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Questions and Answers
What caused social changes in the subcontinent?
What unites members of a tribe?
Kinship bonds
Which activities did tribes commonly engage in to obtain their livelihood?
Tribal societies followed the social rules prescribed by the Brahmanas.
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What is one way historians today gather information about tribal histories?
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The __________ in Punjab was a powerful tribe that controlled large territories.
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Who was Kamal Khan Gakkhar?
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Which tribes dominated the north-eastern part of the subcontinent?
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What happened to the Chero chiefdoms under Raja Man Singh?
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The Mundas and Santals were insignificant tribes in terms of population.
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Study Notes
Tribal Societies in the Subcontinent
- Many societies in the subcontinent did not follow the social rules prescribed by the Brahmanas.
- These societies were not divided into numerous unequal classes and were often called tribes.
- Members of each tribe were united by kinship bonds.
- Many tribes obtained their livelihood from agriculture, hunting and gathering, or herding.
- Some tribes were nomadic and moved from one place to another.
- Tribal groups controlled land and pastures jointly and divided these among households according to their own rules.
- Large tribes lived in forests, hills, and clashed with more powerful caste-based societies.
- Tribes retained their freedom and preserved their separate culture.
- The caste-based and tribal societies depended on each other for their diverse needs.
Identifying Tribal Peoples
- Contemporary historians and travellers give scanty information about tribes.
- Tribal people did not keep written records, but preserved rich customs and oral traditions.
- Present-day historians have started using oral traditions to write tribal histories.
Location and Dominance of Tribal Groups
- Tribal people were found in almost every region of the subcontinent at different points in time.
- Some powerful tribes controlled large territories.
- In Punjab, the Khokhar tribe was influential in the 14th and 15th centuries. The Gakkhars became more important later on, with their chief Kamal Khan Gakkhar being made a noble (Mansabdar) by Emperor Akbar.
- In Multan and Sind, the Langahs and Arghuns dominated extensive regions before being subdued by the Mughals.
- The Balochis were another large and powerful tribe in the north-west.
- In the western Himalaya lived the shepherd tribe of Gaddis.
- The distant north-eastern part of the subcontinent was dominated by tribes like the Nagas, Ahoms, and many others.
- In many areas of present-day Bihar and Jharkhand, Chero chiefdoms had emerged by the 12th century.
- Raja Man Singh, Akbar's famous general, attacked and defeated the Cheros in 1591.
- Under Aurangzeb, Mughal forces captured many Chero fortresses and subjugated the tribe.
- The Mundas and Santals were among the other important tribes that lived in this region and also in Orissa and Bengal.
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Description
Explore the unique characteristics and customs of tribal societies in the subcontinent. This quiz delves into their social structures, livelihood practices, and the impacts they faced from caste-based societies. Discover how these tribes maintained their identity and culture across generations.
