Tribes, Nomads and Settled Communities Class 7 PPT

 Page 1


            Tribes In India 
 
  
Page 2


            Tribes In India 
 
  
 
  
Page 3


            Tribes In India 
 
  
 
  
                         Different kinds of societies: Those who followed 
rules of Varna and those who didn’t 
 
We have already seen that there were administrative centers, temple towns, as well as centers of commercial 
activities and craft production during medieval periods. But a different kind of societies evolved 
differently social change was not the same everywhere. 
In many parts of the subcontinent, the society was already divided according to the rules of Varna. These rules, 
as prescribed by the Brahmans, were accepted by the rulers of large kingdoms. Under the Delhi Sultans and the 
Mughals, the hierarchy between social classes grew further. 
However, there were other societies as well. Many societies in the subcontinent did not follow the social rules 
and rituals prescribed by the Brahmans. Nor were they divided into numerous unequal classes. Such societies 
are often called tribes. 
 
 
        Beyond Big Cities: Tribal Societies 
 
? In Punjab, the Khokhar tribe was very influential during the 13th and 14th centuries. 
?  Kamal Khan Gakkhar, of Gakkhar tribe, was a noble (mansabdar) by Emperor Akbar. 
? In Multan and Sind, the Langahs and Arghuns dominated extensive regions before they were subdued by 
the Mughals. 
? In the western Himalaya lived the shepherd tribe of Gaddis. 
Page 4


            Tribes In India 
 
  
 
  
                         Different kinds of societies: Those who followed 
rules of Varna and those who didn’t 
 
We have already seen that there were administrative centers, temple towns, as well as centers of commercial 
activities and craft production during medieval periods. But a different kind of societies evolved 
differently social change was not the same everywhere. 
In many parts of the subcontinent, the society was already divided according to the rules of Varna. These rules, 
as prescribed by the Brahmans, were accepted by the rulers of large kingdoms. Under the Delhi Sultans and the 
Mughals, the hierarchy between social classes grew further. 
However, there were other societies as well. Many societies in the subcontinent did not follow the social rules 
and rituals prescribed by the Brahmans. Nor were they divided into numerous unequal classes. Such societies 
are often called tribes. 
 
 
        Beyond Big Cities: Tribal Societies 
 
? In Punjab, the Khokhar tribe was very influential during the 13th and 14th centuries. 
?  Kamal Khan Gakkhar, of Gakkhar tribe, was a noble (mansabdar) by Emperor Akbar. 
? In Multan and Sind, the Langahs and Arghuns dominated extensive regions before they were subdued by 
the Mughals. 
? In the western Himalaya lived the shepherd tribe of Gaddis. 
? The distant north-eastern part of the subcontinent too was entirely dominated by tribes – the Nagas, 
Ahoms etc. 
? In many areas of present-day Bihar and Jharkhand, Chero, chiefdoms had emerged by the 12th century. 
Raja Man Singh, Akbar’s general, attacked and defeated them in 1591. 
? The Maharashtra highlands and Karnataka were home to Kolis[also in Gujarat], Berads etc. 
? South got Koragas, Vetars, and Maravars etc. 
? Bhils spread across western and central India. By the late 16th century, many of them had become settled 
agriculturists and some even zamindars. 
? The Gonds were found in great numbers across the present-day states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, 
Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. 
Gond Tribe 
? They lived in a vast forested region called Gondwana. 
? They practiced shifting cultivation. 
? The Akbar Nama, a history of Akbar’s reign, mentions the Gond kingdom of Garha Katanga that had 
70,000 villages. 
? The administrative system of these kingdoms was becoming centralized. 
? The emergence of large states changed the nature of Gond society. 
? Certain Gond chiefs now wished to be recognized as Rajputs. 
 
 
Page 5


            Tribes In India 
 
  
 
  
                         Different kinds of societies: Those who followed 
rules of Varna and those who didn’t 
 
We have already seen that there were administrative centers, temple towns, as well as centers of commercial 
activities and craft production during medieval periods. But a different kind of societies evolved 
differently social change was not the same everywhere. 
In many parts of the subcontinent, the society was already divided according to the rules of Varna. These rules, 
as prescribed by the Brahmans, were accepted by the rulers of large kingdoms. Under the Delhi Sultans and the 
Mughals, the hierarchy between social classes grew further. 
However, there were other societies as well. Many societies in the subcontinent did not follow the social rules 
and rituals prescribed by the Brahmans. Nor were they divided into numerous unequal classes. Such societies 
are often called tribes. 
 
 
        Beyond Big Cities: Tribal Societies 
 
? In Punjab, the Khokhar tribe was very influential during the 13th and 14th centuries. 
?  Kamal Khan Gakkhar, of Gakkhar tribe, was a noble (mansabdar) by Emperor Akbar. 
? In Multan and Sind, the Langahs and Arghuns dominated extensive regions before they were subdued by 
the Mughals. 
? In the western Himalaya lived the shepherd tribe of Gaddis. 
? The distant north-eastern part of the subcontinent too was entirely dominated by tribes – the Nagas, 
Ahoms etc. 
? In many areas of present-day Bihar and Jharkhand, Chero, chiefdoms had emerged by the 12th century. 
Raja Man Singh, Akbar’s general, attacked and defeated them in 1591. 
? The Maharashtra highlands and Karnataka were home to Kolis[also in Gujarat], Berads etc. 
? South got Koragas, Vetars, and Maravars etc. 
? Bhils spread across western and central India. By the late 16th century, many of them had become settled 
agriculturists and some even zamindars. 
? The Gonds were found in great numbers across the present-day states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, 
Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. 
Gond Tribe 
? They lived in a vast forested region called Gondwana. 
? They practiced shifting cultivation. 
? The Akbar Nama, a history of Akbar’s reign, mentions the Gond kingdom of Garha Katanga that had 
70,000 villages. 
? The administrative system of these kingdoms was becoming centralized. 
? The emergence of large states changed the nature of Gond society. 
? Certain Gond chiefs now wished to be recognized as Rajputs. 
 
 
 
 
           Ahom Tribe 
 
? They migrated to the Brahmaputra valley from present-day Myanmar in the 13th century. 
? They created a new state by suppressing the older political system of the bhuiyans (landlords). 
? During the 16th century, they annexed the kingdoms of the Chhutiyas (1523) and of Koch-Hajo (1581) and 
subjugated many other tribes. 
? They know to use firearms as early as the 1530s. 
? In 1662, the Mughals under Mir Jumla attacked the Ahom kingdom and defeated them. 
? The Ahom state depended upon forced labour. Those forced to work for the state were called paiks. 
? By the 17th century, the administration became quite centralized.