Kings, Farmers and Towns PDF

28 THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY THEME THEME TWO Kings, Farmers and Towns T WO Earl Ear ly S Sttat es and Economies...

28 THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY THEME THEME TWO Kings, Farmers and Towns T WO Earl Ear ly S Sttat es and Economies ates (c. 600 BCE - 600 CE) There were several developments in different parts of the subcontinent during the long span of 1,500 years following the end of the Harappan civilisation. This was also the period during which the Rigveda was composed by people living along the Indus and its tributaries. Agricultural settlements emerged in many parts of the subcontinent, including north India, the Deccan Plateau, and parts of Karnataka. Besides, there is evidence of pastoral populations in the Deccan and further south. New modes of disposal of the dead, including the making of elaborate stone structures known as megaliths, emerged in central and south India from the first millennium BCE. In many cases, the dead were buried with a rich range of iron tools and weapons. Fig. 2.1 From c. sixth century B C E , there is An inscription, Sanchi evidence that there were other trends as well. Perhaps (Madhya Pradesh), the most visible was the emergence of early states, empires c. second century BCE and kingdoms. Underlying these political processes were other changes, evident in the ways in which agricultural production was organised. Simultaneously, new towns appeared almost throughout the subcontinent. Historians attempt to understand these developments by drawing on a range of sources – inscriptions, texts, coins and visual material. As we will see, this is a complex process. You will also notice that these sources do not tell the entire story. 1. Prinsep and Piyadassi Some of the most momentous developments in Indian epigraphy took place in the 1830s. This was when James Prinsep, an officer in the mint of the East India Company, deciphered Brahmi and Kharosthi, two scripts used in the earliest inscriptions and coins. He found that most of these mentioned a king Epigraphy is the study of referred to as Piyadassi – meaning “pleasant to inscriptions. behold”; there were a few inscriptions which also Reprint 2024-25 KINGS, F ARMERS AND TOWNS 29 referred to the king as Asoka, one of the most famous rulers known from Buddhist texts. Inscriptions This gave a new direction to investigations into Inscriptions are writings early Indian political history as European and engraved on hard surfaces Indian scholars used inscriptions and texts such as stone, metal or composed in a variety of languages to reconstruct pottery. They usually record the lineages of major dynasties that had ruled the the achievements, activities subcontinent. As a result, the broad contours of or ideas of those who political history were in place by the early decades commissioned them and of the twentieth century. include the exploits of kings, Subsequently, scholars began to shift their focus or donations made by to the context of political history, investigating women and men to religious whether there were connections between political institutions. Inscriptions are changes and economic and social developments. It virtually permanent records, was soon realised that while there were links, these some of which carry dates. were not always simple or direct. Others are dated on the basis of palaeography or styles of writing, with a fair 2. The Earliest States amount of precision. For 2.1 The sixteen mahajanapadas instance, in c. 250 B C E The sixth century BCE is often regarded as a major the letter “a” was written like turning point in early Indian history. It is an era this:. By c. 500 CE, it was associated with early states, cities, the growing written like this:. use of iron, the development of coinage, etc. It The earliest inscriptions also witnessed the growth of diverse systems of were in Prakrit, a name for languages used by ordinary thought, including Buddhism and Jainism. Early people. Names of rulers such Buddhist and Jaina texts (see also Chapter 4) as Ajatasattu and Asoka, mention, amongst other things, sixteen states known from Prakrit texts and known as mahajanapadas. Although the lists vary, inscriptions, have been spelt in some names such as Vajji, Magadha, Koshala, their Prakrit forms in this Kuru, Panchala, Gandhara and Avanti occur chapter. You will also find frequently. Clearly, these were amongst the most terms in languages such as Pali, important mahajanapadas. Tamil and Sanskrit, which While most mahajanapadas were ruled by kings, too were used to write some, known as ganas or sanghas, were oligarchies inscriptions and texts. It is (p. 30), where power was shared by a number of possible that people spoke in men, often collectively called rajas. Both Mahavira other languages as well, even and the Buddha (Chapter 4) belonged to such ganas. though these were not used In some instances, as in the case of the Vajji sangha, for writing. the rajas probably controlled resources such as land collectively. Although their histories are often difficult to reconstruct due to the lack of sources, some of these states lasted for nearly a thousand years. Janapada means the land Each mahajanapada had a capital city, which was where a jana (a people, clan or often