Feudalism in India: A Study of its Economic and Social Impact

Feudalism is a political and social system that existed in Europe during the Middle Ages. It was characterized by the presence of lords and vassals, with the lords holding land from the king and granting it to vassals in exchange for their loyalty and military service. The vassals, in turn, would provide military support to the lords and work the land to produce goods. Feudalism also had a strong hierarchy, with the king at the top, followed by the lords, vassals, and serfs (peasants who were tied to the land and owed labor service to the lords).

In a nut shell,'' A feudal system (also known as feudalism) is a type of social and political system in which landholders provide land to tenants in exchange for their loyalty. In feudalism King gave up his control over almost all sources of revenue, including pastures, mines including hidden treasures and deposits.''

Indian Feudalism-

The early medieval period of India shows transition, changes, and developments taking place in society, economy, polity, and agriculture. The most significant change that can only be seen in this period is the expansion of the land grants system which is often cited by Marxist historians to propound the theory of ‘Indian Feudalism’. 

Indian feudalism refers to the social and economic system that existed in India during the medieval period, in which land was owned by a small group of wealthy landowners (feudal lords or rajas) who held power over the common people and controlled the distribution of land and resources. The feudal lords were often members of the ruling nobility, and they maintained their power through a system of military service and loyalty. The common people, or peasants, were often forced to work the land and pay tribute to the feudal lords in the form of taxes and labor. This system created a rigid hierarchy and a lack of mobility for the common people, and often led to poverty and exploitation. Indian feudalism was eventually replaced by British colonial rule in the 18th and 19th centuries.

 The rise of the feudalism in India: 

 

• The origins of Indian feudalism is located in land grants to brahmanas and temples from the Gupta period onwards, and later to state officials, involving the alienation of fiscal, administrative and judicial rights.
• The early Pali texts of the pre-Maurya period refer to the villages granted to the Brahmanas by the rulers of Kosala and Magadha. A term used for such grants was “Brahamdeyya”.
• System of land-grant emerged under Satavahana in 100 BC in Maharashtra region and expanded during Gupta and post-Gupta period.
• The Earliest epigraphic record of land grants in India is a Saatavahana inscription of the first century BC, which refers to the grant of a village as a gift in the Ashvamedha Sacrifice.
• Terms like Samantas, Mahasamantas and others such as Rajpurushas emerged.

Features:

• Land ownership and control: Indian feudalism was characterized by the ownership and control of land by a small group of powerful landowners, known as the landed gentry or the feudal lords. They controlled the land and its resources, and the peasants were forced to work on their land and pay them rent or tribute.
• Social hierarchy: Indian feudalism was marked by a rigid social hierarchy, with the feudal lords at the top, followed by the warrior class or the Kshatriyas, and then the common people or the Shudras.
• Military power: The feudal lords had the power to raise and maintain their own private armies, and they also had the power to tax the common people to support their military expenses.
• Vassalage: Indian feudalism was characterized by a system of vassalage, where the feudal lords held land from a higher lord, in return for providing military and administrative services.
• The caste system: The caste system was an integral part of Indian feudalism, and it reinforced the social hierarchy and the power of the upper classes.
• The caste system: The caste system was an integral part of Indian feudalism, and it reinforced the social hierarchy and the power of the upper classes.
• Economic exploitation: Indian feudalism was characterized by the economic exploitation of the common people, who were forced to work on the land of the feudal lords and pay them rent or tribute. This system led to the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a small elite.
• Lack of mobility: Indian feudalism was characterized by a lack of mobility, as people were confined to their castes and were not allowed to move up the social ladder. This made it difficult for people to improve their economic or social status.

 

Implications of Feudalism:

Political implications of Feudalism: 

 

• Hierarchy of feudal lords emerged. 
• Trend of political decentralization started. 
• Decentralization made up semi-autonomous rulers.
• Pyramidal structure of authority with peasants at the base and king at the peak. 
• The entire political structure is based on land-vassal relations. 
• Bureaucracy lost relevance. 
• Change in the character of the military/army. The standing army was slowly replaced by the feudal army. Trend of political decentralization started. 
• The entire political structure is based on land-vassal relations. 

Economic Implications of Feudalism: 

•  A new kind of land distribution, a new class of landlord and Hierarchy in land structure. 
• Development of a new kind of agrarian structure and relation.
• Development of land-based economy. 
• Agriculture is a dominant feature of the economy. 
• Growth of village or rural economy. 
• Growth of a closed kind of economy. 
• Decline of urban centers and urban economy.

Social implications of Feudalism: 

• Land and land structure as a new basis of social hierarchy and social status cutting across the caste system. Anyone receiving land grant and the related rights and power rose in the political hierarchy. Rise of a closed kind of society, social relations became restricted. 
• Declining trade and craft, led to the decline of Vaisyas. 
• Many Shudras took to agriculture and so there was a rise in the status of shudras. 
• Rise of new caste Kayastha, who were involved in the profession of ‘Scribes’.
• Caste became the reality of Indian social structure. 
• There was further growth of slavery under feudalism. 
• Feudalism also led to the emergence of various languages and art forms. 

Decline of the Feudalism in India: 

• Foundation of Delhi sultanate (in 1206) led to political centralization. It was a major blow to the Feudal system.  Iqta system of Delhi sultanate word as a tool of centralization. As the grant of iqta did not imply a right to the land nor was it hereditary. 
• Growth of the cash economy created unfavorable conditions for sustenance of feudal trend.  
• The Turks came with fairly well-defined concepts and practices regarding tax collection and distribution, and system of coinage.