With reference to the difference between the culture of Rigvedic Aryans and Indus Valley people, which of the following statements is/are correct?
- Rigvedic Aryans used the coat of mail and helmet in warfare whereas the people of Indus Valley Civilization did not leave any evidence of using them.
- Rigvedic Aryans knew gold, silver and copper whereas Indus Valley people knew only copper and iron.
- Rigvedic Aryans had domesticated the horse whereas there is no evidence of Indus Valley people having been aware of this animal.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
- 1 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct
- The Indo-Aryans succeeded everywhere because they had chariots drawn by horses, and introduced them for the first time into West Asia and India. The Aryan soldiers were probably also equipped with coats of mail (varman) and better arms. On the other hand, the Indus Valley Civilization has not left any direct evidence of using such warfare equipment.
Statement 2 is incorrect
- In the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation, Bronze, copper and other copper alloys were the primary materials used for crafting metal objects. Other processed metals included lead, gold, silver, and electrum.
- As per R.S Sharma, in the Indian subcontinent, iron is sometimes attributed to Lothal and to some sites in Afghanistan in Harappan times. Neither of these, however, represents pure iron metal nor working in iron. They were really copper objects containing iron ores. Iron gained prominence from around 1000 BC.
Statement 3 is correct
- Rigvedic Aryans domesticated the horse, and horses are frequently mentioned in the Rigveda.
- The horse, or asva, is regarded as an essential trait of the Aryan culture. The term asva in the Rig Veda and other texts appears in Sanskrit, Avestan, Greek, Latin, and other Indo-European languages.
- There is no conclusive evidence of the Indus Valley Civilisation being aware of or using horses.