fortified. Maintaining these fortified cities as tribe) sets its foot or settles. It well as providing for incipient armies and is a word used in both Prakrit and Sanskrit. bureaucracies required resources. From c. sixth Reprint 2024-25 30 THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY KAMBOJA Map 1 Early states and their capitals Pushkalavati GANDHARA Taxila Indraprastha Ahichchhatra MALLA KURU SHURASENA PANCHALA Kusinagara Shravasti Mathura VAJJI (VRIJJI) KOSHALA ANGA MATSYA Vaishali KASHI Champa MAGADHA Kaushambi Varanasi Rajgir VATSA CHEDI VANGA AVANTI Ujjayini Arabian Sea Bay of Bengal ASHMAKA Sketch map not to scale Ü Which were the areas where states and cities were century BCE onwards, Brahmanas began composing most densely clustered? Sanskrit texts known as the Dharmasutras. These laid down norms for rulers (as well as for other social categories), who were ideally expected to be Kshatriyas (see also Chapter 3). Rulers were advised to collect taxes and tribute from cultivators, traders and artisans. Were resources also procured from pastoralists and forest peoples? We do not really know. What we do know is that raids on Oligarchy refers to a form of neighbouring states were recognised as a legitimate government where power is means of acquiring wealth. Gradually, some states exercised by a group of men. acquired standing armies and maintained regular The Roman Republic, about bureaucracies. Others continued to depend on which you read last year, was militia, recruited, more often than not, from the an oligarchy in spite of its name. peasantry. Reprint 2024-25 KINGS, F ARMERS AND TOWNS 31 2.2 First amongst the sixteen: Magadha Between the sixth and the fourth centuries BCE, Ü Discuss... Magadha (in present-day Bihar) became the most What are the different powerful mahajanapada. Modern historians explain explanations offered by early this development in a variety of ways: Magadha was writers and present-day a region where agriculture was especially productive. historians for the growth of Besides, iron mines (in present-day Jharkhand) were Magadhan power? accessible and provided resources for tools and weapons. Elephants, an important component of the army, were found in forests in the region. Also, the Ganga and its tributaries provided a means of cheap and convenient communication. However, early Buddhist and Jaina writers who wrote about Magadha attributed its power to the policies of individuals: ruthlessly ambitious kings of whom Bimbisara, Ajatasattu and Mahapadma Nanda are the best known, and their ministers, who helped implement their policies. Initially, Rajagaha (the Prakrit name for present- day Rajgir in Bihar) was the capital of Magadha. Interestingly, the old name means “house of the Fig. 2.2 king”. Rajagaha was a fortified settlement, located Fortification walls at Rajgir amongst hills. Later, in the fourth century BCE, the capital was shifted to Pataliputra, present-day Ü Why were these walls built? Patna, commanding routes of communication along the Ganga. Reprint 2024-25 32 THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY 3. An Early Empire Languages and scripts The growth of Magadha culminated in the emergence of the Mauryan Empire. Chandragupta Maurya, who Most Asokan inscriptions were in founded the empire (c. 321 BCE), extended control as the Prakrit language while far northwest as Afghanistan and Baluchistan, and those in the northwest of the subcontinet were in Aramaic his grandson Asoka, arguably the most famous ruler and Greek. Most Prakrit of early India, conquered Kalinga (present-day inscriptions were written in the coastal Orissa). Brahmi script; however, some, in 3.1 Finding out about the Mauryas the northwest, were written in Historians have used a variety of sources to Kharosthi. The Aramaic and reconstruct the history of the Mauryan Empire. Greek scripts were used for These include archaeological finds, especially inscriptions in Afghanistan. sculpture. Also valuable are contemporary works, such as the account of Megasthenes (a Greek ambassador to the court of Chandragupta Maurya), which survives in fragments. Another source that is often used is the Arthashastra, parts of which were probably composed by Kautilya or Chanakya, traditionally believed to be the minister of Chandragupta. Besides, the Mauryas are mentioned in later Buddhist, Jaina and Puranic literature, as well as in Sanskrit literary works. While these are useful, the inscriptions of Asoka (c. 272/268-231 BCE ) on rocks and pillars are often regarded as amongst the most valuable sources. Asoka was the first ruler who inscribed his messages to his subjects and officials on stone surfaces – natural rocks as well as polished pillars. He used the inscriptions to proclaim what he understood to be dhamma. This included respect towards elders, generosity towards Brahmanas and those who renounced worldly life, treating slaves and servants kindly, and respect for religions and traditions other than one’s own. 3.2 Administering the empire There were five major political centres in the empire – the capital Pataliputra and the provincial centres of Taxila, Ujjayini, Tosali and Suvarnagiri, all mentioned in Asokan inscriptions. If we examine the content of these inscriptions, we find virtually the same message engraved everywhere Fig. 2.3 – from the present-day North West Frontier The lion capital Provinces of Pakistan, to Andhra Pradesh, Orissa Ü Why is the lion capital and Uttarakhand in India. Could this vast empire considered important today? have had a uniform administrative system? Historians have increasingly come to realise that Reprint 2024-25 KINGS, F ARMERS AND TOWNS 33 Map 2 Distribution of Asokan inscriptions Mansehra Shahbazgarhi Taxila Kandahar Kalsi Topra Meerut Bahapur Nigalisagar Rummindei Rampurwa Bairat Lauriya Nandangarh Lauriya Araraj Sarnath Bhabru Gujarra Pataliputra Kaushambi Sahasram Ahraura Ujjayini Sanchi Girnar Shishupalgarh Arabian Sea Jaugada Sopara KALINGA Sannati Maski Gavimath Udegolam Palkigundu Rajula Mandagiri Nittur Jatinga Rameshwar Brahmagiri Siddapur Bay of Bengal p MAJOR ROCK EDICTS CHOLAS MINOR ROCK EDICTS PILLAR INSCRIPTIONS KERALAPUTRAS PANDYAS Sketch map not to scale Ü Could rulers have engraved inscriptions in areas that were not included within this is unlikely. The regions included within the their empire? empire were just too diverse. Imagine the contrast between the hilly terrain of Afghanistan and the coast of Orissa. It is likely that administrative control was strongest in areas around the capital and the provincial centres. These centres were carefully chosen, both Taxila and Ujjayini being situated on important long-distance trade routes, while Suvarnagiri (literally, the golden mountain) was possibly important for tapping the gold mines of Karnataka. Reprint 2024-25 34 THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY Source 1 Communication along both land and riverine What the king’s routes was vital for the existence of the empire. officials did Journeys from the centre to the provinces could have taken weeks if not months. This meant arranging Here is an excerpt from the for provisions as well as protection for those who account of Megasthenes: were on the move. It is obvious that the army was an important means for ensuring the latter. Of the great officers of state, Megasthenes mentions a committee with six some … superintend the subcommittees for coordinating military activity. Of rivers, measure the land, as these, one looked after the navy, the second managed is done in Egypt, and inspect transport and provisions, the third was responsible the sluices by which water is for foot-soldiers, the fourth for horses, the fifth for let out from the main canals into their branches, so that chariots and the sixth for elephants. The activities every one may have an of the second subcommittee were rather varied: equal supply of it. The same arranging for bullock carts to carry equipment, persons have charge also procuring food for soldiers and fodder for animals, of the huntsmen, and are and recruiting servants and artisans to look after entrusted with the power of the soldiers. rewarding or punishing them Asoka also tried to hold his empire together by according to their deserts. propagating dhamma, the principles of which, as we They collect the taxes, and have seen, were simple and virtually universally superintend the occupations applicable. This, according to him, would ensure the connected with land; as those well-being of people in this world and the next. of the woodcutters, the Special officers, known as the dhamma mahamatta, carpenters, the blacksmiths, were appointed to spread the message of dhamma. and the miners. 3.3 How important was the empire? When historians began reconstructing early Indian Ü Why were officials history in the nineteenth century, the emergence appointed to supervise these of the Mauryan Empire was regarded as a major occupational groups? landmark. India was then under colonial rule, and was part of the British empire. Nineteenth and early twentieth century Indian historians found the possibility that there was an empire in early India both challenging and exciting. Also, some of the archaeological finds associated with the Mauryas, including stone sculpture, were considered to be examples of the spectacular art Ü Discuss... typical of empires. Many of these historians found Read the excerpts from the message on Asokan inscriptions very different Megasthenes and the from that of most other rulers, suggesting that Arthashastra (Sources 1 and Asoka was more powerful and industrious, as also 2). To what extent do you more humble than later rulers who adopted think these texts are useful in grandiose titles. So it is not surprising that reconstructing a history of nationalist leaders in the twentieth century Mauryan administration? regarded him as an inspiring figure. Reprint 2024-25 KINGS, F ARMERS AND TOWNS 35 Yet, how important was the Mauryan Empire? It Source 2 lasted for about 150 years, which is not a very long Capturing elephants time in the vast span of the history of the for the army subcontinent. Besides, if you look at Map 2, you will notice that the empire did not encompass the entire The Arthashastra lays down subcontinent. And even within the frontiers of the minute details of administrative empire, control was not uniform. By the second and military organisation. This is century BCE, new chiefdoms and kingdoms emerged what it says about how to in several parts of the subcontinent. capture elephants: Guards of elephant forests, 4. New Notions of Kingship assisted by those