Ancient India
Iron Age (1,000 BC–500 BC)
More Articles
- Iron Age (1,000 BC–500 BC)
- Introduction - Indian History
- Historical Sources (Literary & Archaeological Source)
- Human Evolution Pre-Historic Period
- The Stone Age/Lithic Age 30,00,000 BC to 1,000 BC
- 7 Highlights of India's Prehistoric Ages
- Origin & Culture of Aryans in Vedic India
- Mahajanapada Period (600 BC- 325 BC)
- Religious Movements (600 BC - 400 BC) – Jainism, Buddhism
- Maurya Period (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Post-Maurya/Pre-Gupta Period (185BC-319 AD)
- The Sangam Period (1st-3rd Century AD)
- The Gupta Period (319 AD - 540 AD)
- The Post-Gupta Period/Vardhana Dynasty (550 AD - 647 AD)
- Early Medieval Period: Rajputs to Cholas Overview
- History of Delhi Sultanate
- Vijayanagar Empire (1336-1565 AD)
- Religious Movements in 15th -16th Centuries
- Timeline of Mughal Period (1526-1857)
- Maratha State (1674-1720) and Maratha Confederacy (1720-1818)
- The Advent of the Europeans From (1498-1763)
- Expansion of British Power in India
- India’s Exploitation by the British Rule
- Socio-Religious Movements in 19th-20th Centuries
- Lower Caste/Caste Movements and Organisations
- Moderate Phase (1885-1905) - Indian National Congress
- Extremist Phase (1905-1917)
- The Gandhian Era: 1869–1948
- Miscellaneous - Indian History
- Brahmanic (Hindu) Texts
- Buddhist Texts and Jain Texts
- Historical and Semi-Historical Texts
- Biographical Texts - Indigenous Sources
- Greek Writers - Foreign Sources
- Chinese and Tibetan Writers
- Arabian & Arabic Writers
- Origin & Development of Indian Archaeology
- Inscriptions of Archaeological Sources
- Mauryan Inscriptions
- Post-Mauryan Inscriptions
- Gupta and Later Inscriptions in India
- South Indian Inscriptions
- Mesolithic Age in India (9,000 BC - 4,000 BC)
- Neolithic Age (7,000 BC - 1,000 BC)
- Neolithic Sites in India
- Chalco-Lithic Age (3,500 BC - 1,000 BC)
- Iron Using Cultures - Iron Age
- Harappan / Indus Civilization (2500 BC - 1750 BC)
- Vedic Culture (1500 BC – 600 BC)
- Rig Vedic/Early Vedic Period (1500 BC - 1000 BC)
- Later Vedic Period (1000 BC - 600 BC)
- Haryanka Dynasty (544 BC – 412 BC)
- Religious Movements of Jainism (600 BC - 400 BC)
- Religious Movements of Buddhism (600 BC - 400 BC)
- Maurya Period Sources (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Origin of the Maurya Dynasty (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Mauryan Administration & Art (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Gupta Administration: Society, Economy & Culture
- The Khilji Dynasty : 1290-1320 AD
- The Tughlaq Dynasty: 1320-1414 AD
- The Sayyed and Lodhi Dynasty
- Rise of Babur & Humayun in Mughal Period
- Sher Shah Suri Empire (1540–55): Second Afghan Empire
- The Mughal Empire Under Akbar (1556–1605)
- Jahangir to Aurangzeb (1605–1707)
- Later Mughal Empire and Its Administration
- Mughal Culture & Architecture Explained
- Rise of Maratha Power (1674–1720): Shivaji to Shahu
- Maratha Confederacy (1720–1818)
Iron Age (1,000 BC–500 BC)
The age in which men used implements of iron is known as the 'Iron Age'.
The 'Iron Age' in the world context began about 1,300 BC. The use of iron in India also began around this period.
Sub-Ages of the Iron Age in India
Based on the prevalence of iron, the Iron Age is divided into three sub-ages:
Sub-Age |
Time-Period |
Extension |
First Sub-Age |
1300BC-1000BC |
Limited to minor regions – Pirak (Baluchistan, Pakistan) & Hallur (Karnataka, India) |
Second Sub-Age |
1,000 BC–800 BC |
Complete Gangetic region & Karnataka – some parts of North & South India |
Third Sub-Age |
800 BC–500 BC |
Major regions of India – North India & South India (Megalith Culture) |
Literary Evidences
-
The Aryans of the Early Vedic Period (Rigvedic Period) did not know iron.
-
The word 'Ayas' is used in the Rig Veda, about which some scholars thought that this was iron metal. But it is a fact that the word 'Ayas' has been used in the general meaning of metal, not in the specific meaning of iron metal.
-
The Aryans of the Later Vedic Period had knowledge of iron. In the texts of this period, two words, 'Lohit Ayas & Krishna (Shyama) Ayas', have been found.
-
The 'Lohit Ayas' is used in the sense of copper metal, and 'Krishna (Shyama) Ayas' is used in the sense of iron metal.
-
'Krishna Yajurveda' (Taitariya Samhita) speaks of 6, 12, and 24 oxen yoked to the plough.
-
Scholars estimate that such a plough of heavy weight and ploughshare must have been made from iron. In 'Atharva Veda, there is a clear-cut mention of the ploughshare of iron.
-
In 'Shatapatha Brahmana', the relation of iron with the peasant class is established. It speaks at length about the ploughing rituals.
