Society of Post- gupta (from 650-1200 AD.pptx

The post gupta period was a period of transition and transformation in indian history marked by political decentralization,regionalization,economic changes, cultural developments, and social trasformations.

1. Post- gupta period Society : Social stratification and proliferation of castes

2. Discussion points 1) Background 2) Social structure Lords and peasants Proliferation of castes Growth of kayastha The untouchables Crafts and Castes 3) Decline of Vaishyas and Rise in the social status of the Shudras 4) Summary

3. Background Golden age ended with decline of the Guptas and their Feudatories in the 6 th century AD. Generally referred to as the early medieval period. Emergence of numerous regional kingdoms. Pushyabhutis , Palas , Pratiharas , Chalukyas , Pallavas , Cholas - important regional kingdoms. They had Feudal political structure and it influenced post- gupta society as well.

4. Post-Gupta Characteristics : Decline of urban settlements. Trade activities suffered a setback, clear from the fact that minting and circulation of coins were on a limited scale. Agrarian expansion Large scale land grants Social structure : sizable ruling landed aristrocracy , intermediaries and a large body of peasantry along with proliferation of castes.

5. Social Structure Land grants and landed intermediaries modified the varna-divided society. 3 rd – 4 th century AD , a deep social crisis – ‘ Kaliyuga’ Situation in which classes had discarded the function assigned to them, led to varnasamkara or intermixture of social classes. New social groups did not fit in with the four-fold varna system. Social rank came to be connected with his position as a landholder among different categories of landholders. Their rise from Gopati to Bhupati . New jatis emerged . Number of mixed castes and untouchables castes increased. Transformation of craft guilds into castes as a result of decline of trade and urban centres , helped in the process of formation of new jatis .

6. Lords and Peasants In agrarian system different grades of landlords as distinguished from the peasants. Terms for landed beneficiaries – bhogi , bhokta , bhogapati Peasantry itself wasn’t a homogenous community. Terms used for them – Krishivala , halika , ardhi , kutumbi . Common to these expressions that they have nothing to do with control over land. They refer to different categories of tillers of the soil- Dependent peasants, share-coppers, field labourers etc. none of them were in absolute , independent control over their holdings.

7. Proliferation of castes Castes incorporated within each varna. Example – Abhira Tribe fragmented into Abhira brahamanas , Abhira kshatriyas and Abhira shudras . 1) Brahmanas – migration to various regions for the enjoyment of land grants accelerated the process of caste and sub-caste formation. Brahmanas who stood close to political power and held high state offices were a different section.

8. 2 ) Kshatriyas – New ruling houses from among the local tribes and foreign ethnic groups like the Bactrian Greeks , Shakas, Parthians, Hunas etc. second class kshatriyas. Multiplied when many tribal chiefs were transformed into “ Hinduised ” rajas through the approval of the Brahmanas, whom they patronized. 3) Shudras Endogamous groups coming from various communities. Petty peasant castes were included in the Shudra varna . Tribes – gradual transformation as peasants were incorporated into the brahmanic society as shudras .

9. Growth of Kayasthas Product of socio-economic forces. Land-grants involved transfer of land revenues, Need for a body of recordkeepers/scribes. Kayasthas – only one group of the community of scribes. Gradually scribes as a community came to be known as kayasthas . Initially educated members of the upper varna recruited but later from various varnas.

10. The Untouchables Assumed a definite shape by early common centuries. Numerically small. 3 rd century CE onwards practice of untouchability appears. Katyayana , first to use “ Asprishya ” expression for untouchables. 1 st millennium CE – fishermen, hunters, butchers appear as untouchables. Chandalas - only section of the untouchables, although the lowest in the social ladder. Resistance to the process of ‘ Brahmanization ’ pushed them to the position of untouchables. Dispossed of their lands and made to settle outside the villages .

11. Crafts and castes Regarded as untouchables as a result of decline in trade and urban centres. Various castes such as the Svarnakara , malakara , chitrakara , napita emerged out of the numerous crafts. Decline of VAISHYAS and rise in the status of the SHUDRAS After the association with agriculture, shuras were rising in economic and social status. They were no longer slaves and servants. In agrarian setting of the post- gupta period , Vaishya traders and merchants suffered economic loss and social degradation.

12. Summary Post-Gupta period – Different dimensions of change in society. Extremely important as they brought the ancient period to an end. Characterized by the emergence of a class of landlords and a class of subjugated peasantry in an agrarian economy. Closed economy - Conspicuous decline of trade, decline of towns and the Paucity of metallic money. Feudal society weakened position of the king. Emergence of many sub-castes.

13. References Early India : A concise History ( From the Beginning to the Twelfth Century) , DN Jha India’s Ancient Past , RS Sharma.