who rear 4.1 Chiefs and kings in the south elephants, those who The new kingdoms that emerged in the Deccan and enchain the legs of further south, including the chiefdoms of the Cholas, elephants, those who guard Cheras and Pandyas in Tamilakam (the name of the the boundaries, those who ancient Tamil country, which included parts of live in forests, as well as by those who nurse elephants, present-day Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, in addition shall, with the help of five or to Tamil Nadu), proved to be stable and prosperous. seven female elephants to help in tethering wild ones, trace the whereabouts of Chiefs and chiefdoms herds of elephants by A chief is a powerful man whose position may or may following the course of urine not be hereditary. He derives support from his kinfolk. and dung left by elephants. His functions may include performing special rituals, According to Greek sources, leadership in warfare, and arbitrating disputes. He the Mauryan ruler had a receives gifts from his subordinates (unlike kings who standing army of 600,000 usually collect taxes) and often distributes these amongst foot-soldiers, 30,000 cavalry his supporters. Generally, there are no regular armies and 9,000 elephants. Some and officials in chiefdoms. historians consider these accounts to be exaggerated. We know about these states from a variety of sources. For instance, the early Tamil Sangam texts Ü If the Greek accounts (see also Chapter 3) contain poems describing chiefs were true, what kinds of and the ways in which they acquired and resources do you think the distributed resources. Mauryan ruler would have Many chiefs and kings, including the required to maintain such Satavahanas who ruled over parts of western and a large army? central India (c. second century BCE-second century CE ) and the Shakas, a people of Central Asian origin who established kingdoms in the north-western and western parts of the subcontinent, derived revenues from long-distance trade. Their social origins were often obscure, but, as we will see in the case of the Satavahanas (Chapter 3), once they acquired power they attempted to claim social status in a variety of ways. Reprint 2024-25 36 THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY Source 3 4.2 Divine kings One means of claiming high status was to identify The Pandya chief with a variety of deities. This strategy is best Senguttuvan visits exemplified by the Kushanas (c. first century BCE - the forest first century CE), who ruled over a vast kingdom extending from Central Asia to northwest India. Their This is an excerpt from the history has been reconstructed from inscriptions and Silappadikaram, an epic written textual traditions. The notions of kingship they in Tamil: wished to project are perhaps best evidenced in their (When he visited the forest) coins and sculpture. people came down the Colossal statues of Kushana rulers have been mountain, singing and found installed in a shrine at Mat near Mathura dancing … just as the defeated (Uttar Pradesh). Similar statues have been found in show respect to the victorious a shrine in Afghanistan as well. Some historians king, so did they bring gifts – feel this indicates that the Kushanas considered themselves godlike. Many Kushana rulers also ivory, fragrant wood, fans made adopted the title devaputra, or “son of god”, possibly of the hair of deer, honey, inspired by Chinese rulers who called themselves sandalwood, red ochre, sons of heaven. antimony, turmeric, cardamom, By the fourth century there is evidence of larger pepper, etc.... they brought states, including the Gupta Empire. Many of these coconuts, mangoes, medicinal depended on samantas, men who maintained plants, fruits, onions, sugarcane, themselves through local resources including control flowers, areca nut, bananas, baby over land. They offered homage and provided military tigers, lions, elephants, monkeys, support to rulers. Powerful samantas could become bear, deer, musk deer, fox, kings: conversely, weak rulers might find themselves peacocks, musk cat, wild cocks, being reduced to positions of subordination. speaking parrots, etc. … Histories of the Gupta rulers have been reconstructed from literature, coins and inscriptions, including prashastis, composed in praise of kings in particular, and patrons in general, by poets. While Ü Why did people bring historians often attempt to draw factual information these gifts? What would the from such compositions, those who composed and chief have used these for? read them often treasured them as works of poetry Fig. 2.4 A Kushana coin Obverse: King Kanishka Reverse: A deity Ü How has the king been portrayed? Reprint 2024-25 KINGS, F ARMERS AND TOWNS 37 rather than as accounts that were literally true. The Prayaga Prashasti (also known as the Allahabad Pillar Inscription) composed in Sanskrit by Harishena, the Fig. 2.5 court poet of Samudragupta, arguably the most Sandstone sculpture of a powerful of the Gupta rulers (c. fourth century CE), Kushana king is a case in point. Ü What are the elements in Source 4 the sculpture that suggest that this is an image of a king? In praise of Samudragupta This is an excerpt from the Prayaga Prashasti: He was without an antagonist on earth; he, by the overflowing of the multitude of (his) many