Ashvamedha:![]()
At the end of the whole process, there was a grand ceremony. Kings of the neighboring kingdoms were invited to it.
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Taxation
- Large armies required more money.
- Kings began to collect taxes on a regular basis.
- Kings appointed officers to collect taxes from the people.
- Agriculture was the main source of revenue.
- The farmers gave one-sixth of their produce to the king. This was called ‘ Bhaga’ or share of the produce.
- The farmers began to produce more from their land. This was because of two factors-
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- The iron plough came to be used on a larger scale. It was an improvement over the wooden plough.
- The practice of transplanting paddy, that is, growing sapling separately and then planting them in the fields, became common.
- Other sources of revenue- Craftsmen such as carpenters, potters and weavers paid taxes, either in cash or kind or by offering free service to the king.
- There were also taxes on buying and selling of goods.
Trade
- Until this time, trade had been carried through barter system.
- Now, coins of silver and copper (punch marked coins) began to be used. This led to an increase in trade.
- Inland trade was brisk. Goods were sent far and wide.
- Bimbisara , the king of Magadha, built roads and bridges throughout his empire. This encouraged trade.
- Besides land routes, trade was carried out through sea routes.
- The main articles traded were silk, muslin, perfumes and ivory.
Towns
- Villages that grew in size became towns.
- Towns also grew around centers of trade and craft.
- Ujjayini, Vaishali, Ayodhya, Kaushambi, Tamralipti and Champa were some important towns of this period.
Society
Hierarchy of Caste system in Indian Society
- The people were grouped into varnas.
- There were four varnas- Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. These varnas were decided on the basis of birth.
- For example- If a person was born in a Brahmin family, that person would automatically become a Brahmin.
- People of different varnas performed different tasks.
- The Brahmins were expected to teach the Vedas and perform religious rituals and sacrifices.
- The Kshatriyas were warriors and fought wars.
- The Vaishyas were involved in trade and agriculture.
- Only three of the first Varnas could study the Vedas and perform sacrifices.
- The Shudras had to serve the other three groups.
- In addition, there was another group of people- the untouchables, who were even lower in social rank than the shudras.