The invasion of the Aryans is considered to be of immense importance and they are the first group to invade the sub continent. The Aryans were great warriors and they developed iron tools and weapons. Later they settled in the Gangetic valley and brought a large part of north India under their domination. In the early years of the Vedic Age there were a number of pastoral groups in the society. Gradually the society developed to an agricultural one in the post Rig Veda period.

The social structure started centering around the 4 Varnas. It is believed that the great Hindu epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana were composed during this period. In the later decades of the Vedic Period, the tribal system was replaced with the establishment of kingdoms which came to be known as Mahajanapadas. There were 16 Mahajanapadas which included Kosala, Kasi, Anga, Magadha, Vajji, Malla, Chedi, Kuru, Vatsa, Panchala, Matsya, Assaka, Surasena, Avanti, Gandhara and Kamboja. The Hindu rituals practiced during the later part of this period became complicated and the priestly class controlled them.