good qualities adorned by hundreds of good actions, has wiped off the fame of other kings with the soles of (his) feet; (he is) Purusha (the Supreme Being), being the cause of the prosperity of the good and the destruction of the bad (he is) incomprehensible; (he is) one whose tender heart can be captured only by devotion and humility; (he is) possessed of compassion; (he is) the giver of many hundred-thousands of cows; (his) mind has received ceremonial initiation for the uplift of the miserable, the poor, the forlorn and the suffering; (he is) resplendent and embodied kindness to mankind; (he is) equal to (the gods) Kubera (the god of wealth), Varuna (the god of the ocean), Indra (the god of rains) and Yama (the god of death)… Ü Discuss... Why do you think kings claimed divine status? Reprint 2024-25 38 THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY Source 5 5. A Changing Countryside The Sudarshana 5.1 Popular perceptions of kings (beautiful) lake in Gujarat What did subjects think about their rulers? Obviously, inscriptions do not provide all the answers. Find Girnar on Map 2. The In fact, ordinary people rarely left accounts of their Sudarshana lake was an artificial thoughts and experiences. Nevertheless, historians reservoir. We know about it from a rock inscription have tried to solve this problem by examining stories ( c. second century C E ) in contained in anthologies such as the Jatakas and Sanskrit, composed to record the Panchatantra. Many of these stories probably the achievements of the Shaka originated as popular oral tales that were later ruler Rudradaman. committed to writing. The Jatakas were written in Pali around the middle of the first millennium CE. The inscription mentions that One story known as the Gandatindu Jataka the lake, with embankments and describes the plight of the subjects of a wicked king; water channels, was built by a these included elderly women and men, cultivators, local governor during the herders, village boys and even animals. When the rule of the Mauryas. However, king went in disguise to find out what his subjects a terrible storm broke thought about him, each one of them cursed him for the embankments and water gushed out of the lake. their miseries, complaining that they were attacked Rudradaman, who was then by robbers at night and by tax collectors during the ruling in the area, claimed to day. To escape from this situation, people abandoned have got the lake repaired using their village and went to live in the forest. his own resources, without As this story indicates, the relationship between imposing any tax on his subjects. a king and his subjects, especially the rural population, could often be strained – kings Another inscription on the frequently tried to fill their coffers by demanding same rock ( c. fifth century) high taxes, and peasants particularly found such mentions how one of the rulers demands oppressive. Escaping into the forest of the Gupta dynasty got the remained an option, as reflected in the Jataka story. lake repaired once again. Meanwhile, other strategies aimed at increasing production to meet growing demand for taxes also Ü Why did rulers make came to be adopted. arrangements for 5.2 Strategies for increasing production irrigation? One such strategy was the shift to plough agriculture, which spread in fertile alluvial river valleys such as those of the Ganga and the Kaveri from c. sixth century B C E. The iron-tipped Transplantation is used for ploughshare was used to turn the alluvial soil in paddy cultivation in areas areas which had high rainfall. Moreover, in some where water is plentiful. Here, parts of the Ganga valley, production of paddy was seeds are first broadcast; when dramatically increased by the introduction of the saplings have grown they transplantation, although this meant back-breaking are transplanted in waterlogged work for the producer. fields. This ensures a higher While the iron ploughshare led to a growth in ratio of survival of saplings and agricultural productivity, its use was restricted to higher yields. certain parts of the subcontinent – cultivators in Reprint 2024-25 KINGS, F ARMERS AND TOWNS 39 areas which were semi-arid, such as parts of Punjab Source 6 and Rajasthan did not adopt it till the twentieth The importance of century, and those living in hilly tracts in the north- boundaries eastern and central parts of the subcontinent practised hoe agriculture, which was much better The Manusmrti is one of the suited to the terrain. best-known legal texts of early Another strategy adopted to increase agricultural India, written in Sanskrit and production was the use of irrigation, through compiled between c. second wells and tanks, and less commonly, canals. century B C E and c. second Communities as well as individuals organised the century CE. This is what the text construction of irrigation works. The latter, usually advises the king to do: powerful men including kings, often recorded such Seeing that in the world activities in inscriptions. controversies constantly arise 5.3 Differences in rural society due to the ignorance of While these technologies often led to an increase in boundaries, he should … production, the benefits were very uneven. What is have … concealed boundary evident is that there was a growing differentiation