Final answer:
The Vedas were written between 1500 and 900 BCE, and include religious and philosophical texts central to the Vedic tradition, composed by the Indo-Aryan tribes and later organized and codified.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the ancient texts, the Vedas were estimated to have been written between 1500 and 900 BCE. This group of texts included the Rigveda, the Samaveda, the Yajurveda, and the Atharvaveda, which are the oldest of the Hindu scriptures. They were composed by the Indo-Aryan tribes settled in northern India and consist of various hymns and rituals that are central to Vedic religion and culture. The Rigveda, believed to be the most ancient, was organized around 1200 BCE during the rule of the Kuru monarchs, unifying various clan's ancestral knowledge. The later writings, such as the Upanishads, dating from around 800 to 200 BCE, reflect philosophical thought and were included in the Vedic texts as commentaries. These texts are considered both religious and philosophical as they explore the purpose of life, the mind, and fundamental concepts such as Brahman, dharma, and atman, and were taught through a dialectical method involving dialogues.