Which one of the following made the life of the peasant most miserable...
The most miserable factor for the life of peasants in the post-Gupta period was the proliferation of intermediaries between the king and the peasants. Let's explore why this was the case.
1. Intermediaries and exploitation: The presence of numerous intermediaries between the king and the peasants created a system of exploitation. These intermediaries included officials, tax collectors, local chieftains, and feudal lords. Each of these intermediaries had the power to extract taxes and tributes from the peasants, leading to excessive financial burdens on them.
2. Increased taxation: The intermediaries, in their pursuit of wealth and power, imposed heavy taxes on the peasants. This included land revenue, temple tax, taxes on goods produced, and other arbitrary levies. The peasants were burdened with multiple taxes, leaving them with little income for their own sustenance.
3. Lack of accountability: The presence of intermediaries created a lack of accountability in the system. The peasants had no direct access to the king or any higher authority to address their grievances. The intermediaries often abused their power, extorted additional money, and subjected the peasants to various forms of exploitation without any fear of repercussions.
4. Appropriation of common lands: Feudatories, who were powerful individuals or local chieftains, took advantage of the absence of a strong central authority and appropriated the common lands of the villages. These lands were traditionally used by the peasants for grazing livestock, cultivation, and other communal activities. The loss of these lands further impoverished the peasants and disrupted their way of life.
5. Forced labor: In some instances, the peasants were subjected to forced labor. They were made to work on various projects, such as building infrastructure or serving in the military, without any remuneration. This added to their hardships and deprived them of their freedom and autonomy.
Overall, the proliferation of intermediaries between the king and the peasants had a profound negative impact on the lives of the peasants in the post-Gupta period. It led to increased taxation, exploitation, loss of common lands, and forced labor, making their lives extremely miserable.