markers buried – stones, amongst people engaged in agriculture – stories, bones, cow’s hair, chaff, especially within the Buddhist tradition, refer to ashes, potsherds, dried cow landless agricultural labourers, small peasants, as dung, bricks, coal, pebbles well as large landholders. The term gahapati was and sand. He should also have other similar substances often used in Pali texts to designate the second and that would not decay in third categories. The large landholders, as well as the soil buried as hidden the village headman (whose position was often markers at the intersection hereditary), emerged as powerful figures, and often of boundaries. exercised control over other cultivators. Early Tamil literature (the Sangam texts) also mentions different categories of people living in the villages – large Ü Would these boundary markers have been adequate landowners or vellalar, ploughmen or uzhavar and to resolve disputes? slaves or adimai. It is likely that these differences were based on differential access to land, labour and some of the new technologies. In such a situation, questions of control over land must have become crucial, as these were often discussed in legal texts. Gahapati A gahapati was the owner, master or head of a household, who exercised control over the women, children, slaves and workers who shared a common residence. He was also the owner of the resources – land, animals and other things – that belonged to the household. Sometimes the term was used as a marker of status for men belonging to the urban elite, including wealthy merchants. Reprint 2024-25 40 THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY Source 7 5.4 Land grants and new rural elites From the early centuries of the Common Era, we Life in a small village find grants of land being made, many of which were The Harshacharita is a biography recorded in inscriptions. Some of these inscriptions of Harshavardhana, the ruler of were on stone, but most were on copper plates Kanauj (see Map 3), composed (Fig. 2.13) which were probably given as a record of in Sanskrit by his court poet, the transaction to those who received the land. The Banabhatta (c. seventh century records that have survived are generally about grants CE ). This is an excerpt from to religious institutions or to Brahmanas. Most the text, an extremely rare inscriptions were in Sanskrit. In some cases, and representation of life in a especially from the seventh century onwards, part settlement on the outskirts of a of the inscription was in Sanskrit, while the rest forest in the Vindhyas: was in a local language such as Tamil or Telugu. Let us look at one such inscription more closely. The outskirts being for the most part forest, many Prabhavati Gupta was the daughter of one of the parcels of rice-land, threshing most important rulers in early Indian history, ground and arable land were Chandragupta II (c. 375-415 CE). She was married being apportioned by small into another important ruling family, that of the farmers … it was mainly Vakatakas, who were powerful in the Deccan (see spade culture … owing to the Map 3). According to Sanskrit legal texts, women difficulty of ploughing the were not supposed to have independent access to sparsely scattered fields resources such as land. However, the inscription covered with grass, with their indicates that Prabhavati had access to land, which few clear spaces, their black she then granted. This may have been because she soil stiff as black iron … was a queen (one of the few known from early Indian history), and her situation was therefore exceptional. There were people moving along with bundles of bark … It is also possible that the provisions of legal texts countless sacks of plucked were not uniformly implemented. flowers, … loads of flax and The inscription also gives us an idea about rural hemp bundles, quantities populations – these included Brahmanas and of honey, peacocks’ tail peasants, as well as others who were expected to feathers, wreaths of wax, provide a range of produce to the king or his logs, and grass. Village wives representatives. And according to the inscription, hastened en route for they would have to obey the new lord of the village, neighbouring villages, all and perhaps pay him all these dues. intent on thoughts of sale and Land grants such as this one have been found in bearing on their heads several parts of the country. There were regional baskets filled with various variations in the sizes of land donated – ranging gathered forest fruits. from small plots to vast stretches of uncultivated land – and the rights given to donees (the recipients Ü How would you classify of the grant). The impact of land grants is a subject the people described in the of heated debate among historians. Some feel that text in terms of their land grants were part of a strategy adopted by ruling occupations? lineages to extend agriculture to new areas. Others suggest that land grants were indicative of weakening political power: as kings were losing control over their samantas, they tried to win allies Reprint 2024-25 KINGS, F ARMERS AND TOWNS 41 by making grants of land. They also feel that kings tried to project themselves as supermen (as we saw in the previous section) because they were losing control: they wanted to present