Contents Preface vii 1Early Vedic Phase, c. 1500-1000 BC 1 1.1 The Rigveda 1 1.2 Antecedents and Region of Settlements 3 1.3 Economy 6 1.4 Society and Polity 11 1.5 Aryas and Dasyus and Dasas: The Emergence of Four Varnas 15 1.6 Religion 21 1.7 Other Aspects of Culture 26 Extract 1.1: The Ploughman's Song 28 Extract 1.2: The Various Means of Livelihood 29 Extract 1.3: The Creation Hymn 30 Extract 1.4: The Gambler's Song 31 Note 1.1: Historical Geography 32 Note 1.2: Bibliographical Note 35 2 Late Vedic Society, c. 1000-700 BC 36 2.1 The Vedic Corpus after the Rigveda; the Avesta 36 2.2 Political History 40 2.3 Economy 46 2.4 Society 52 2.5 Religion 2.6 Other Aspects of Culture Extract 2.1: How Agni leads Mdthava Videgha to the East Extract 2.2: May My Possessions and Produce Prosper Extract 2.3: Transmigration of Souls Note 2.1: The Caste System Note 2.2: Bibliographical Note 3India, 1500-700 BC: The Archaeological Evidence 3.1 Archaeological Cultures of the Aryan Zone 3.2 Peninsular India 3.3 The Coming of Iron Note 3.1: Epic Archaeology Note 3.2: Bibliographical Note Index