Tribes, Nomads & Settled Communities Summary Class 7 History

Introduction

• In large parts of the subcontinent, society was already divided according to the rules of varna. 
• These rules, as prescribed by the Brahmanas, were accepted by the rulers of large kingdoms.

Beyond Big Cities: Tribal Societies

• Tribes who lived beyond the cities did not follow the social rules and rituals prescribed by the Brahmanas.
• Many large tribes thrived in different parts of the subcontinent. They usually lived in forests, hills, deserts, and places that were difficult to reach.
• The caste-based and tribal societies also depended on each other for their diverse needs.
  

Who were Tribal People?

Tribal people were found in almost every region of the subcontinent.

• In Punjab: The Khokhar tribe was very influential during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Later, the Gakkhars became more important.
• In Multan and Sind: The Langahs and Arghuns dominated extensive regions.
• In the North-West: The Balochis
• In the western Himalaya: The Gaddis.
• In north-eastern part of the subcontinent: The Nagas, Ahoms and many others.
• In many areas of present-day Bihar and Jharkhand: Chero chiefdoms had emerged by the twelfth century. The Mundas and Santals were other important tribes that lived in this region and also in Orissa and Bengal.
• In Maharashtra highlands, Karnataka and southern regions: Kolis, Berads, Koragas, Vetars, Maravars and others.
• In Western and central India: The large tribe of Bhils.
• In present-day states of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh: The Gonds

How Nomads and Mobile People Lived

• Nomadic pastoralists moved over long distances with their animals.
• They lived on milk and other pastoral products.
• They also exchanged wool, ghee, etc., with settled agriculturists for grain, cloth, utensils and other products.
• The Banjaras were the most important trader nomads.
• Many pastoral tribes reared and sold animals, such as cattle and horses, to the prosperous people.
  

Changing Society: New Castes and Hierarchies

Many tribes and social groups were taken into caste-based society and given the status of jatis.

• Specialised artisans smiths, carpenters and masons were also recognised as separate jatis by the Brahmanas.
• Among the Kshatriyas, new Rajput clans became powerful by the eleventh and twelfth centuries.
• With the support of the Brahmanas, many tribes became part of the caste system.

A Closer Look

Gonds

• The Gonds lived in a vast forested region called Gondwana.
• They practised shifting cultivation.
• The large Gond tribe was divided into many smaller clans and each clan had its own raja (king).
• The administrative system of these kingdoms was becoming centralised.
• The emergence of large states changed the nature of Gond society as equal society gradually got divided into unequal social classes.
• Garha Katanga was a rich state of Gond. When the Mughals defeated the Gonds, they annexed part of the kingdom and granted the rest to Chandra Shah.
• After this, Gond became much weaker and later struggled unsuccessfully against the stronger Bundelas and Marathas.
  

The Ahoms

• The Ahoms migrated to the Brahmaputra valley from present-day Myanmar in the thirteenth century.
• During the sixteenth century, they annexed the kingdoms of the Chhutiyas (1523) and of Koch-Hajo (1581) and subjugated many other tribes.
• The Ahoms built a large state using firearms as early as 1530s.
  • By 1660s, they could make high-quality gunpowder and cannons.
• In 1662, they were defeated by the Mughals but Mughal control could not last long.
• The Ahom state depended upon forced labour.
• By the first half of the seventeenth century the administration became quite centralised.
• Ahom society was divided into clans or khels.
• The Ahoms worshipped their own tribal gods.
• During 1714-1744, Hinduism became the predominant religion