Heterodox Sects The ascetic wanderers and teachers attracted groups of followers and established various sects. Their philosophies encompassed antinomian (belief that divine grace takes away the necessity of obeying moral law), materialist... Read more »
Who is Jain? A Jain is a follower of Jina. A Jina is a victor or conqueror. The Jains are followers of certain ascetics who obtained omniscience and who preached a doctrine... Read more »
RISE OF NEW RELIGION The post Vedic society was divided into 4 varnas viz. Brahmins, Kshatriya, Vaishyas and Shudras. Birth had become the basis of varnas and two higher varnas viz. Brahmins... Read more »
Introduction Agriculture improved during this phase of development in the middle Gangetic plains. Wet rice cultivation began to yield more produce of rice than other crops, thus creating the necessary agrarian surplus.... Read more »
Later Vedic Culture The Later Vedic culture is dated to the period between 1000 BCE and 700–600 BCE. The Painted Grey Ware Culture of the Iron Age, which has been identified by... Read more »
Introduction A conventional view of the timeline of Indian history would simply shift its themes from the Indus Civilization through the Vedic Culture to the Age of the Mahajanapadas. This chapter focuses... Read more »
Introduction The Indus Civilisation represents the first phase of urbanisation in India. While the civilisation was in its peak, several cultures, namely, Mesolithic and Neolithic cultures prevailed in other parts of India.... Read more »