Medieval India: Tribes, Nomads, and Settled
Communities
Different kinds of societies: Those who followed rules of varna and those
who didn’t
We have already seen that there were administrative centers, temple towns, as well as
centers of commercial activities and craft production during medieval periods. But different
kinds of societies evolved differently; social change was not the same everywhere.
In many parts of the subcontinent, the society was already divided according to the rules of
varna. These rules, as prescribed by the Brahmanas, were accepted by the rulers of large
kingdoms. Under the Delhi Sultans and the Mughals, the hierarchy between social classes
grew further.
However, there were other societies as well. Many societies in the subcontinent did not follow
the social rules and rituals prescribed by the Brahmanas. Nor were they divided into
numerous unequal classes. Such societies are often called tribes.
Beyond Big Cities: Tribal Societies
● Some powerful tribes controlled large territories. In Punjab, the Khokhar tribe was
very influential during the 13th and 14th centuries.
● Kamal Khan Gakkhar, of Gakkhar tribe, was a noble (mansabdar) by Emperor
Akbar.
● In Multan and Sind, the Langahs and Arghuns dominated extensive regions before
they were subdued by the Mughals.
● In the western Himalaya lived the shepherd tribe of Gaddis.
● The distant north-eastern part of the subcontinent too was entirely dominated by
tribes – the Nagas, Ahoms etc.
● In many areas of present-day Bihar and Jharkhand, Chero, chiefdoms had emerged
by the 12th century. Raja Man Singh, Akbar’s general, attacked and defeated them
in 1591.
● The Maharashtra highlands and Karnataka were home to Kolis[also in Gujarat],
Berads etc.
● South got Koragas, Vetars, Maravars etc.
● Bhils spread across western and central India. By the late 16th century, many of
them had become settled agriculturists and some even zamindars.
Communities
Different kinds of societies: Those who followed rules of varna and those
who didn’t
We have already seen that there were administrative centers, temple towns, as well as
centers of commercial activities and craft production during medieval periods. But different
kinds of societies evolved differently; social change was not the same everywhere.
In many parts of the subcontinent, the society was already divided according to the rules of
varna. These rules, as prescribed by the Brahmanas, were accepted by the rulers of large
kingdoms. Under the Delhi Sultans and the Mughals, the hierarchy between social classes
grew further.
However, there were other societies as well. Many societies in the subcontinent did not follow
the social rules and rituals prescribed by the Brahmanas. Nor were they divided into
numerous unequal classes. Such societies are often called tribes.
Beyond Big Cities: Tribal Societies
● Some powerful tribes controlled large territories. In Punjab, the Khokhar tribe was
very influential during the 13th and 14th centuries.
● Kamal Khan Gakkhar, of Gakkhar tribe, was a noble (mansabdar) by Emperor
Akbar.
● In Multan and Sind, the Langahs and Arghuns dominated extensive regions before
they were subdued by the Mughals.
● In the western Himalaya lived the shepherd tribe of Gaddis.
● The distant north-eastern part of the subcontinent too was entirely dominated by
tribes – the Nagas, Ahoms etc.
● In many areas of present-day Bihar and Jharkhand, Chero, chiefdoms had emerged
by the 12th century. Raja Man Singh, Akbar’s general, attacked and defeated them
in 1591.
● The Maharashtra highlands and Karnataka were home to Kolis[also in Gujarat],
Berads etc.
● South got Koragas, Vetars, Maravars etc.
● Bhils spread across western and central India. By the late 16th century, many of
them had become settled agriculturists and some even zamindars.
