hereditary and rigid, with Shudras denied many rights.

  7. Q7 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Why did the power of the assemblies decline in the Later Vedic period? [3]

    Hint

    Kingdoms.

    Answer

    Kingdoms became larger, kings gained power and rituals strengthened royal authority.

  8. Q8 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    List the four ashramas and their purpose. [3]

    Hint

    Stages.

    Answer

    Brahmacharya (study), grihastha (householder), vanaprastha (retreat), sannyasa (renunciation); they guided the stages of life.

  9. Q9 · 4 marks · Source-basedHOTS / competency

    Source. "The king shall protect the cattle and the tribe." (i) Which period does this describe? [1] (ii) Who limited the king's power? [1] (iii) Why did the king need the assemblies? [2]

    Hint

    Check on king.

    Answer

    (i) Early Vedic. (ii) Sabha, Samiti and Vidatha. (iii) To gain advice, consent and support for decisions.

  10. Q10 · 3 marks · Long answerHOTS / competency

    Evaluate the statement "The Early Vedic society was democratic." Give two arguments for and one against. [3]

    Hint

    Assemblies.

    Answer

    For: assemblies and election of kings; women in Vidatha. Against: the tribal chief and priests held influence, and slavery and inequality existed.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Oldest Veda?Show answer

    Rig Veda.

  2. 2.Tribe in Vedic times?Show answer

    Jana.

  3. 3.Chief crop in the Early period?Show answer

    Barley.

  4. 4.Women hymn composer?Show answer

    Ghosha.

  5. 5.Wealth of the Early Vedic?Show answer

    Cattle.

Early and Later Vedic Polity, Society and Economy: frequently asked questions

Was the king hereditary?

Mostly, but the tribe could choose.

What is gavishti?

Search for cows, meaning battle.

What is a guru?

A teacher.