The four Vedas constitute the main scriptures of the early period of Aryan dominance in the north (2000 BCE to around 500 BCE). For this reason, this period is often considered the Vedic era.
Each of the Vedas was a collection of poetic praises and supplications for the gods.
Originally, the Vedas were passed on orally. They were not written down until many centuries later—around the 11th century CE.
The oldest of the four Vedas is known as the Rig Veda.