at least a façade of power. Source 8 Prabhavati Gupta and the An agrahara was land granted to a Brahmana, who was village of Danguna usually exempted from paying land revenue and other dues to This is what Prabhavati Gupta states in her inscription: the king, and was often given the Prabhavati Gupta … commands the gramakutumbinas right to collect these dues from (householders/peasants living in the village), the local people. Brahmanas and others living in the village of Danguna … “Be it known to you that on the twelfth (lunar day) of the bright (fortnight) of Karttika, we have, in order to increase our religious merit donated this village with the pouring out of water, to the Acharya (teacher) Chanalasvamin … You should obey all (his) commands … We confer on (him) the following exemptions typical of an agrahara …(this village is) not to be entered by soldiers and policemen; (it is) exempt from (the obligation to provide) grass, (animal) hides as seats, and charcoal (to touring royal officers); exempt from (the royal prerogative of) purchasing fermenting liquors and digging (salt); exempt from (the right to) mines and khadira trees; exempt from (the obligation to supply) flowers and milk; (it is donated) together with (the right to) hidden treasures and deposits (and) together with major and minor taxes …” This charter has been written in the thirteenth (regnal) year. (It has been) engraved by Chakradasa. Ü What were the things produced in the village? Land grants provide some insight into the relationship between cultivators and the state. Ü Discuss... However, there were people who were often beyond Find out whether plough the reach of officials or samantas: pastoralists, agriculture, irrigation and fisherfolk and hunter-gatherers, mobile or semi- transplantation are prevalent sedentary artisans and shifting cultivators. in your state. If not, are there Generally, such groups did not keep detailed records any alternative systems in of their lives and transactions. use? Reprint 2024-25 42 THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY 6. Towns and Trade The history of 6.1 New cities Pataliputra Let us retrace our steps back to the urban centres Each city had a history of its own. that emerged in several parts of the subcontinent Pataliputra, for instance, from c. sixth century BCE. As we have seen, many of began as a village known as these were capitals of mahajanapadas. Virtually all Pataligrama. Then, in the fifth major towns were located along routes of century B C E , the Magadhan communication. Some such as Pataliputra were on rulers decided to shift their riverine routes. Others, such as Ujjayini, were along capital from Rajagaha to this land routes, and yet others, such as Puhar, were settlement and renamed it. By near the coast, from where sea routes began. Many the fourth century BCE , it was cities like Mathura were bustling centres of the capital of the Mauryan commercial, cultural and political activity. Empire and one of the largest cities in Asia. Subsequently, 6.2 Urban populations: its importance apparently Elites and craftspersons declined. When the Chinese We have seen that kings and ruling elites lived in pilgrim Xuan Zang visited the fortified cities. Although it is difficult to conduct city in the seventh century CE , extensive excavations at most sites because people he found it in ruins, and with a live in these areas even today (unlike the Harappan very small population. cities), a wide range of artefacts have been recovered from them. These include fine pottery bowls and dishes, with a glossy finish, known as Northern Black Polished Ware, probably used by rich people, and ornaments, tools, weapons, vessels, figurines, made of a wide range of materials – gold, silver, copper, bronze, ivory, glass, shell and terracotta. Fig. 2.6 The gift of an image This is part of an image from Mathura. On the pedestal is a Prakrit inscription, mentioning that a woman named Nagapiya, the wife of a goldsmith (sovanika) named Dharmaka, installed this image in a shrine. Reprint 2024-25 KINGS, F ARMERS AND TOWNS 43 Map 3 Some important kingdoms and towns Taxila KUSHANAS Kanauj Shravasti Mathura GUPTAS Vaishali Varanasi Pataliputra Kaushambi Rajgir Mahasthan SHAKAS Vidisha Chandraketugarh Ujjayini VAKATAKAS Bharukachchha ARABIAN SEA Shishupalgarh Sopara Paithan SATAVAHANAS Dhanyakataka BAY OF BENGAL CHOLAS Kodumanal Puhar CHERAS PANDYAS Sketch map not to scale Ü Were there any cities in the By the second century BCE, we find short votive region where the Harappan inscriptions in a number of cities. These mention civilisation flourished in the the name of the donor, and sometimes specify his/ third millennium BCE? her occupation as well. They tell us about people who lived in towns: washing folk, weavers, scribes, carpenters, potters, goldsmiths, blacksmiths, officials, religious teachers, merchants and kings. Sometimes, guilds or shrenis, organisations of craft producers and merchants, are mentioned as well. These guilds probably procured raw materials, regulated production, and marketed the finished product. It is likely that craftspersons used a range of iron tools to meet the growing Votive inscriptions record gifts demands of urban elites. made to religious institutions. Reprint 2024-25 44 THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY