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Module - I Warrior System in Ancient India

Military History
The family was the basic unit of the Rig Vedic society. The group consisting of families
of Ancient India
was called 'Clan' and one or more Clans were called 'Jana' or tribe. As the tribes
became bigger with more population the requirement of land became larger and bigger
boundaries were formed. This was the first boundary created and the tribes protected
their land from animals and other tribes. Some tribes migrated to different parts of
India and in this process came in contact with other tribes thus resulting in conflicts and
Note wars.

1.2 Formation of Army
1.2.1 Why were Armies Created?

What happens when tribes migrate to other places and want to live with those already
settled in those areas? It results in rivalry, conflicts and ultimately wars. The expanding

and migrating tribes created larger boundaries of their land and needed separate men
to protect their land, livestock and people. They formed armies from among physically
strong and capable men to protect it. As tribes became bigger, they settled down and

formed societies and created laws of marriage and property. They chose a leader who
was named a 'Bhupati' and later called a King.

Societies faced threat from burglars and others who would steal cattle amongst other
things. It was also a custom to seek the hand of a princess in marriage by proving one's
strength or ability to be superior. If marriage was denied it resulted in fights. People
generally fought with each other on three major issues; of capture of territory and
wealth, in retaliation to cattle lifting and on refusal of marriage with the woman of
another tribe.

Activity 1.1

You must have realized that mankind evolved with time and adjusted, changed and
formed rules as per their needs. Trace the extent of the Harappan and Mohanjodaro
civilization on a map. Also identify villages along major rivers in Punjab and Haryana
and compare that with the villages in the deserts of Rajasthan. This will help you to
realize the importance of water as a source of life and why in later years wars were
fought to conquer such territory.

We have seen how tribes formed societies and created boundaries. The tribes migrated
and became larger leading to fights over cattle, territory etc. They had to create armies
to protect them. Let us now see how they selected soldiers and invented weapons to
fight.

1.2.2 The Society

The early vedic society did not have any caste system. Occupation was not based on
birth but based on skills and natural flair for a particular activity. However, chiefs,

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MILITARY HISTORY