[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Polity, law and society](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity) › [Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968) › c7.133 # Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.133 Republics in Ancient India, c. 1500 B.C.–500 B.C. c7.133 - **Language:** English ### [c7.133](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.133) Of the manner and procedure of choice we know almost nothing from the Vedic sources. In the Greek assembly, the manner of showing approval or dissent was by shouting.⁴ The Germans, at the time Tacitus wrote, expressed their approval by the clamour of their weapons which they proudly carried with them.⁵ Freeman says of the Homeric assembly that "there is no formal reckoning of votes; but I suspect that any formal reckoning of votes is a refinement belonging to a much later stage of political life. To shout or to clash the arms is the primitive way of declaring assent."⁶ That the Vedic assembly expressed their approval by observing silence in the manner of the Buddhist \*Saṅgha\*, though not impossible, does not seem probable in the light of the general attitude of the period as reflected in the \*Ṛg Veda\*. - [Previous: c7.132](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.132) - [Next: c7.134](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.134) - [Up: c7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.133](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.polity.sharma-1968.c7.133) · Pramāṇa