Abstract:
India is the seventh largest country in the world with most diverse country. It is home to many languages and over 700 different tribes. It is birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism and many other religions which is the cause of the huge diversity in the nation. Ancient Indian history is exciting because many races and tribes mingled in early India. The pre-Aryans, the Indo-Aryans, the Greek, the Scythians, the Huan, the Turks, and many others made their homes in India. These groups have affected the culture of India as one can find hints of various culture in India. The diversity in India is also caused by the different civilization it is built on
There were six different ancient civilization in the world when the humans gave up their life as nomads, hunter-gatherer lifestyle to settle down at one place these civilizations were: Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, China, Mexico and Peru. India is built on the ancient civilization of Indus valley or also known as Harappa civilization and the medieval civilization of Vedas known as Vedic civilization. While the civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt have long been recognized for their celebrated contributions to civilization, India has often been overlooked, especially in the West, though its history and culture is just as rich. The Indus valley civilisation (7000-600 BCE) was among the greatest of the ancient world, covering more territory than either Egypt or Mesopotamia, and producing an equally vibrant and progressive culture.
Introduction:
Indus valley civilization also known as Harappa civilization; it is one of the ancient civilizations known as urban culture of the Indian subcontinent. The archaeologist according to their studies believe that the Indus Valley Civilization began around 3000 BCE. There is evidence of trade between Ancient India and Mesopotamia as early as 3200 BCE. The Harappa civilization is named after the ancient city of this civilization Harappa. The civilisation was discovered in 1921 at Harappa in the Punjab region and in 1922 at Mohenjo-Daro, in the Sindh region near Indus river
The Vedic civilization or the Vedic period is referred to that time when Vedic Sanskrit texts were composed in India. This civilization flourished between 1500 BC and 500 BC on the plains of Indo-Ganges of the Indian subcontinent. Vedic civilization is the foundation of Hinduism as well as the associated Indian culture. The golden age of Hinduism and classical Sanskrit literature, the Maurya empire ad the middle kingdoms of India were preceded by the Vedic civilization.
Indus Valley Civilization:
The Indus valley civilization was a bronze age civilization in the northwest region of South Asia. It was one of the early civilizations, the most widespread, its sites spanning an area stretching from northeast Afghanistan, through much of Pakistan, and into western and north western India. It flourished in the basins of the Indus river, which flows through the length of Pakistan, and along a system of perennial, mostly monsoon-fed, rivers that once coursed in the vicinity of the seasonal Ghaggar Hakra river in northwest India and eastern Pakistan. The Indus civilization is known for their urban planning, baked brick houses, elaborated drainage system, water supply systems, clusters of large non-residential buildings, and new techniques in handicraft and metallurgy. Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa being the largest cities resided people between 30,000 and 60,000. During the 3rd millennium BCE, the population scattered eastward and southward due to weaker monsoon and reduced water supply.
The Harapan civilization was the first site excavated during 20th century was then Punjab province of British India and now Pakistan. Later on, Mohenjo-Daro was discovered by the archaeological survey of India in 1861. By 2002, 1,000 mature Harapan cities and settlements had been discovered there are only five major urbanised cities like Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Dholavira, Ganeriwala and Rakhigarhi.
Vedic Civilization:
The Vedic period is the late bronze age and early Iron Age of the history of India. Vedas were composed in the northern Indian subcontinent, between the end of the urban Indus valley civilization and a second urbanisation which began in the central Indo Gangetic plain in 600 BCE. The liturgical texts which were formed on the basis of the influential Brahmanical Ideology, and which developed in the Kuru Kingdom, a tribal union of several Indo-Aryan tribes are known as Vedas. It contains knowledge of life during this period that have been interpreted to be historical and constitute the primary sources for understanding the period. These documents, alongside the corresponding archaeological record for the evolution of the Indo-Aryan and Vedic culture to be traced and inferred. The Vedas were composed and orally transmitted with precision by speakers of an Old Indo-Aryan language who had migrated into the north-western regions of the Indian subcontinent early in this period. The Vedic society were highly patriarchal and patrilineal. The Indo-Aryans entered Punjab in late bronze age, organised into tribes rather than kingdoms, and primarily sustained by a pastoral way of life. The Aryan culture started move towards the fertile western Ganges plain around 1200-1000 BCE. The stone tools were replaced by the Iron tools which allowed foe the clearing of the forests and the adoption of a more settled agriculture.
In the second half of the Vedic period towns, kingdoms and complex social differentiations distinctive to India was came into emergence. The Kuru Kingdom codification of orthodox sacrificial ritual also came into emergence.
Discovery of Indus civilization and Vedic civilization:
The Indus valley was discovered by the archaeological department of India under British raj in the year 1922. The Information known today was mostly by discoveries of artifacts found during the excavation, including stone tools, which suggest an extremely early date for human habitation and technology in the area.
Whereas the Vedic civilization came into knowledge by the Vedic scripts which were composed by the Aryans in that period. The Vedas are the chief source of information about this era. These scripts were in Sanskrit originally.
Time period and location of Indus civilization and Vedic civilization:
The nuclear dates of the civilization appear to be about 2500 BCE- 1700BCE. This civilization was beginning in the Indus river valley. Its two urbanized cities Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro, were located in present day Pakistan’s Punjab and Sindh provinces, and till gulf of Khambhat and far east of Yamuna river in India.
Vedic civilization was started in the late Bronze age and early Iron age in the year 1500 BCE-500 BCE. The population of Indus civilization were scattered towards the Indo-Gangetic plain due to lesser monsoon in the Indus civilization area.
Social structure of Indus civilization and Vedic civilization:
Many archaeologists theorize that there was a hierarchical social structure in Indus valley civilization. “Within Harappa, walls separated one section of the people from another, which clearly shows how the caste system existed way back, “said archaeologist, and Indologist. Dr. Jamkhedkar. The caste system has four main groups which are the Brahmins, the Kshatriyas, the Vaishyas, the Shudras.
The emergence of monarchical states in the later Vedic age led to a distancing of the rajan from the people and the emergence of a varna hierarchy. The society was divided into four social groups; Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. The later Vedic texts fixed social boundaries, roles, status and ritual purity for each of the groups.
Political organisation of Indus civilization and Vedic Civilization:
The Indus civilization’s people called their kings as Rajas. Instead of military strength, the ruler governed through trade and religion. Kings of the Indus civilization were not having the highest class or power, instead the priests were given the highest power and class.
In the Vedic period the Aryans were divided into tribes rather than kingdoms. The chief of the tribe was known as Rajan, the authority of Rajan was restricted by the tribal councils called Sabha and samiti. These two bodies were responsible for the governance of the tribe. The rajan was not allowed to accede the throne without the approval of Sabha.
Justice system of Indus civilization and Vedic civilization:
The Indus valley civilization is a theocracy government and a theocracy is run by a priest so the government and religion were combined. The people of Indus civilization believed in Karma; this played a very big role in their laws. Their Idea was to leave a wise life.
During the Vedic period the Sabha worked as a court to the people of the tribes. The disputes regarding boundaries of property were settled by the village elders. Yajnavalkya mentions three types of popular courts Puga, sreni and kula.
The contribution of justice system in Indian law:
Law in India, it is widely believed that the recorded history of law starts only in Vedic period. The ancient India had some sort of legal system even during the Bronze age and Indus valley civilization. The various stages of Indian law are classified as that during the Vedic period but in an evolved form.
Ancient India represented a distinct tradition of law and had a historically independent school of legal theory and practice. The foundation of court and panchayat samiti were taken from the Vedic period in an evolved and larger form.
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