Economy
The economic activities during this period were highly diversified, with agriculture, pastoralism, craft production, and trade all contributing to economic growth.
Land became more valuable than cattle.
Agriculture
Agricultural activities expanded, highlighting the importance rulers placed on cultivation and the shift towards farming to support the growing population.
• Mixed farming, which combined cultivation and herding, was a primary occupation for the Later Vedic people.
• God Brahma was depicted with a plough, and the Satpa tha Brahmana mentions rituals related to ploughing.
• The crops cultivated included barley, rice, and wheat.
• Wheat was the staple food in the Punjab region.
• The Vedic people began cultivating rice in the Ganga- Yamuna Doab, and rice, rather than wheat, became prominent in Vedic rituals.
Pastoralism
• Cattle was considered sacred.
• Offering of Cattle as part of Dakshinas still continued.
Craft Production
• Craft production became specialized.
• Bow makers, rope makers, arrow makers, hide dressers, stone breakers, physicians, goldsmiths, astrologers are some of the specialized professional groups.
• Metals such as iron, tin, gold, copper, bronze and lead
were used.
• Copper objects were used for making weapons of war
and hunting.
• Leatherwork, pottery and Carpentry were well known.
• Kulala: Term used for potters.
• Urna sutra: Term used for wool.
• New occupations came to exist such as fishermen, washermen, dryers, doorkeepers, and footman.
• The Later Vedic people were acquainted with four types of pottery:
• Painted Grey Ware
• Black and Red Ware
• Black-slipped Ware
• Red Ware
Trade and Exchange
• The material culture found in the archaeological sites reveals the movement of commodities and materials. Specialized caravan traders existed.
• Atharva Veda contains references about the elephant.
• Trade and commerce were developed.
•
No evidence of coins was found; thus, the barter system
must have been the medium of exchange.
• There is evidence of the organization of the merchants’ guilds called Shresthins.
• Niskha was used as a convenient unit of value (not as currency).
• Collection of taxes and tributes was made mandatory and were done by Sangrihitri.