Eminent historian BD Chattopadhyaya passed away recently. Go through this article to understand his contribution.

Also, expect a question related to Early Medieval this year, esp the debate surrounding it's characterization as Feudal Age, it's economy as well as Emergence of Rajputs.

https://thewire.in/history/bd-chattopadhyaya-early-medieval-india-obituary

#feudalism #earlymedieval #historian #historyinnews #historiography #debate

Factors which paved the way for the rise of feudalism in India:

1. The concept of Dharma Vijaya, which was first mentioned in Arthashastra. In other words, Shakas, Kushanas, Guptas avoided complete annexation of defeated Kings, rather, they were allowed to rule as subordinated. This definitely created a hierarchy.

2. External invasions led to political fragmentations, viz. Hun invasions and Turkish invasions.

3. Land grants.

4. Decline in trade & commerce and money economy at least in some parts of the Indian subcontinent.


Features of Indian feudalism:

1. Political fragmentation and increased number of subordinate kings.

2. Rise of intermediaries between King and cultivators.

3. Emergence of overlord and subordinate peasantry. Overlords claimed a large part of the agrarian surplus on account of their supposed ownership of land and peasant-cultivator obliged to such exploitation on account of his loyalty to tradition and customs.

4. Landlordism was associated even with temples and monasteries.

5. In at least some of the land grants, peasants and craftsmen were tied with the land. So, they were transferred to the donees along with land. This resulted into feudalisation of agriculture and crafts, also known as Jajmani system.

6. Some of the big feudal lords started to give a part of their grant to subordinate chiefs. Thus, started the subinfeudation (hierarchy of lords).

7. Some of the grantees had military obligation to meet.

8. Feudal consciousness had been expressed in contemporary art and religion also.

Differences between European and Indian Feudalism:

1. Serfdom and manorial system were absent in India.

2. In the European context, feudalism was a phase which emerged out of the slave based economic production model i.e. a slave based economy to a serf based economy. In India, slaves existed but they were mainly deployed within household. Slave based production system was absent in India.

#feudalism #earlymedieval

From tomorrow, I will start posting questions in the morning and answer pointers after some time. Lets start our activity with the focus on questions and answers.

I will begin with Early Medieval India (ie after Post-Gupta era) and first try to cover Medieval India and then onwards. We will go point by point as per the syllabus.

Suggestion:
Try to write answers by your own. Don't just collect the data. It seldom helps.

While writing, try to exhibit conceptual clarity, mentioning proper sources, historiographical understanding, all of it with lucid writing within word limit.

PS:
▪️Apart from questions, i will also post various write-ups, news articles, topical summaries, expert views, historians opinions here to enrich your preparation.

▪️I am also planning to start mapping practice soon. Mapping is a compulsory and a very important part of Paper 1. And it is really a low-hanging fruit which students often neglect.

#announcement
@nikhilhistoryoptional

Answer Writing Practice
Paper I: 13. Early Medieval India, 750-1200:

Question 1:
Trace the characteristic features of Chola kingship on the basis of inscriptions.

#Earlymedieval #Chola #Polity #inscription #AnswerWritingPractice

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Answer Writing Practice
Paper I: 13. Early Medieval India, 750-1200:

Answer 1:

Sources: Inscriptions to be mentioned in the answer
a. Prashastis - Tiruvalangad Copper Plates, Larger Leiden Plates and the Anbil Plates, Kanya Kumari Inscription of Vira Rajendra etc
b. Numerous Land Grant Inscriptions - first section called Meykirtis
c. Temple inscriptions - Uttaramerur, Tanjavur
--------------------------
There are generally three typical aspects about the Chola state. You should use them to construct the answer.
a. Nature of Chola state - centralized, segmentary, feudal, early state
b. Structure of Chola administration from top to bottom
c. Local self government under Cholas
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Generic type Intro
Imperial Cholas rose to eminence in the 9th c CE when Vijayalaya seized Tanjavur from Pallavas and greatly spread during the era of Rajaraja and Rajendra who succeeded in creating a huge empire spanning entire South India and influencing even SE Asia.

