The Prevalence of Pastoralism in Later Vedic Times

The predominantly pastoral society of the Rigvedic times seems to have become agricultural and the tribal pastoralists came to be transformed into peasants. But the fact that the Later Vedic texts still provide a mass of information on the significance of cattle-keeping, which in turn is supported by PGW archaeology, leaves hardly any room for doubt about the prevalence of pastoralism along with agricultural activities during the period under our investigation. Moreover, cattle-rearing was vital not only from the point of view of agriculture, but also because of its use in various other fields. Cattle have been described in terms of food, in terms of home, nourishment and wealth, etc., in the Later Vedic texts (Max Mueller 1989).