. Later Vedic Culture The Later Vedic culture is dated to the period between BCE and – BCE. The Painted Grey Ware Culture of the Iron Age, which has been identified by archaeologists at many excavated sites, is associated with the Later Vedic culture. This period witnessed political, social, economic complexity and developments.
The Late Vedic Texts The Later Vedic texts were composed after the Rig Veda Samhitas . The Yajur , Sama and Atharva Vedas were composed after the Rig Veda . Eastward Expansion of the Aryans The Aryan speakers expanded from the Punjab to Western Uttar Pradesh in the Ganga Yamuna doab in the Later Vedic period. The history of ancient India was thus marked by the movement of cultures, and interactions and battles among various groups for territories and resources.
It has been suggested that while the Aryans migrated to the region of eastern part of the Ganga valley, the Indo-Iranians migrated from the region of Iran to the region of Punjab. The later Vedic texts speak about the region of Kuru Panchala which falls in the Indo-Gangetic divide and the Upper Ganga Valley. The area mentioned as the south-eastern boundary was an assembly of people, and vidhata was the assembly of tribe. They performed military and religious functions.
Women attended the sabhas and vidhatas . The king sought the support of the samiti and sabha for his activities. There are debates about the exact nature of these assemblies and functions. Most of our understanding of the conditions of Vedic society depends upon the interpretations of various terms.
Sometimes it is hard to reconstruct the original meaning. The purohita or priest offered advice to the king. Vedic priests advised the kings, inspired them and praised their deeds. In turn they received rewards for their services.
Senani was the chief of army. There is no evidence of tax collecting officers. Perhaps people made voluntary contribution called bali to the king. Some scholars say that bali was an imposed tax, and not voluntary.
There is no reference to the administration of justice. The officer who controlled the territory