Which of the following was not one of the reasons for the gradual weakening of the tribal assemblies in the later Vedic period?

Vedic Age

The Rig Vedic age is divided into two parts namely the Rig Vedic Period(1500 BC-1000BC), and the latte Vedic period(1000BC-600BC). The first phase has got its name (Rigveda) as the Rigveda is the literary source of this period. The two ages differ from each other in terms of social, political, and religious structure.

1. Rig Vedic society

(i) Society was egalitarian and warfare.

(ii) Society was patriarchal in nature and there was the provision of joint family.

2. Rigvedic Polity

(i) Kula was the fundamental unit of the society followed by Gram, Vish, and Jan, headed by Kulapa, Gramani, Vishayapati, and Rajan respectively.

(ii) Participation of women could be seen in Sabha, Samiti, and Vidhata.

3. Rigvedic Religion

(i) There existed the provision of polytheism and a number of deities were worshipped like Indra, Varuna, Agni, etc.

4. Rigvedic Literature

(i) Vedas are also called Shruti and Smriti and are four in number namely Rigveda, Yajur Veda, Sam Veda, and Atharv Veda.

(ii) Each Veda has its commentary called Brahman like Satpath Brahman, Aitareya Brahman, Kaushiktiye Brahman, etc.

(iii) Aranyaka was another text that is also called ‘Forest Books’.

5. Later Vedic Age

(i) The discovery of Iron made agriculture possible and the society became stable.

(ii) A number of business classes evolved called Guild, and the Varna system became birth-based.

(iii) The status of women in society deteriorated and society was guided by eight types of marriage.