Read the following excerpt and answer the questions that follow:

"There is however the general point that the Later Vedic society reflected in archaeology was a society which had used iron. Iron objects are common to most of the PGW sites."

(Source: https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/64790/1/BLOCK%203.pdf)

(a) Which iron tools were used to improve agricultural yield in the Later Vedic period?

(b) How did the use of iron tools impact the Later Vedic period?

(a) Heavier ploughs were designed to improve agricultural yield in the Later Vedic period.

(b) The use of iron tools in the Later Vedic period had several significant impacts:

1. Improved Agriculture: Iron tools like ploughs made farming more efficient. These tools allowed for deeper plowing of the soil, leading to better cultivation of crops, especially in regions with tougher soil.
2. Expansion of Settlements: With the help of more effective farming tools, the Aryans were able to cultivate larger areas of land, which led to the growth of settlements.
3. Increased Productivity: The use of iron tools increased the productivity of agriculture, which supported the growing population and urbanization during the Later Vedic period.
4. Military Advantages: Iron also contributed to the development of stronger weapons (like swords and spears), which played a role in the growth of the Kshatriya warrior class and the expansion of territories through conquests.