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The Vedic Period is the period is the period during which the Vedas, the oldest sacred texts of the Indo-Aryans, were being composed. Scholars place the Vedic period in the second and first millennia BCE continuing up to the sixth century BC based on literary evidence. The associated culture, sometimes referred to as Vedic civilization, was centred in the northern and northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent. Its early phase saw the formation kingdoms of ancient India. In its late phase, it saw the rise of the Mahajanapadas, and was succeeded by the Maurya Empire, the golden age, classical age of Sanskrit literature, and the Middle kingdoms of India. The origin of the Vedic civilization, Indo-Aryan migration and Gandhara Grave culture related cultures remains controversial and politically charged in Indian society, often leading to disputes on the history of Vedic culture. The Rigveda is primarily a collection of religious hymns, and allusions to, but not explanation of, various myths and stories, mainly in the younger books I to X. This wide-ranging book offers a succinct and engaging narrative of the history of the Indian subcontinent, tracing the development of its society, culture and polity.