Introduction and Timeline of Later Vedic Period

The Rig Vedic civilisation began to change as time passed. The later Vedic period started from 1000 BC and continued up to 500 BC. In this age, the Aryans began expanding their land territory. They also conquered non-Aryans who began to live with them in their society. As the land territory grew, the king’s powers began to increase. By the end of the later Vedic age, the Aryans had expanded their territory past the Vindhyas in the South up to the Gangetic Valley in the North. The most important change in this period was the introduction of the caste system, which did not exist in the Rig Vedic period. 

Kingdoms in the later Vedic period

In the later Vedic period, the Aryans started moving towards the East. They expanded their territory up to the Eastern Gangetic Plains. This expansion is referred  in ‘Satapatha Brahmana’. Also, several large kingdoms were formed in this period. 

The Kuru and Panchala kingdoms flourished in this period. The Kuru kingdom started in 900 BC and declined in 500 BC. It was formed by two major tribes called the Bharatas and the Purus. Parikshit and Janamejaya were two famous and important rulers of the Kuru kingdom. The very famous ‘Mahabharta’ is deemed to have been fought in 950 BC between two clans of the Kuru kingdom, the Kauravas and the Pandavas. 

The Panchala kingdom started in 1100 BC and declined in 500 BC. Pravahana Jaivali was an important king of the Panchala dynasty. Both Kuru and Panchala kingdoms declined by the end of the later Vedic period. 

Some other kingdoms which flourished in this period were Kosala, Videha and Kasi. Some tribal kingdoms in the far East were Magadha, Anga and Yajnavalkya. India was divided into three parts in the later Vedic period – Northern (Aryavarta), Southern (Dakshinapatha) and Central (Madhyadesa).

Iron

At around 1000 BC, that is, the beginning of the later Vedic period, iron was used in modern-day Pakistan. Iron implements have been found buried with dead bodies in this area, dating back to 1000 BC. Along with Pakistan, they have been found in western UP, MP, Eastern Punjab and Rajasthan. 

Excavations have revealed that from about 800 BC, iron weapons such as spearheads and arrowheads became common in western UP. By the end of the later Vedic period, the use of iron spread to Videha and Eastern UP. 

The Vedic people started using the iron axe to defeat adversaries. In the later Vedic texts, iron is referred to as ‘Shyama’ or ‘Krishna ayas’ (black metal). 

Compilation of Upanishads

The Upanishads were compiled around 600 BC in the Panchalas and Videha. The Upanishads were philosophical texts which taught about right knowledge and belief and criticised rituals at the same time.

The Upanishads stressed that one should know ‘atman’ or self and realise the relation between atman and Brahma, who was considered the supreme entity at that time. 

End of the later Vedic period

The later Vedic period came to an end at around 500 BC. Towards the end, the Vedic people started spreading from the Doab region to Videha in the North and Koshala in the east. 

In the northern region of Bihar and the Eastern region of UP, the Vedic people came up against people who used black and red earthen pots and copper implements. In the western region of UP, the Vedic people came up against people who used pots of red or ochre colour along with copper implements. The Vedic people also came across Munda speakers.

The Vedic people faced many opponents when they expanded; however, they succeeded in their quest for expansion since they used horse-drawn chariots and iron weapons. Also, the opponents did not occupy a very large area and were small in number.

Conclusion 

The later Vedic period started from 1000 BC and continued up to 500 BC. The Vedic people started expanding their land territory in this period. By the end of the later Vedic age, the Aryans had expanded their territory past the Vindhyas in the South up to the Gangetic Valley in the North. Also, one of the important events in this period was the use of iron. A timeline of the later Vedic age can be summarised as follows:

1000-500 BC – Later Vedic Age

950 BC – Mahabharata was fought

900 BC – The Kuru kingdom was formed

800 BC – The Vedic people started using iron

600 BC – The Upanishads were compiled

500 BC – The Vedic people spread to Videha and Koshala; The Kuru and Panchala kingdoms declined.