CBSE Class 7 History Chapter 7 Notes: Tribes, Nomads and Settled Communities

Beyond Big Cities: The Structure of Tribal Societies

During the medieval period, Indian society was largely divided according to the rules of Varna prescribed by the Brahmanas. This created a hierarchical system of high and low castes. However, many societies in the subcontinent did not follow these rules. These were Tribal Societies. They were characterized by strong kinship bonds, collective ownership of land and pastures, and unique cultural traditions that were preserved through oral traditions rather than written records. Tribal communities occupied diverse geographical niches, such as forests, hills, deserts, and places difficult to reach, which allowed them to preserve their freedom. Over time, there was a complex interdependence and conflict between caste-based and tribal societies, leading both to gradually adapt and change.

Essential Historical Terminology

Clan

A group of families or households claiming descent from a common ancestor, which forms the basic unit of tribal organization.

Nomadic Pastoralists

People who travel long distances with their animals, living on milk and other pastoral products, and exchanging these for grain, cloth, and salt.

Banjaras

The most important trader-nomads in medieval India, who transported food grains for emperors and traders in large caravans called Tandas.

Tanda

The caravan or mobile settlement of the Banjaras, often consisting of hundreds of people traveling together.

Paiks

Forced laborers in the Ahom state system, where every village had to send a specific number of Paiks by rotation.

Khel

A clan-based unit in Ahom society that controlled several villages and managed local administration.

Shifting Cultivation

An agricultural system where a patch of forest land is cleared, cultivated for a few years, and then abandoned to regain fertility while moving to a new patch.

Comparative Study: Gond and Ahom Kingdoms

Key Points to Remember

• Many tribal groups dominated key geographical regions; for example, the Khokhars and Gakkhars in Punjab, and the Langahs and Arghuns in Multan.
• The Banjaras played a critical economic role; Emperor Alauddin Khalji and Jahangir used them to transport grain to city markets and military campaigns.
• As the economy expanded, tribal societies split into smaller, specialized sub-castes known as Jatis, which were integrated into the Brahmanical system.
• The Gond kingdom of Garha Katanga was highly prosperous, earning wealth by exporting wild elephants to other empires.
• Rani Durgavati, a famous Gond ruler, fiercely resisted the Mughal invasion led by Akbar's general Asaf Khan in 1565.
• The Ahoms established a powerful state by annexing kingdoms of the Chhutiyas and Koch-Hajo, ruling for nearly six centuries.
• Ahom society was divided into Khels, and land was allocated to peasants by the clan-based village community, which even the king could not seize easily.
• Both Gond and Ahom states underwent a transformation where their elites gradually adopted Hinduism and sought higher status in the Varna hierarchy.

Detailed Case Studies

• {"title":"Case Study 1: The Caravan of Banjaras (Tanda)","description":"A typical Tanda of Banjaras consisted of 600 to 700 people traveling with their families and thousands of oxen. They purchased grain where it was cheap and sold it in markets where it was scarce, functioning as highly efficient mobile supply chains."}
• {"title":"Case Study 2: Garha Katanga's Wealth","description":"When the Mughal forces defeated Garha Katanga, they captured an immense booty of gold, precious coins, and 70,000 elephants, showcasing the extraordinary wealth accumulated by this Gond state."}
• {"title":"Case Study 3: Ahom Military Innovation","description":"By the 1660s, the Ahoms developed advanced metallurgical skills, allowing them to manufacture high-quality gunpowder and large brass cannons to defend their territory against western invaders."}

Exam Traps & Study Tips

1. Watch the Terminology: Do not confuse Paiks (forced laborers) with Khels (clans/units of administration) in the Ahom administration. Questions frequently ask to define both.
2. The Gond Administration Breakdown: Memorize the structural hierarchy: Garh (governed by a Gond Raja) ➔ Chaurasi (units of 84 villages) ➔ Barhot (sub-units of 12 villages). Examiners love to test this sequence in fill-in-the-blanks or multiple-choice formats.
3. Map Pointer: Be ready to locate the Brahmaputra valley (Ahom kingdom) and the central Indian Gondwana region (Gond kingdom) on a blank political map of India.

Quick Revision Check

• Who were the Banjaras, and why were they important? The Banjaras were the most prominent trader-nomads of medieval India. They traveled in caravans called Tandas, transporting grain and essential commodities to cities and military camps for rulers like Alauddin Khalji and Emperor Jahangir.
• How was the Gond state of Garha Katanga structured administratively? The Gond kingdom was divided into 'Garhs', each controlled by a specific Gond clan. Each Garh was further subdivided into units of 84 villages called 'Chaurasi'. These Chaurasis were further divided into 'Barhots', which were groups of 12 villages.
• What was the 'Paik' system in the Ahom state? The Ahom state depended heavily on forced labor. The people forced to work for the state were called Paiks. Each village had to send a specific number of Paiks by rotation based on a census of the population.
• Why did tribal elites slowly adopt Hinduism and Varna roles? As tribal states grew larger and more prosperous, their kings and elites sought social legitimacy. Seeking recognition as Kshatriyas/Rajputs, they patronized Brahmanas and adopted Hindu customs to establish their high status.

Frequently Asked Questions