Later Vedic Period (Painted Grey Ware Phase)

Political Organisastion
Rigvedic popular assemblies lost and royal power increased. The sabha and samiti conntinued to hold the ground out their character changed.

A rudimentary taxation system began with sangrathitri.




Social

• The four fold division of society became a clear-initially basedon occupation, which later became hereditary: Brahmins,(Priests), Kshatriyas(Warriors), Vaishyas(agriculturists, cattle-rearers, traders) and Shudras (servers of the upper three).
• The institution of gotra appeared for the first time in this age.

Economy

• Agriculture remainsmain occupation but methods of cultivation improved.
• The gold bar, 'Nishka' (weight-320 ratis) was the unit of value.
• Indra and Agni lost their importance. 'Prajapati (the creator) became supreme. Vishnu came to be conceived as the preserver and protector of the people.