About the Book: The book explores the nature and history of ancient Indian life during the period of the Mantras. More specifically, it focuses on the Vedic age to reconstruct the lives of ancient Indians. This volume covers the time period from 1500 bce to the later Vedic age, when the Vedas and other Sanskrit texts were composed. The Vedic civilization, particularly the relationship between the Aryas and the Dasyus, as well as the emergence of Aryan culture, is given significant emphasis in this book. The book also discusses the lives of the nobility and priestly class, agrarian practices, trade practices, housing and settlement patterns, food and drinking habits, entertainment, funerary customs, and theological understanding.