Class 12 History: Chapter 8 - Peasants, Zamindars and the State: Agrarian Society and the Mughal Empire

Introduction

• 16th & 17th Centuries: 85% of India's population lived in villages.
• Agriculture: Main occupation; relationship of cooperation, competition, and conflict between peasants and landlords.
• Revenue: Agriculture was the main revenue source for the Mughal Empire.

Agricultural Society

• Village: Basic unit, mostly inhabited by peasants engaged in various agricultural activities.
• Sources: Chronicles and documents from the Mughal court; Ain-i Akbari by Abul-Fazl.
• Peasants: Two types - Khud Kashta (permanent residents) and Pahi Kashta (contractual cultivators).
• Crops: Rice, wheat, millets; two major seasons - Rabi and Kharif.
• Monsoon: Backbone of agriculture.
• New crops: Introduced in the 17th century - maize, tomatoes, potatoes, and chillies.

Village Administration

• Panchayat: Elected by elders; headmen known as Mandal or Muqaddam.
• Powers: Levy fines, expulsion; control over community matters.
• Jajmani System: Artisans compensated through various means.

Land Revenue System

• Economic Mainstay: Revenue from land.
• Assessment & Collection: Jama (assessment) and Hasil (collection).
• Land Classification: Polaj, Parauti, Chachar, Banjar during Akbar's reign.

Economic and Social Aspects

• Silver Flow: Increased trade with Europe; stability in silver currency.
• Caste Community: Cultivators, panchayat, headmen; inequalities based on caste and social status.

Role of Women

• Agricultural Participation: Men ploughed, women sowed and harvested.
• Artisanal Work: Dependent on female labor.
• Rights: Inheritance and property rights; remarriage considered legitimate.

The Zamindars

• Role: Collectors of revenue; owners of personal lands (milkiyat).
• Power: Had armed forces; involved in colonisation of land.
• Relationship with Peasants: Reciprocity, paternalism, patronage.

Forests and Tribes

• Jangli: Forest dwellers dependent on hunting, gathering, shifting agriculture.
• Contributions: Supplied elephants, honey, beeswax.

Important Terms

• Raiyat: Peasants in Indo-Persian sources.
• Hasil: Revenue collected.
• Khud-kashta: Resident peasants.
• Pahi-kashta: Non-resident peasants.
• Shroff: Money changer/banker.
• Amin: Officials for imperial regulations.
• Pargana: Administrative subdivision.
• Jama: Assessed revenue amount.

Timeline

• 1526: Babur defeats Ibrahim Lodi, becomes first Mughal Emperor.
• 1556-1605: Akbar's rule.
• 1605-1627: Jahangir's rule.
• 1628-1658: Shah Jahan's rule.
• 1658-1707: Aurangzeb's rule.
• 1765: Diwani of Bengal transferred to East India Company.
• 1857: End of Mughal rule; Bahadur Shah II exiled.