Which languages were spoken in medieval india??
Languages Spoken in Medieval India
In medieval India, a diverse range of languages were spoken due to the vast geographical and cultural landscape of the subcontinent. Below are some of the key languages spoken during this time:
Sanskrit:
- Sanskrit was the language of classical Indian literature, philosophy, and religious texts. It was used by scholars, priests, and elites for writing and communication.
- Sanskrit was considered the language of the gods and was used for religious ceremonies and rituals.
Prakrit:
- Prakrit was a group of vernacular dialects derived from Sanskrit and was spoken by the common people in different regions of India.
- Prakrit was used in everyday communication, literature, and plays, making it a popular language among the masses.
Tamil:
- Tamil was spoken in the southern region of India, particularly in Tamil Nadu. It has a rich literary tradition with ancient texts and poems.
- Tamil was used for poetry, literature, and inscriptions in temples and monuments.
Persian:
- Persian was introduced to India by the Muslim rulers and became the language of administration, courtly communication, and literature during the medieval period.
- Persian was used in the Mughal court and by the elite class for official purposes.
Arabic:
- Arabic was the language of Islam and was used for religious texts, education, and communication among the Muslim community in India.
- Arabic was also used for trade and commerce in coastal regions with links to the Arab world.
Regional Languages:
- In addition to these major languages, various regional languages were spoken across different parts of medieval India, such as Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, etc.
- These regional languages developed their own literary traditions, influenced by the cultural and linguistic diversity of the subcontinent.
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