Feudal System of Early Medieval India by Harsh
Feudalism or Feudal system or Samanta system is the where anybody control over large tract of land. The Samanta term used for the feudal lords in India. The first references of the word Samanta was found in Arthashastra of Kautilya. This term was in the context of vassal (subordinate ruler) who own large extent of land. This term was started to use in 7th century AD for feudal lords in India.
The early medieval age known as the feudal age because the feudal lords were dominant in political, economic as well as socio-cultural life. These feudal ideas and values were dominated everything during the early medieval age. Indian Samanta system is considered as the counter-part of European system. During 8th-12th centuries, feudalism was dominant feature in life of Europe and so was the Samanta system in India.
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Different Views About the Origin of Samanta System
According to the historian R.S. Sharma, the Indian feudalism was outcomes of developments taking place at higher level in political and economic life. He explained the concept of feudalism from above. According to this concept, decline of central authority resulted in the emergence of autonomous entities came to known as feudal lords. Once the central authorities were no longer powerful, these entities transformed themselves into autonomous entities.
R.S. Sharma emphasized that process of deurbanization was also responsible for the emergence of feudalism in India. He also opined that urban decay was responsible for decrease in trade and commerce, and art and crafts. As a result, the power of central authority decreased that transformed feudal lords as autonomous institution.
D.D. Koshambi used the concept of “feudalism from below and above” to explain the emergence of feudalism in India. According to feudalism from below, local peoples try to capture as much land as possible after decline of secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy because agriculture was mainstay of life.
According to Burtonstein, feudalism in the region of Tamilnadu was the result of alliance of Brahmana and peasants. He emphasized that Brahmana land receivers formed alliance with local peasants as a result of which they could transform themselves into powerful feudal lords.
According to B.L. Chattopadhyay, feudalism did not emerge suddenly but it was gradual expansion of agriculture and increased significance of land as a result of decline in secondary and tertiary activities. According to Harbans Mukhiya, there was no feudalism as such in India because peasants owned their land. There was nothing like serfdom of Europe. These so-called feudal lords were local rulers.
Factors Responsible for Emergence of Feudalism
The system of land grants played an important role in emergence of feudalism as the feudal system is based on the ownership of land. Satvahanas were the first to issue land grants. According to Nanaghat inscription of Satvahanas, Queen Naganika wife of Satkarni issued land grants to Brahman priests after performing Rajasuya sacrifice. This was the earliest inscriptional evidence of land grants in India.
The process of land grant was gained popularity during the Gupta age. Till the middle of 5th century AD, land grants were issued as a part of strategy to strengthen the centralization and to save the resources of state. As peasant were too powerful during Gupta age, which made tax collection a difficult work for rulers. To overcome this responsibility the land grants were made to temple Brahmans, military commanders and important local peoples.
They worked as agent of state to collect the revenue because they did not have any proprietary right over grants. After the middle of 5th century, the state started issuing land grants out of compulsion because of the decline of secondary and tertiary activities of economy. The resources were limited with the state as a result the land grants were become very frequent.
This change in the character of land grants ruined the strength of central authority. From 7th century AD onwards, the land grants were become more frequent. By 8th century, land grants involved of property right to receiver. Even the wealth hidden in land belonged to receiver of grants. Such land grants were called Akshyanivi (land forever). The owner of these large tracts of land known as feudal lords.
The policy of conquest in subjugation adopted by kings like Samudra Gupta created a large number of vassals. These vassals declared their independence when central authority was no longer effective. Such entities were also known as feudal lords during the Early Medieval Age. Dependence of economic life on life on land during 7-12th century also played an important role in the emergence of feudalism in India because every person tried to capture as much land as they could.
Impact of Feudalism
Emergence of feudalism affected every sphere of human life. It was started with economy but steady it impacted other fields as well. Feudalism resulted in political fragmentation because the local elements proclaimed themselves as independent authority. The central authority disappeared due to emergence of feudalism as it was centrifugal in character. Uniformity was no longer visible in administration because every feudal lord used to have their own laws.
India was no longer a major politico-military power as kings were dependent on feudal lords form military support as there was nothing like a powerful standing army of king. Feudalism obstructed the trade and commerce as there were local laws which were confusing for traders and they immense difficulty. The feudal outlook was negative towards secondary and tertiary economic activities as groups involved in these activities were termed as untouchables.
Thus, life during the age of feudalism was based on agriculture and social life also witnessed number of changes. Thus, the age feudalism in India severely impacted every sphere of human life.
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