New sub-castes (jatis) emerged due to regional isolation.
: Sharma links these changes to the "Kali Age" crisis, where the traditional Varna system was challenged, leading the state to use land grants to re-establish control. Sage Journals Early Medieval Indian Society (pb) - Google Books
The book places massive emphasis on the practice of making land grants—often with administrative rights and tax immunities—to Brahmins, temples, and secular officers. This practice, he argues, created a closed, self-sufficient village economy where trade declined, coins were scarce, and forced labor ( begar ) became prevalent.
Early Medieval Indian Society by R.S. Sharma is a seminal work on medieval Indian history, offering a comprehensive and insightful analysis of the social, economic, and cultural changes that took place during this period. The book is a valuable resource for students, researchers, and historians, and its PDF version can be easily accessed from online sources. If you're interested in understanding the complexities of medieval Indian society, this book is an essential read. Early Medieval Indian Society Rs Sharma Pdf Download -
Early medieval Indian society witnessed a massive proliferation of castes, a phenomenon that R.S. Sharma analyzed closely through contemporary texts like the Puranas and Legal Digests ( Smritis ).
Early Medieval Indian Society: Insights from R.S. Sharma's Seminal Work
The book is structured as a collection of deeply researched essays, which together build a comprehensive argument. A look at its table of contents reveals the breadth of Sharma's analysis: New sub-castes (jatis) emerged due to regional isolation
Excavations led by Sharma at various historical sites revealed a distinct layer of deurbanization.
One cannot discuss Early Medieval Indian Society without addressing the academic storm it created. Sharma's "Feudal Model" became the dominant paradigm for studying early medieval India (c. 600–1200 CE), but it also attracted staunch detractors.
These grants led to the fragmentation of political power, where local lords gained authority over land and its inhabitants, reducing the direct control of the king. This practice, he argues, created a closed, self-sufficient
For students, researchers, and enthusiasts of Indian history, few names command as much respect as . His 2001 masterwork, Early Medieval Indian Society: A Study in Feudalisation (also published in 2003 by Orient Blackswan), remains a cornerstone of historical scholarship, fundamentally reshaping our understanding of how ancient India transitioned into the medieval period.
A significant portion of the book is dedicated to the decline of urban centers and long-distance trade during the early phase of this period, and how rural agrarian networks took their place.
Sharma dives deep into the conditions of the Shudras, tracing their gradual transition from a state of slavery/vassalage to a status of dependent peasantry.
The state, faced with a shortage of metallic currency and a decline in trade revenues, began paying priests, temples, and secular officials with land instead of cash. These land grants transferred not just the right to collect revenue, but also administrative and judicial rights over the peasants. Over time, these primary landholders granted portions of their lands to others, creating a complex chain of intermediaries known as subinfeudation. 2. Decline of Trade and Urban Centers