Chapter 5: Tribes, Nomads and Settled Communities
Overview of the Chapter
Understanding the Chapter
This chapter delves into the lives of tribes, nomads, and settled communities in medieval India. It covers their social structures, occupations, and interactions with settled agricultural societies and state authorities. The chapter also explores the transition of some tribes to settled communities and their integration into the agrarian society.
Tribal Societies
Characteristics of Tribal Societies
Social Structure: Tribal societies were often organized on the basis of kinship ties. They did not follow the caste system prevalent in settled societies.
Leadership: Tribal chiefs were usually the heads of tribes and were often hereditary positions. They had significant influence over their tribes and were responsible for maintaining order and leading during conflicts.
Important Tribes
The Gonds: A large tribe in central India, particularly in the regions of present-day Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh.
Gond Kingdoms: Some Gond chiefs established powerful kingdoms, such as the kingdom of Garha Katanga.
The Ahoms: Originated in the Brahmaputra valley in Assam, they established the Ahom kingdom in the 13th century.
Ahom Society: Known for their unique social and administrative system called Paik, where every adult male had to serve in the army or other state services.
Nomadic and Pastoral Groups
Characteristics of Nomadic Groups
Lifestyle: Nomads did not have permanent settlements and moved from place to place in search of pastures for their livestock and suitable grazing grounds.
Economy: Primarily relied on animal husbandry, trading livestock products, and sometimes engaging in seasonal agriculture.
Important Nomadic Groups
The Banjaras: Known as traders, the Banjaras moved in caravans called tanda. They transported grains, salt, ghee, and other commodities.
The Gaddi Shepherds: In the western Himalayas, they were known for transhumance, migrating annually with their flocks between summer and winter pastures.
Interaction with Settled Communities
Conflicts and Cooperation
Conflicts: Tribes and nomads often came into conflict with settled agricultural communities over resources like land and water.
Cooperation: There were also instances of cooperation, with nomads trading their goods with settled communities and tribes integrating into agricultural society over time.
Role in the Economy
Trade and Commerce: Nomadic groups like the Banjaras played a crucial role in the economy by facilitating trade and the movement of goods across regions.
Agriculture: Some tribes transitioned to settled agricultural communities and contributed to the agrarian economy.
Tribal States and Kingdoms
Establishment of Tribal Kingdoms
Gond Kingdoms: Gond chiefs like Aman Das and Rani Durgavati established powerful kingdoms. Rani Durgavati, a Gond queen, is known for her resistance against the Mughal forces.
Ahom Kingdom: The Ahoms established a powerful kingdom in Assam, which successfully resisted Mughal expansion.
Administrative Systems
Gond Administration: Gond kingdoms had well-organized administrative systems with officials appointed for various functions, including revenue collection and military organization.
Ahom Administration: The Paik system was central to the Ahom administration, where every adult male had to contribute labor or military service.
Transition to Settled Life
Factors Leading to Settlement
Agricultural Opportunities: The availability of fertile land and the benefits of settled agriculture led some tribes to adopt a settled lifestyle.
Integration into State Systems: Interaction with settled agricultural societies and state authorities facilitated the transition of some tribes to settled communities.
Impact on Social Structure
Changes in Social Hierarchy: Transitioning to settled life often led to changes in social structure, with tribes adopting aspects of the caste system and integrating into the broader social hierarchy of settled communities.
Cultural Contributions
Art and Craft
Distinctive Art Forms: Tribes had their own distinctive art forms, crafts, and traditions, which enriched the cultural diversity of the region.
Handicrafts: Many tribal groups were skilled in making handicrafts, weaving, and other forms of traditional art.
Summary of the Chapter
Key Points
The chapter covers the diverse lifestyles and social structures of tribes, nomads, and settled communities in medieval India.
It discusses the interaction between these groups and settled agricultural societies, including conflicts, cooperation, and economic contributions.
The chapter also highlights the transition of some tribes to settled communities and their integration into the agrarian society.
Additional Information
Key Terms and Concepts
Tribes: Social groups based on kinship ties, often with their own distinct culture and traditions.
Nomads: People who move from place to place in search of pastures and grazing grounds for their livestock.
Settled Communities: Groups that practice settled agriculture and have permanent settlements.
Paik System: An administrative and labor system used by the Ahoms.
Transhumance: The seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures.
Important Places
Garha Katanga: A powerful Gond kingdom in central India.
Brahmaputra Valley: The region where the Ahoms established their kingdom.
Notable Personalities
Aman Das: A Gond chief who established the kingdom of Garha Katanga.
Rani Durgavati: A Gond queen known for her resistance against the Mughals.
Ahom Rulers: The rulers of the Ahom kingdom who successfully resisted Mughal expansion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
A tribe is a social group based on kinship ties, often with its own distinct culture and traditions.
The Gonds were a large tribe in central India, particularly in regions like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh.
The Paik system was an administrative and labor system used by the Ahoms, where every adult male had to serve in the army or other state services.
The Ahom kingdom was established by the Ahoms in the Brahmaputra valley in Assam in the 13th century.
The Banjaras were a nomadic group known for their role as traders, moving in caravans called tanda to transport goods like grains, salt, and ghee.
Transhumance is the seasonal movement of people with their livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures.
Rani Durgavati was a Gond queen known for her resistance against the Mughal forces.
The Gaddi Shepherds were known for their practice of transhumance and contributed to the economy through animal husbandry and trade.
Nomadic groups like the Banjaras facilitated trade by transporting goods across regions, thereby connecting different markets.
The primary occupation of the Gonds was agriculture, along with hunting and gathering.
Garha Katanga was a powerful Gond kingdom known for its organized administration and resistance against external invasions.
The Ahoms resisted Mughal expansion through military strategies and fortifications, maintaining their independence in Assam.
Tribal societies were organized based on kinship ties, did not follow the caste system, and had their own distinct cultures and traditions.
Common conflicts involved disputes over resources like land and water.
Some tribes transitioned to settled communities due to the availability of fertile land and the benefits of settled agriculture.
Tribal chiefs were the heads of tribes, often holding hereditary positions and maintaining order within the tribe.
The Banjaras’ movement facilitated the exchange of goods, thereby benefiting the economies of settled communities.
The major economic activities of nomadic groups included animal husbandry, trade, and sometimes seasonal agriculture.
Tribes were known for their distinctive art forms, handicrafts, weaving, and other traditional crafts.
The Gaddi Shepherds were a nomadic group living in the western Himalayas, known for their practice of transhumance.
Integration into state systems often led tribes to adopt aspects of the caste system and integrate into the broader social hierarchy of settled communities.
Settled agriculture provided stability and led to changes in the social structure and economic practices of tribal societies.
Nomadic groups faced challenges such as conflicts over grazing grounds, harsh climatic conditions, and pressure from state authorities to settle.
The Ahom administration was known for the Paik system and a well-organized military and bureaucratic structure.
The Gonds contributed to the medieval Indian economy through agriculture, trade, and the establishment of powerful kingdoms like Garha Katanga.
Chapter 3: Tribes, Nomads and Settled Communities MCQs
1. Who were the Gonds?
2. What was the primary occupation of the Banjaras?
3. Which tribe established the Ahom kingdom in Assam?
4. What is transhumance?
5. Who was Rani Durgavati?
6. What role did the Paik system play in the Ahom administration?
7. The Banjaras moved in caravans called:
8. Which of the following best describes a tribe?
9. What was the main conflict between tribes and settled communities?
10. Which region was primarily inhabited by the Gaddi Shepherds?
11. How did some tribes transition to settled communities?
12. The Gonds were primarily known for:
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