Home > Indian History > History of India > Feudalism in the post Pratihara period
Feudalism in the post Pratihara period
Initiated during the Pala Pratihara period, it was during the post Pratihara time the feudal economy was strengthened.

Share this Article:

Feudalism in the post Pratihara periodThe Pala Pratihara domain initiated the supremacy of the feudal economy in northern India. During their reigns the trade and commerce of Northern India declined considerably. The decline of the money economy resulted in the growth of the landed grantees who were actually the feudal lords. In due course land became the principal source of income in the Pala Pratihara feudalism. After the downfall of the Pala Pratihara Empire, the condition of northern India was pretty chaotic. Northern India was disintegrated into petty political units under numerous dynasties. Most of these dynasties belonged the Rajput houses, who were involved in mutual fighting.

Civil Strife among Rajputs
The internal struggle in the Rajput House made the political condition even bitterer. The administrative and the economic consequences contributed to the spread of feudalism more intensely. Service grants of land were highly in practice during this period. Under the Rajput feudalism, Odisha became the most important region where the service grants were made in plenty. Comparatively Bengal had a lesser amount of service grants. Only some land grants to the Kaivartas were found in Bengal. In Assam and Bihar also this service grant of land was in vogue.

In the period of Rajput feudalism, service grants were associated with all the rights usually made to the grantees. The "Bhanja Copper Plate" of Khanjali, describes the system of allotment of land with usual rights in the Rajput feudalism. The Bhanjas granted lands to the military rulers. These military rulers were called "Mahasamantas" which in turn military services to the Bhanjas. The Ganga kings also made grants to the military chiefs called "Nayakas".

Administration of Ganga Dynasty
Feudalism in the post Pratihara period By the 13th century the Ganga administration became completely feudal. In 1295 Narasimha Deva II granted villages to Kumara Mahapatra, a minister of the king. The minister Kumara Mahapatra then assigned the village to a Tambuli or betel seller and Tamraka or copper smith. The purpose of such a division was to make a self-sufficient village economy. The system of land grants prevalent in the Rajput feudalism shows that rulers paid their ministers in terms of land.

Administration of Chandellas of Bundelkhand
The Chandellas of Bundelkhand made land grants to the civil and military officers. The Chandella kings granted villages with usual rights in order to have the military services when necessary. In contrast to the Chandellas, the Gahadavalas in U.P granted the whole villages to civil officials specially Brahmanas. The Brahmanas were acted as the purohits or the Thakkuras in the royal house. They were paid in terms of land by the kings.

The Chauhan land grants were mainly aimed for the maintenance of the royal family. The "Nadol grant" showed that12 villages were granted to the Rajkula in perpetuity with all the usual rights. These land grants were usually secular. The members of Rajkula, who were granted lands, also performed administrative tasks. These feudal chiefs acted as the vassals of the Chauhan kings. Not only the members of the royal family, non-members were also allotted land. But the no members were granted lands in lieu of their service to the king.

Parmaras Feudatories
The ruling Rajput dynasties of northern India assigned villages for secular services to vassals and officials. The assigned vassals and officers enjoyed usual feudal rights and revenues. They in turn offered homage to the suzerain, paid tribute, military and administrative services. The villagers were compelled to offer labor and provide for boarding and lodging of the feudal lords. The Chauhans and the Parmaras feudatories had to perform all the duties of state, civil, military and administrative services.

The literary and the epigraphic sources revealed that the important duty of a feudal vassal in the Rajput period was to offer military service to the king. The Palas and the Pratiharas also made all the grants in order to have military service. The vassals played an important part in politics and administration of the kingdom. They also played important role during the disputes for succession to the throne. The Samantas or the feudatories came to be known as the hereditary social class. Thus feudalism in Rajputs was somewhat different from the Pala Pratiharas. But the Rajput feudalism made the condition of northern India extremely worse.


Share this Article:

Subscribe to Newsletter
Learn unknown facts about India from a curated list of informative articles.

