Ancient India Part 2: The Vedic Period (1500 – 500 BCE)

The first era of Indian civilization that left a written record behind is known as “Vedic” because it produced the Vedas, which is Sanskrit for “knowledge”. These are the earliest works composed in Sanskrit and the oldest texts of Hinduism. Let's examine the Vedic period, including its four varnas, or classes, and the organization of various states in the region over a millennium or so.