Nomadic Cultures

How Nomads and mobile People Lived:

Nomadic pastoralists moved over one distances with their animals. They lived on milk and other pastoral products. They also exchanged wool, ghee, etc. with settled agriculturist for grain, cloth, utensils and other products. The Banjaras were the most important trader-nomads.

Their caravan was called tanda. Sultan Alauddin khaliji used the Banjaras to transport grain to the city markets. Many pastoral tribes reared and sold animals, such as cattle and horses, to the prosperous people. Different castes of petty pedlars also travelled from village to village. There were castes of entertainers who performed in different towns and villages for their livelihood.

Changing Society: New castes and Hierarchies:

As the economy and the needs of society grew, people with new skills were required. Smaller castes, or jatis, emerged within varnas. For example, new castes appeared amongst the Brahmans. On the other hand, many tribes and social groups were taken into caste-based society and given the status of jatis.

Specialized artisans- smiths, carpenters and masons were also recognized as separate jatis by the Brahmans. Jatis, rather than Varna, became the basis for organizing society. Among the Kshatriyas, new Rajput clans became powerful. They gradually replaced the older rulers, especially in agricultural area. Here a developed society was emerging, and rulers, used their wealth to create powerful states.

The rise of Rajput clans to the position to the position of rulers set an example for the tribal people to follow. Gradually, with the support of the Brahmans', many tribes became part of the caste system. But only the leading tribal families could join the ruling class.

Religion: The adivasis revere nature and believe that there is life in everything around them.Different tribes have different gods, some believe in a formless creator who lives in the clouds. He appears sometimes in human form in dreams. The bhils believe in bhagavan or bholo iswor, who is their superme god. Among the naga tribes, there is belief in a god who created the earth out of the waters through earthquakes. The sons of this god now watch or mankind and punish those who do wrong . other deities without name or form live in the mountain forest, river, and lakes.

Nomadic cultures: Tribes like the Banjaras and the Lambadis were nomadic. Nomadic tribes are wanderers; they travel and change settlements frequently.

The banjaras were cattle herders originally from rajasthan. Banjaras transported grains from the villages for sale in the towns and cities.

A single tribe could own as many as 50,000-60,000 heads of cattle.They also worked as transporters for the Mughal armies. They carried their provision and arms, setting up camp on the outskirts of army encampments.

From the 14th century CE onwards, the Banjaras started travelling south , following the Turk and Mughal armies when they crossed the Deccan. "There were no navigable rivers and no roads to wheel their belongings.

Thousands of laden bullocks and carts had to travel on mere dust tracks,says capt.Briggs (1813CE) Banjaras can still be found in Andhra Pradesh and Karnatka

The banjara tribe was one of the most colorful tribal groups in India. The woman wore skirts and tops with elaborate embroidery and mirror work.

Interaction and social change: Tribal economies were mostly based on subsistence agriculture or hunting and gathering. Tribal members traded with outsiders for the few necessities they lacked, such as salt and iron. So contact with the outside world was limited.

By medieval times, interactions between tribal and non- tribal communities had increased markedly. Trade routes and highways linking places across the subcontinent often cut through the heart of tribal lands. Several tribes were absorbed into the larger Hindu society as Jatis ( or casters).

Tribes soon started looking beyond their village- based units and took the first steps towards the formation of states and kingdoms

Chapters

Towns Traders and Craftsperson I

Rulers and Buildings II

Rulers and Buildings I

New Kings and Kingdoms

Towns Traders and Craftsperson II

Tracing Changes Through Thousand Years - I