Towns Early States and Economies (c. 600 BCE-600 CE) There were several developments in different parts of the subcontinent during the long span of 1,500 years following the end of the Harappan civilisation. This was also the period during which the Rigveda was composed by people living along the Indus and its tributaries. Agricultural settlements emerged in many parts of the subcontinent, including north India, the Deccan Plateau, and parts of Karnataka. Besides, there is evidence of pastoral populations in the Deccan and further south. New modes of disposal of the dead, including the making of elaborate stone structures known as megaliths, emerged in central and south India from the first millennium BCE. In many cases, the dead were buried with a rich range of iron tools and weapons. From c. sixth century BCE, there is evidence that there were other trends as well. Perhaps the most visible was the emergence of early states, empires and kingdoms. Underlying these political processes were other changes, evident in the ways in which agricultural production was organised. Simultaneously, new towns appeared almost throughout the subcontinent. Historians attempt to understand these developments by drawing on a range of sources – inscriptions, texts, coins and visual material. As we will see, this is a complex process. You will also notice that these sources do not tell the entire story.Read more...
Many of us know India either by the name of "India" or "Bharata". Some who have a little interest in history, also, know India by the name of "Bharatvarsha" or "Aryavarta". But in past immemorial, India was known by several different names in several different eras and societies and some of those names are listed here: Jambudvipa Jambudvipa is the ancient name of India which literally means “the land of Jambu trees” and can be found in numerous religious texts of various Sanathan Dharma ’s offshoots viz. Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The Jambu or Jambul means Indian blackberry and dvipa means the continent. Nabhivarsha In Jain texts, India was known as Nabhivarsha, the country of Nabhi. Nabhi was a Chakravarti King and father of first Jain thirthankara Rishabhanatha. In ancient Hindu texts, a different definition for the Nabhivarsha is given. According to Hindu texts, here Nabhi means “navel of the Brahma” and varsha means “the country.” Arya...
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