The battle which was fought between Pandavas and Kauravas is known as Mahabharata.
The battle of Mahabharata was fought for 18 days.
Key Concepts Covered
This question tests your understanding of the following concepts from the chapter The Vedic Period: Question, Battle, Mahabharata, Long, Fought, The Vedic Period. These are fundamental topics in History & Civics that students are expected to master as part of the ICSE Class 9 curriculum.
A thorough understanding of these concepts will help you answer similar questions confidently in your ICSE examinations. These topics are frequently tested in both objective and subjective sections of History & Civics papers. We recommend revising the relevant section of your textbook alongside practising these solved examples to build a strong foundation.
How to Write Short Answers
Short answer questions require concise, focused responses. Begin with a clear definition or statement that directly addresses the question. Support your answer with one or two key points or examples. Keep your response to 2-4 sentences. Avoid unnecessary elaboration but ensure you cover all parts of the question. Use subject-specific terminology to demonstrate your understanding.
Key Points to Remember
- Include specific dates, names, and events to support your answers.
- Understand causes and consequences of historical events.
- Compare and contrast different viewpoints where relevant.
- Use chronological order when describing sequences of events.
Practice more questions from The Vedic Period — History & Civics, Class 9 ICSE
Chapter Overview: The Vedic Period
The Vedic Period (c. 1500–600 BCE) is divided into the Early Vedic (Rigvedic) Period and the Later Vedic Period. The Aryans migrated into the Indian subcontinent and settled along the Sapta Sindhu (seven rivers) region. The Rigveda, the oldest Vedic text, provides information about Early Vedic society, which was pastoral, semi-nomadic, and organised into tribal units (jana) led by a chief (rajan).
During the Later Vedic Period, the Aryans expanded eastward into the Ganga-Yamuna Doab. Society became more complex with the emergence of the varna system (Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras), settled agriculture replaced pastoralism, and kingdoms (janapadas) replaced tribal units. Religious practices shifted from simple Rigvedic fire rituals to elaborate yajnas and sacrifices. The Upanishads introduced philosophical thought emphasising the concepts of Brahman (universal soul) and Atman (individual soul).
Board Exam Weightage: 5-6 marks | Difficulty: Moderate
Early vs Later Vedic Period
| Aspect | Early Vedic | Later Vedic |
|---|---|---|
| Period | c. 1500–1000 BCE | c. 1000–600 BCE |
| Region | Sapta Sindhu (Punjab) | Ganga-Yamuna Doab, eastern UP |
| Economy | Pastoral, cattle-rearing | Settled agriculture, use of iron plough |
| Political unit | Tribe (jana), elected chief | Kingdom (janapada), hereditary king |
| Women’s status | Relatively high; could attend sabhas | Declined; excluded from rituals and assemblies |
| Religion | Simple prayers, Indra and Agni worship | Elaborate yajnas, Prajapati and Vishnu worship |
Must-Know Concepts
- Vedic Literature: Rigveda (hymns), Samaveda (music), Yajurveda (rituals), Atharvaveda (spells); later texts — Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads
- Sabha and Samiti: Tribal assemblies that checked the king’s power in Early Vedic period; declined in Later Vedic times
- Varna System: Initially occupation-based and flexible; became rigid and hereditary in the Later Vedic Period
- Ashrama System: Four stages of life — Brahmacharya (student), Grihastha (householder), Vanaprastha (forest-dweller), Sanyasa (ascetic)
- Iron use: Iron (krishna ayas) enabled clearing of dense forests and deep ploughing in the Ganga plains
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Writing that the varna system was rigid from the beginning — it was flexible in the Early Vedic Period
- Confusing Sabha (council of elders) with Samiti (general assembly of people)
- Stating that the Aryans were urban — they were pastoral/rural in the Early Vedic and agricultural in the Later Vedic period
- Attributing Upanishadic philosophy to the Early Vedic Period — it belongs to the Later Vedic Period
Scoring Tips
- Comparison questions between Early and Later Vedic are extremely common — master the table above
- Always mention the decline of women’s status as a key change in the Later Vedic Period
- Connect the use of iron to agricultural expansion and the rise of kingdoms
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the four Vedas?
Rigveda (collection of hymns, oldest), Samaveda (melodies for rituals), Yajurveda (sacrificial formulas), and Atharvaveda (spells, charms, and medicinal knowledge).
How did women’s status change?
In the Early Vedic Period, women like Gargi and Maitreyi participated in intellectual debates and attended assemblies. By the Later Vedic Period, they lost access to education, rituals, and assemblies, and practices like child marriage emerged.
What was the significance of iron?
Iron tools enabled clearing of the dense Ganga plains for agriculture, making deep ploughing possible. This shift from pastoralism to settled farming led to surplus production, urbanisation, and the rise of kingdoms (janapadas).