Introduction to the Topic

Welcome to NCERT Explained! In this post, we will explore Class VII History, Chapter 7 - Tribes, Nomads and Settled Communities. In the previous chapters, we looked at the rise and fall of various empires, kings, and sultans. But have you ever wondered what was happening outside the royal courts and big cities? How were ordinary people, forest dwellers, and pastoralists living during the medieval period? This chapter takes us away from the grand palaces to understand the vibrant and diverse societies of tribal groups, nomads, and settled communities that formed the backbone of the Indian subcontinent.

Key Concepts Explained

To understand medieval Indian society, it is essential to look beyond the caste-based framework prevalent in big towns and cities. Let us break down the core concepts of this chapter into easy-to-understand sections.

1. Beyond Big Cities: Tribal Societies

During the medieval period, societies in the subcontinent did not follow the varna rules prescribed by Brahmanas. They did not divide themselves into numerous unequal castes. Such societies were called tribes. Members of each tribe were united by kinship bonds and depended on agriculture, hunter-gathering, or herding for their livelihood. Some tribes also reared animals and exchanged wool, ghee, etc., with settled agriculturists.

2. Who Were the Tribal People?

Contemporary historians and travelers rarely mentioned detailed information about tribes because tribal people kept few written records. However, they preserved rich customs and oral traditions which were passed down from generation to generation. Prominent tribes lived in different regions of the subcontinent:

  • In the north-west lived the powerful Khokhar tribe and the Gakkhars.
  • In the north-east, the Ahom and Naga tribes were prominent.
  • In central India, the Gonds lived in vast forested tracts.
  • In the western and southern parts, the Kolis, Berads, and Koragas were found.

3. Nomad and Pastoralist Communities

Nomads and pastoralists were another crucial part of medieval society. Pastoralists moved from one place to another with their herds of cattle or sheep. Nomadic traders, such as the Banjaras, traveled over long distances, buying grain where it was cheap and selling it where it was dearer. The Banjaras were the most important trader nomads, often transporting food grain for the Mughal army during military campaigns.

4. 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 varna-based society. For example, specialized artisans like smiths, carpenters, and masons were recognized as separate jatis by the Brahmanas. Many tribes and social groups were taken into caste-based society and given the status of jatis. Specialized nomadic tribes like entertainers and acrobats also emerged.

5. A Closer Look: The Gonds and The Ahoms

The chapter highlights two major tribal kingdoms that rose to prominence during the medieval period:

  • The Gonds: The Gonds lived in a vast forested region called Gondwana. They practiced shifting cultivation. The Gond kingdom was divided into garhs, further divided into units of 84 villages called chaurasi. The emergence of large Gond states changed them from unequal tribal societies to hierarchical ones. Rani Durgawati of Garha Katanga is a famous Gond ruler who bravely defended her kingdom against the Mughals.
  • The Ahoms: Migrating from present-day Myanmar in the thirteenth century, the Ahoms created a new state by suppressing the older political system of the bhuiyans (landlords). They introduced new methods of rice cultivation and built a strong military system dependent on forced labor called paiks. Ahom society was divided into clans or khels. They worshipped their own tribal gods and later adopted Hinduism while retaining their traditional beliefs.

Summary & Key Takeaways

Here are the key points to remember from this chapter:

    • Tribal societies had distinct cultures and did not follow the caste-based rules of Hindu society.
    • Tribes lived in forests, hills, deserts, and difficult terrains, often maintaining their independence.
    • Nomadic pastoralists and traders like the Banjaras played a vital economic role by moving goods across vast distances.
    • The expansion of agriculture and state formation led to the integration of many tribal groups into the caste-based societal framework.
    • The Gonds and the Ahoms are two prime examples of powerful tribal kingdoms that successfully built organized states in medieval India.