Indian Valley civilization (IVC) is indigenous and was developed by the Dravidians, whereas Aryan Civilization (AC) is believed to be a civilisation of foreigners. IVC is exclusively studied through archaeological sources, as its pictographic script has yet to be deciphered, whereas AC is studied through extensive literature compiled by the Aryans, known as Vedic literature.
DIFFERENCES
- Indus society is believed to be matriarchal, whereas Vedic society is patriarchal and based on the joint-family system.
- Indus society was a class-divided society, with social differences between the rich and the poor, whereas Vedic society was a Chaturvarna society.
- IVC was a highly urbanised civilisation with an agrarian economy, specialisation in crafts, and national and international trade, whereas Vedic civilisation was initially pastoral and later, in the second phase, became agrarian. Comparatively, there were fewer industries and fewer crafts in IVC. Rice was the staple food of the Aryans, whereas wheat and barley were the staple foods of the Indus people.
- The political and administrative system of IVC is unknown, whereas Vedic polity was initially tribal and democratic. Later, it was replaced by an autocratic and monarchical system.
- The Indus people worshipped the Mother Goddess and Pashupati/Mahadeva, along with the bull, tree, and snake. The worship of human sexual organs was also present.The Aryans initially worshipped natural forces represented by Indra, Varuna, Agni, and Maruts. In the later period, the Trimurtis emerged. Worship was highly ritualistic and speculative in the early period and highly spiritualistic and speculative in the later period.
SIMILARITIES
- In both the civilisations, rituals were accompanied by animal sacrifice.
- The people of both civilisations were supersticious and wore amulets to ward off evil.
- The cropping pattern was similar. Similar industries, such as jewellery, shell, and bead-making, were found in both the civilisations.
- Coins were not found in either civilisation. Trade was carried out through the barter system.
- Animal and tree worship was common to both the civilisations.
Though both the civilisations were contradictory in nature. The two civilisations were the two pillars of the present civilisation.