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
@nikhilhistoryoptional

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.
-------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------
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.
-------------------------------------------
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
@nikhilhistoryoptional

#women #modern #socialreform #education