What changes took place in agriculture around the Vedic age and tools were used in agriculture during the later Vedic period?
Changes in Agriculture during the Vedic Age:
The Vedic Age, spanning roughly 1500 BCE to 500 BCE, witnessed significant shifts in agricultural practices in India. Here are some key changes:
Early Vedic Period (1500-1000 BCE):
- Semi-nomadic lifestyle: Early Vedic people had a mixed economy, relying on both agriculture and cattle herding.
- Crops: They primarily cultivated barley, wheat, and millets.
- Tools: Stone and flint tools were used for plowing and other tasks.
- Techniques: Rainwater harvesting, crop rotation, and fallowing were practiced.
Later Vedic Period (1000-500 BCE):
- Shift to settled agriculture: With the rise of larger populations, there was a gradual transition to settled agriculture.
- New crops: Rice cultivation gained prominence, leading to the development of techniques like wet-rice cultivation and paddy seedling transplantation.
- Technological advancements: Adoption of iron implements like plowshares revolutionized tillage and land preparation.
- Irrigation: Simple canal systems were built to utilize water from rivers and streams.
- Manure: Use of cow dung as fertilizer became widespread.
- Animal husbandry: Cattle remained crucial, providing milk, manure, and draft power.
Tools Used in Agriculture during the Later Vedic Period:
Following the technological advancements:
- Iron plowshares: Increased efficiency and depth of plowing, enabling cultivation of tougher soils.
- Wooden plows: Still used for lighter tasks or by smaller farms.
- Sickles: For harvesting grains and pulses.
- Axes and hoes: For clearing land and weeding.
- Winnowing baskets and sieves: For separating grain from chaff.
- Wooden carts and oxen: For transportation of produce and materials.
These improvements in technology and practices led to higher agricultural yields, supporting larger populations and paving the way for the development of complex societies in India during the post-Vedic era.
Remember, our understanding of the Vedic period is derived from ancient texts and archaeological evidence, so some details might be debated or uncertain.
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