After the Mohenjodaro and Harappa Civilizations declined then an audible silence prevailed for a short period of time in the rich timeline of Indian civilization. The next came the great period of Rigvedic civilization, which was definitely an outcome of the Post Vedic civilization. Change was witnessed almost in every sphere and the socio political and economic structure of India gained a matchless facet.

The battle of ten kings: There seems to have been a division among the Rigvedic tribes. One group included the Srnjayas and the Bharatas and the other group comprised Yadus, Turvasas, Druhyus and Purus. In the battle of Ten Kings all the people of Rigvedic India were involved. There were five tribes to the west of the Indus, the Alinas i.e. of modern Kafiristan, the Pakthas, the Bhalnases, the Sivas and the Vraisnins. The Anus, the Druhyus, the Turvasas, the Yadus and the Purus also joined this side. They are non-Aryan people viz. the Ajas, Sigrus and Yaksus joined this coalition. Risi Visvamitra was the priest of this coalition, against Sudas. Vasishta was the priest of the group in which Sudas was the leader. Sudas was a Bharata king of Tritsu family, which was settled in the country, which later came to be known as Brahmavarta i.e. the region between the Sarasvati and the Yamuna. In the battle that was fought on the Parusul or Ravi, the Bharatas emerged victorious, utterly routing the confederacy. Thus the Bharatas were able to become supreme of all the Rigvedic tribes and the country came to be known as Bharata.

The struggle against non-Aryans: Side by side with the struggle for supremacy among the different Aryan tribes there was a struggle for supremacy between the Aryans united against the non-Aryans. The non-Aryans who are called Dasa, Dasyu, Asura or Pisacha were different from the Aryans both in physical features and culture. They are called dark-skinned, having dark children and nose less. In culture they spoke an unintelligible language, they were devoid of rites, non-sacrificing, not worshipping the gods, and wanting in prayer. They are called reviling the Vedic gods and worshipping the phallus. These non-Aryans were an organized people. They had cities with forts of iron and stone. The Aryans were surrounded on all sides by these non-Aryan tribes and they prayed to Indra to destroy these non-Aryan tribes. In the end the Aryans were able to establish their supremacy over these non-Aryan tribes as well.

Rigvedic Polity
The family or Kuia was the smallest unit while the head of a family was called a rulopa. The head of a village or Grama was called Gramani. The tribe or Jana had its leader who was called Gopta or protector. The head of a state or Rastra was called Rajan. The king was there to protect his people against enemies. In return for his services the people obeyed him and offered presents. The king also acted as a Judge. He himself was above punishment or adandya. His ministers assisted the king in administration. The most important minister was the preceptor or Purohita while another minister was the Commander-in-chief i.e. Senani. The third one is the village headman or Gramani.

There were two popular bodies namely the Sabha and the Samiti. The Sabha was the council of elders. The Samiti was probably the larger assembly of the people in general. These popular bodies served as checks upon the autocracy of the ruler.

Justice: The accused had to pay fines for crimes committed by them. For example an accused had to pay the price of 100 cows for some crime.

Army: The army was composed of foot soldiers and charioteers. The infantry fought with bows and arrows, which were copper headed. They were clad in a coat of mail with hand-guard and helmet. They also fought with swords, spears and lances.

Agriculture: It can be assumed that cattle rearing were more important than agriculture in the beginning of this period. Out of the 10,462 hymns of the Rigveda, agriculture is mentioned only in 24 hymns. Of the cereals and pulses only barley is mentioned in this Samhita. But agriculture was developed towards the end of this period. In the first and the tenth mandas of the Rigveda many agricultural processes such as clearing of forests, ploughing of fields, sowing of seeds, reaping of corn, separating corn from the chaff are mentioned. In this period the owner of a piece of land was the individual who cultivated it. The farmers most probably paid bail in the form of corn to the leader of the tribe because he protected the people.

Crafts and Industries: From the Rigveda it is known that the crafts of wood, textiles, metals, pottery and leather were fully developed. The Rigveda mentions two metals namely gold and probably copper. Gold was used for making ornaments and also coins while Copper was used in making pillars, armors, helmets and weapons. The carpenters made chariots, carts, and wooden utensils. In this period people generally wore woolens clothes. Bags were made of leather so do containers for liquids, strings for bows, reins of horses and whips.

Trade and commerce: Most of the trade was carried on by exchange of goods but even in this period cow was considered a medium of trade. Niska was a gold necklace in the beginning but later it was also used as a coin for giving as a reward to a poet. The custom of haggling for fixing the prices of articles was in vogue even in that period. Probably the Rigvedic Aryans also used to carry on trade by going on sea voyages.