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IGNOU HISTORY NOTES : India Earliest Times to the 8th Century A.D - Changes in Society

IGNOU HISTORY Study Notes for IAS, UPSC Exams

India Earliest Times to the 8th Century A.D

Changes in Society

Structure

37.0 Objectives
37.1 Introduction
37.2 Feudal Hierarchy and the Varnas
37.3 Growth of the Kayasthas
37.4 The Untouchables
37.5 Crafts and Castes
37.6 Advance of Suh and Decline of Vaisyas
37.7 Spread and Transformation of the Varna Hierarchy
37.8 Position of Women
37.9 Lords and Peasants
37.10 Proliferation of Castes
37.10.1 The Brahmanas
37.10.2 The Kshahiyas
37.10.3 The Sudras
37.11 Let Us Sum Up
37.12 Key Words
37.13Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

37.0 OBJECTIVES

In the previous Unit we discussed the major changes in economy in the Gupta and more
particularly in the post-Gupta period. We intend to provide you with an idea of the different
dimensions of change in society in this Unit. After reading this Unit you should be able to
know:
about the different forces which led to modifications in the structure and concept of varna
hierarchy,
the processes involved in the emergence and rapid increase in the number of new castes,
the ways in which the condition of the untouchables in society became miserable,
the ways in which the caste system marked a depamue from what it was in the ancient
period.

37.1 INTRODUCTION

The social changes in the Gupta and post-Gupta times can be related to the economic
changes that we discussed in Unit 36. The major economic forces of the period were largescale landgrants, decline of trade, commerce and urban life; paucity of money, agrarian
expansion and growing agrarian character of society, and the emergence of relatively closed
local units of production and consumption. On this basis evolved a social structure broadly
characterised by a sizable ruling landed aristocracy, intermediaries and a large body of
impoverished peasatitry. The unequal dismbution of landed projmty and power led to the
emergence of new social groups and ranks which cut across varna divisions like
brahmana, kshatriya, vaisya and sudra. The other important changes in the social
structure involved the emergence and proliferation of new castes, the hardening of caste
relations and the acculturation of the mbes. The acculturation of mbes was not simply the
result of movement of Brahman'as into tribal areas as a result of landgrants. This was caused
by the emergence of local royal families in remotk Was, and the brahmanas were patronized
mostly by these royal families with gifts of land, with employment at royal courts and other
offers. This implies that yhen tribes lived there emerged a much more complex society in
which social differentiation, represented by different groups like peasants, brahmanas,
craftsmen, merchants, rulers etc, was present.