-
The heating and cooling of the ploughshare is described in the Buddhist text 'Suttanipata', a part of the Khuddaka Nikaya of 'Sutta Pitaka.
-
The Greek historian Herodotus mentioned in his book "Histories" that the Indian soldiers, who fought against the Greeks under the command of the Iranian emperor Xerxes in 480 BC, made use of the iron-tipped arrows for their bows.
-
Based on these literary evidences, it can be said that the use of iron tools for agriculture began around 800 BC–700 BC in India.
Archaeological Evidences
-
Based on archaeological evidence, it can be said that the use of iron in the Gangetic Valley of North India began about 1,000 BC, and by about 600 BC, the use of iron became more extensive.
-
The use of iron tools in agricultural activities resulted in agricultural advancement.
-
Now with the help of iron tools, the dense forests of the Gangetic valley of North India could be cleared, and the crops of paddy, sugarcane, cotton, wheat, barley, etc, were cultivated on a large scale.
-
The enactment of Iron technology affected not only agricultural activities but also other aspects of life, like domestic industries, architecture, etc.
-
According to some historians, the second urban revolution of ancient India, which was accomplished in the Gangetic valley at the time of Mahatma Buddha, was primarily dependent on the extension of iron technology (the first urban revolution – civilization of the Indus valley).
-
In the 6th century BC, there were 16 Mahajanapadas in Northern India, of which 10 were inside the Gangetic valley and only 6 were outside the Gangetic valley. The capitals of these mahajanapadas were developed in the form of cities.
-
The development of cities and archaeological finds of iron in the Gangetic valley clarified that iron technology played a central role in the urban revolution of the Gangetic valley.
Importance
-
In brief, it can be said that the use of iron metal brought not only technical change but also cultural change.
-
This iron metal played a key role in changing the Prehistoric period into the Historic period.
Iron-Implements Finding Sites
State |
Archaeological Sites (Archaeological Remains) |
Baluchistan (Pakistan) |
Pirak |
Uttar Pradesh |
Situated in Eta district, Ataranjikhera (earthen furnaces for metal slag and metal, iron tongs) & Jakhera (tron-made agri-implements, a sickle, a hoe); Situated in Bareilly district-Ahichhatra; Situated in Meerat district-Alamgirpur, Hastinapur (metal slag) & Allahpur: Situated in Agra district-Batesdi war & Khalaua |
Rajasthan |
Situated in Bharatpur district- Noh (axes with shaft hole); Situated in Jaipur district- Jodhpura (axes with shaft hole) |
Madhya Pradesh |
Situated in Ujjain district-Kayatha, Ujjam& Nagda; Situated in Sagar district, Eran |
Bihar |
Situated in Saran district-Chirand & Sonpur; Situated in Gaya district-Taradih |
West Bengal |
Situated in Burdhaman district-Pandu Rajar Dhibi; Situated in East Medinipur district-Mahishadal |
Maharashtra |
Situated in Dhulia district-Prakash, Situated in Nasik district- Bahal, Situated in Nagpur district Naikund, Takalghat, Khapa & Mahurjhan (iron-made axes), Situated in Vardha district- Lunapani & Khairwada |
Karnataka |
Situated in Dharwad district-Hallur (iron-made heads of arrow & spear) |
Tamil Nadu |
Situated in the North Arcot district- Paiyyampalli; |
Final Thoughts
The Iron Age in India marked a turning point in technological and cultural development. Spanning from 1300 BC to 500 BC, this era witnessed the gradual spread of iron tools from limited regions to the heart of the Gangetic valley.
Supported by rich literary references and archaeological discoveries, iron's introduction revolutionized agriculture, enabled forest clearance, and played a key role in urbanization during the second urban revolution.
The widespread use of iron tools not only transformed economic life but also helped bridge the Prehistoric and Historic periods, laying the foundation for the rise of ancient Indian civilization.
More Related Articles
What is History? The study of the Past is called ‘History’. The English word ‘History is derived from the Greek word ‘historia’, meaning research, in
Historical sources provide information about events of the past. They are mainly of two types: Literary Sources—These are written records such as religious texts, historic
Africa was the original homeland of humans. For this reason, Africa is often referred to as "the Cradle of Humankind." The following two theories are prevalent in connection with
During the early period of humans, some archaeological evidence was found in which stone implements were found in great numbers. That's why this period is called the Lithic Age, Le Stone Age. T
Definition & Features Derived from Greek: Chalco (Copper) + Lithic (Stone) = Copper-Stone Age. Marked by the use of copper alongside stone tools. The transitional phas
Origin of the Aryans The origin of the Aryans is debated. Some scholars say they were indigenous to India, while others argue they migrated from regions like Central Asia (as per Max Muller), E
The Mahajanapadas were sixteen great kingdoms or republics in ancient India during the 6th century BCE. These are mentioned in Buddhist (Anguttara Nikaya, Mahavastu) and Jain (Bhagavati Sutta)
Various religious movements viz. Buddhism, Jainismetc. were bom and grew up in the Post-Vedic Period known as the Period of Second Urbanisation or the Age of Buddha (6th Century BC to 4th Century
The Mauryan Empire (322–185 BCE) was one of the most powerful and centralized empires in Indian history, founded by Chandragupta Maurya and reaching its zenith under Emperor Ashoka. But h
I. Native Successors of the Mauryas Sunga Dynasty: 185 BC – 73 BC [Capital – Vidisha (M.P.)]The The Sunga Dynasty was established by Pushyamitra Sunga, a Brahmin Commande