Settlements and Territories
During the Later Vedic period, the upper Ganga Doab became the center of Aryan culture, referred to as the land of Kuru-Panchala.
This period saw the emergence of territorial units.
The term Janapada, meaning territory, appears in the Brahmanas, which are dated to around 800 BCE.
Over 1,000 sites associated with the Painted Grey Ware culture have been found in this region, indicating the establishment of new settlements in the upper Ganga Valley.
• Mud brick houses were commonly used.
• The foundations for towns began to take shape during the Later Vedic period, marking a time of significant interaction and development.
• The term nagara, referring to commercial quarters, appears in later Vedic texts, but large towns only emerged towards the end of the Vedic period.
• The sites of Hastinapur and Kausambi are regarded as proto-urban settlements, displaying characteristics of early urbanization. The material culture of this period shows greater diversity and represents an advancement over the Early Vedic period.
• It can be inferred that surplus agricultural production supported various social classes, including chiefs, princes, and priests.