• During this period, the Aryans were mostly confined to the Indus region
• The Rig Veda refers to Sapta Sindhu or the land of seven rivers. This includes the five rivers of Punjab- Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, alongwith Indus and Saraswati. 

Political organization:

• Kula or family- basic unit
• Village or grama- several families joined together on the hem of their kinship to form a village or grama
• Gramani- leader of grama
• Visu – a larger unit
• Jana or tribe- highest political unit
• Tribal kingdoms at that time- Bharatas, Matsyas, Yedas and Purus
• Rajan or King- the head of the kingdom. The Rig Vedic Polity was normally monarchical and succession was hereditary 

The King was assisted by purohita or priest and senani or commander of the army in his administration. 

Two popular bodies-

• Sabha- council of elders
• Samiti- general assembly of entire people 

Social life:

• Patriarchal society
• Family or graham- basic unit of society
• Grahapati- head of family
• Monogamy was generally practiced while polygamy was prevalent among the royal and noble families
• Women were given equal opportunities for growth and development 
• Women poets- Apala, Viswara, Ghosa and Lopamudra
• Women could attend popular assemblies 
• No child marriage or sati
• The eating of cow’s meat was prohibited since it was a sacred animal
• Chariot racing, horse racing, music and dance were pastimes
• The social divisions were not rigid in the earlier period, as in the later one

Economic condition:

• Mainly pastoral people and their main occupation was cattle rearing
• Wealth was estimated in terms of cattle
• When they permanently settled in North India they began to practice agriculture

Other occupations:

• Carpentry 
• Workers in metal made a variety of articles with copper, bronze and iron
• Spinning- cotton and woollen fabrics were made
• Goldsmiths made ornaments
• Potters made vessels for domestic use

Trade:

• Rivers served as an important means of transport. Trade was conducted on barter system
• Later times- gold coins called nishka were used as medium of exchange

Religion:

• They worshipped natural forces like earth, fire, wind, rain and thunder
• Important rig vedic gods- Prithvi (Earth), Agni(Fire), Vayu(Wind), Varuna(Rain) and Indra(Thunder)
• Female gods- Aditi and Usha
• No temples or idol worship
• Prayers were offered to gods in the expectations of rewards, ghee, milk and grain as offerings