Historiographical Intro
Nature of kingship in imperial Chola has been subjected to the great controversy due to the differing paradigms suggested by scholars like Nilkanth Shastri, Burten Stein, Karashima and Subbarayulu.
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Additional Pointers
a. Legitimization - Sangam era legacy - names of earlier kings

b. Dominance of Sanskritic and Brahmanic traditions
i. Itihasa-Puranic tradition - Suryavamshi origin (Mythical origin in genealogies)
ii. Kshatriya origin - Varman suffix to various Chola kings
iii. Dharmopadeshaka - another title
iv. Hiranyagarbha and Tulabhara ceremonies

c. Achievements publicized
i. Mention of wars and military exploits of kings
ii. Various land grants

d. Example - Rajaraja Chola brought various feudatories under control, landed magnates incorporated into state system
i. Kshatriyashikhamani title to Rajaraja
ii. Gifts to meritorious Brahmins - to create support base.
iii. Title such as Ulakananda Perumal (Trivikrama who measured Earth) to Rajaraja

#Earlymedieval #Chola #Polity #inscription #AnswerWritingPractice

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Answer Writing Practice
Paper I: 13. Early Medieval India, 750-1200:

Question 2:
Discuss the role of women in politics in the Early Medieval era.

#Earlymedieval #women #gender #social #AnswerWritingPractice
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Answer Writing Practice
Paper I: 13. Early Medieval India, 750-1200:

Answer 2
Introduction 1:
Notwithstanding the patriarchal nature of society, the political history of early medieval India gives several instances of queens succeeding to the throne.

Introduction 2:
The political domain remained essentially masculine, but women worked in different capacities which marked a specific feature of gender relation in the early medieval period.

Introduction 3:
The Brahmanical literature in the Early Medieval favoured males and denied women public roles of authority. Other texts like Rajtarangini however not only highlight the women sovereign rulers but also of women’s agency behind the throne.
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Kashmir Examples:
Three female rulers of Kashmir (Yashovati, Sugandha and Didda of Gonda, Utpala and Yashakara dynasties respectively)

Odisha Examples: (Bhauma-Kara dynasty)
Prithivimahadevi ascended the throne at the behest of feudatories. Dandimahadevi, Dharmamahadevi, and Valkulamahadevi were other Bhauma-Kara queens.

Deccan and South Indian Examples:
🔸Eastern Chalukyas, Vijayamahadevi became ruler after the death of her husband. She is known to have issued a land grant to Brahmanas.

🔸A Kadamba queen named Divabbarasi is known to have ruled till her minor son attained majority. She too made land grants.

🔸Rudramadevi was a 13th-century Kakatiya queen of Andhra who succeeded to the throne on being nominated by her father.
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Other Political Roles:
🔸Besides the rulers, a large number of women also participated actively in court politics in different capacities as queen, princesses, low caste wives, concubines and servant girls.
🔸Besides these royal women, courtesans, temple dancers, wives, mothers and widows were also depicted as playing important roles in court politics.
🔸Besides politics, some royal and non-royal women were also shown patronizing religious buildings and other activities.
🔸Besides being rulers, some of the royal women were appointed as governors, administrators, village chieftain, counselor etc.
🔸Cross-cousin marriages and matrimonial alliances among royal families also allowed women to use their maternal connections politically and socially even after marriage.
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Conclusion 1:
Women’s participation in power politics did not remain uniform in the early medieval times. Various instances indicate that although political power in early medieval India was generally wielded by men, it could devolve on women in certain circumstances.

Conclusion 2:
However, the nature of society and state remained patriarchal in nature. The power these royal women exercised essentially remained subject to patriarchal norms.


#EarlyMedieval #Women #Gender #Social #AnswerWritingPractice
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Answer Writing Practice
Paper I: 14. Early Medieval India, 750-1200:

Question 3:
Throw light on the Bhakti of Alvar and Nayanar saints while underlining the significance of Bhakti movement in the history of South India. (250 words, 15 marks)

#Earlymedieval #bhakti #religion #south #dravida #tamil #AnswerWritingPractice

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