Related Articles

More Articles in History of India

History of Indian Drama
History of Indian Drama is rich with Vedas and Indian epics and has gradually changed with time and remains unaffected by any foreign influence.
History of Khajuraho Temple
Located in the Chhatarpur district of Madhya Pradesh, Khajuraho is country’s most magnificent groups of temples.
History of Ayurveda
History of Ayurveda dates back to 5,000 years old and is widely considered to be the oldest form of health care in the world.
History of Uttar Pradesh
The state was the heart of Mahabharata war and the history of Uttar Pradesh is very much the history of India. The place finds its mentions in Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
History of Indian Photography
An overview of the development of photography, through the various stages in India.
History of Delhi
History of Delhi began with the advent of Indian regal dynasties. Delhi witnessed the rise and fall of Hindu dynasties, Muslims and the British as well.
History of Indian Radio
History of Indian Radio dates back to late 1930s with the first establishment of All India Radio in 1936 that improved further after independence.
History of Punjab
History of Punjab dates back to the 16th century; however its formation is traced in the great epic Mahabharata.
History Of Archaeology In India
History of archaeology in India contributes a lot to define the past history and the social life of India.
History of Maharashtra
Maharashtra, the land of charismatic Marathas, unfolds the legend of diverse culture and tradition, keeping in pace with the modernity. The gallant history of Maharashtra is still echoed amidst its historical relics and archeological wonders.
History of Kerala
History of Kerala can be interpreted from the inscriptions of Ashoka, Mauryan Emperor. History of Kerala is as interesting as its wide-ranging geographical features that make the land a place of versatile appeal.
History of Bihar
History of Bihar goes back to the very dawn of the human civilizations. Many eminent personalities and leaders from Bihar contributed for India’s freedom struggle.
History of Assam
In the ancient Indian epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, Assam was known as `Kamarupa` or `Pragjyotish`. In the Mahabharata, the Puranas, the Tantras there are references of Assam as Kamrupa kingdom.
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands
History of Andaman and Nicobar Islands dates back to the settlement of the East India Company in the territory of the Islands.
History of West Bengal
History of West Bengal is rooted in richness and is an important episode in the history of India. The history of Bengal played an important role in shaping the history of India.
History of Jharkhand
One of the fairly newer states, Jharkhand was carved out of the southern portion of Bihar in 2000. The history of Jharkhand is seeped with a variety of cultural significances starting from the Vedic era to Mughal period and finally the British administration.
History of Sikkim
History of Sikkim declares the pre historic culture and the colonial era hilly politics and the rules of Sikkim.
History of Nagaland
The history of Nagaland mainly revolves around and deals with the customs and economic activities of the Naga Tribes and how the state has evolved since the Indian Independence.
History of Mizoram
History of Mizoram includes the various historical events and incidents which occurred during the various ages, right from before the age of the Mughals.
History of Jammu & Kashmir
History of Jammu and Kashmir involves a series of political and geographical transformations from every ancient era to the modern times also. Even now, Jammu and Kashmir has its political tension between Pakistan and India.
History of Puducherry
Puducherry was invaded by different invaders in different times. The invaders include Pallava Kingdom of Kanchipuram, dynasties of the South, Cholas of Thanjavur, Pandyas and Muslim invaders.
History of Chandigarh
In 1947, the British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Punjab was also included in this partition. So, there was a need for a new capital for Punjab, as the old capital Lahore became part of Pakistan during the partition. So, in 1948, under the leadership of chief architect Mr. P.L. Verma the construction of Chandigarh city began.
History of Daman and Diu
During the early stage, i.e. from 8th to 13th century, Daman and Diu was part of Goa.
History of Lakshadweep
History of Lakshadweep defines the first settlement on these islands under the Union Territory of India that was ruled by Cheraman Perumal, who was the last king of Kerala.
History of Karnataka
History of Karnataka comprised of the different rulers of different dynasties of various religions like Hindus, Buddhists, and later the Muslims.
History of Goa
History of Goa dates back to the 3rd century BC and reflects the rule of the mighty rulers and gained its independence under Jawaharlal Nehru.
History of Arunachal Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh possesses a rich historical heritage of culture of the ancient tribes. Being a bordering state of India, Arunachal Pradesh also has a history of military unrest since ancient Indian age.
History of Andhra Pradesh
History of Andhra Pradesh traces its origin back to the 5th century BC. According to the inscriptions, Kuberaka, the oldest Kingdom in South India had an empire in the coastal Andhra during that period.
History of Himachal Pradesh
History of Himachal Pradesh narrates about the various settlements and dynasties that emerged in the region over time.
History of Uttarakhand
History of Uttarakhand finds mention in the early Hindu scriptures as Kedarkhand, Manaskhand and Himavat. Uttarakhand is called as the Land of the Gods (Dev Bhoomi) because of its various holy places and shrines.
History of Rajasthan
The history of Rajasthan is dotted with tales of valor, chivalry, camaraderie and romance.
History of Tamil Nadu
History of Tamil Nadu reveals that this ancient place in South India was ruled by various kingdoms like the Pandyas Dynasty, Cholas Dynasty, Nayakas Dynasty and Pallavas Dynasty.
History of Haryana
History of Haryana depicts various events and influences that have cast a profound effect on the culture and people of the district. The place gained statehood on 1st of November 1966
History of Odisha
History of Odisha goes back a rather long way. Most of the history of the state is replete with the dynastic as well as tribal struggle for territorial superiority. Odisha is a place where one can find the religion, culture and history flow in away that lead to cultural amalgamation of early India.
History of Manipur
History of Manipur can be traced back to the prehistoric ages and this was followed by a number of rulers who reigned the land from age to age till it came under British rule and later joined the union of India.
History of Gujarat
History of Gujarat can be dated back to the 14th century that later witnessed the supremacy of many powerful dynasties.
History of Tripura
History of Tripura is dealing with the early mythological history and the history of British rule in North eastern part of India.
History of Meghalaya
The history of Meghalaya predominantly comprises of the three tribes of the state- Garo, Khasi and Jaintia tribes. Later on Meghalaya was formed by carving out two districts from the state of Assam.
History of Chhattisgarh
History of Chhattisgarh dates back to the era of epics and traces through the reign of powerful dynasties in India like Marathas. The area developed a rich cultural heritage during British era.