New Social and Political Groups


Tracing Changes Through Thousand Years - II - Concepts
Class - 7th Foundation NTSE Subjects
 
 
Concept Explanation
 

New Social and Political Groups

New Social and Political Groups: The 18th century CE witnessed major political and social changes in the Indian Subcontinent . It saw rapid decline of the Mughal empires, the rise of semi -independent states, the growth of regional cultures , and the establishment of the British Empire in India. It thus also marked the end of the medieval period of India history.

The study of the thousand years between 700 and 1750 is a huge challenge to historians largely because of the scale and variety of developments that occurred over the period. At different moments in this period new technologies made their appearance- like the Persian wheel in irrigation, the spinning wheel in weaving, and firearms in combat. New foods and beverages arrived in the subcontinent- potatoes, corn, chilies, tea and coffee.

This was also a period of great mobility. Groups of people traveled long distances in search of opportunity. The subcontinent held immense wealth and the possibilities for people to carve a fortune. One group of people who became important in this period was the rajputs, a name important in this period were the Rajputs, a name derived from “Rajaputra”, the son of a ruler.

There are some changes took place between 700 and 1750

  • Throughout this period there was a gradual clearing of forests and the extension of agriculture, a change faster and more complete in some areas than in others.
  • Changes in their habitat forced many forest- dwellers to migrate. Others started tiling the land and became peasants.
  • These new peasant groups gradually began to be influenced by regional markets, chieftains, priests, monasteries and temples.
  • They became part of large, complex societies, and were required to pay taxes and offer goods and services to local lords.
  • As a result, significant economic and social differences emerge amongst peasants. Some possessed more productive land, others also kept cattle, and some combined artisanal work with agricultural activity during the lean season.
  • As society became more differentiated, people were grouped into jatis or sub-castes and ranked on the basis of their backgrounds and their occupations. Ranks were not fixed permanently, and varied according to the power, influence and resources controlled by members of the jati.

    Jatis framed their own rules and regulations to manage the conduct of their members. These regulations manage the conduct of their members. These regulations were enforced by an assembly of elders, described some areas as the jati panchayat. But jatis were also required to follow the rules of their village. Several villages were governed by a chieftain. Together they were villages were governed by a chieftain. Together they were only one small unit of a state.

     The various groups that became politically important between 700 and 1750 were Rajputs, Sikhs, Marathas, Jats, Ahoms, Kayasthas etc.

    Sample Questions
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    Question : 1

    Rajput is a name derived from the word "Rajaputra" which means______ .

    Right Option : A
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