Source 9 6.3 Trade in the subcontinent and beyond The Malabar coast From the sixth century BCE, land and river routes (present-day Kerala) criss-crossed the subcontinent and extended in various directions – overland into Central Asia and Here is an excerpt from Periplus beyond, and overseas, from ports that dotted the of the Erythraean Sea , coastline – extending across the Arabian Sea to East composed by an anonymous and North Africa and West Asia, and through the Greek sailor (c. first century CE): Bay of Bengal to Southeast Asia and China. Rulers often attempted to control these routes, possibly by They (i.e. traders from offering protection for a price. abroad) send large ships to Those who traversed these routes included these market-towns on account of the great quantity peddlers who probably travelled on foot and and bulk of pepper and merchants who travelled with caravans of bullock malabathrum (possibly carts and pack-animals. Also, there were seafarers, cinnamon, produced in these whose ventures were risky but highly profitable. regions). There are imported Successful merchants, designated as masattuvan here, in the first place, a great in Tamil and setthis and satthavahas in Prakrit, quantity of coin; topaz … could become enormously rich. A wide range of antimony (a mineral used as goods were carried from one place to another – salt, a colouring substance), coral, grain, cloth, metal ores and finished products, crude glass, copper, tin, lead stone, timber, medicinal plants, to name a few. … There is exported pepper, Spices, especially pepper, were in high demand in which is produced in quantity the Roman Empire, as were textiles and medicinal in only one region near these plants, and these were all transported across the markets … Besides this there Arabian Sea to the Mediterranean. are exported great quantities of fine pearls, ivory, silk 6.4 Coins and kings cloth, … transparent stones To some extent, exchanges were facilitated by the of all kinds, diamonds and introduction of coinage. Punch-marked coins made sapphires, and tortoise shell. of silver and copper (c. sixth century BCE onwards) were amongst the earliest to be minted and used. Archaeological evidence of a These have been recovered from excavations at a bead-making industry, using number of sites throughout the subcontinent. precious and semi-precious Numismatists have studied these and other coins to stones, has been found in reconstruct possible commercial networks. Kodumanal (Tamil Nadu). It is Attempts made to identify the symbols on punch- likely that local traders brought the stones mentioned in the marked coins with specific ruling dynasties, Periplus from sites such as including the Mauryas, suggest that these were these to the coastal ports. issued by kings. It is also likely that merchants, bankers and townspeople issued some of these coins. Ü Why did the author The first coins to bear the names and images of compile this list? rulers were issued by the Indo-Greeks, who established control over the north-western part of the subcontinent c. second century BCE. “Periplus” is a Greek word The kushanas, however, issued the largest hoards meaning sailing around and of gold coins first gold coins c. first century CE. These “Erythraean” was the Greek were virtually identical in weight with those issued name for the Red Sea. Reprint 2024-25 KINGS, F ARMERS AND TOWNS 45 by contemporary Roman emperors and the Parthian Numismatics is the study of rulers of Iran, and have been found from several coins, including visual elements sites in north India and Central Asia. The widespread such as scripts and images, use of gold coins indicates the enormous value of metallurgical analysis and the the transactions that were taking place. Besides, contexts in which they have hoards of Roman coins have been found from been found. archaeological sites in south India. It is obvious that networks of trade were not confined within political boundaries: south India was not part of the Roman Empire, but there were close connections through trade. Coins were also issued by tribal republics such as that of the Yaudheyas of Punjab and Haryana (c. first century CE). Archaeologists have unearthed several thousand copper coins issued by the Yaudheyas, pointing to the latter’s interest and participation in economic exchanges. Some of the most spectacular gold coins were issued by the Gupta rulers. The earliest issues are remarkable for their purity. These coins Fig. 2.7 A punch-marked coin, so named facilitated long-distance transactions from which because symbols were punched or kings also benefited. stamped onto the metal surface From c. sixth century CE onwards, finds of gold coins taper off. Does this indicate that there was some kind of an economic crisis? Historians are divided on this issue. Some suggest that with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire long-distance trade declined, and this affected the prosperity of the states, communities and regions that had benefited from it. Others argue that new towns and networks of trade started emerging around this time. They also point out that though finds of coins of that time are fewer, coins continue to be mentioned in inscriptions and texts. Could it be that there are Fig. 2.8 fewer finds because coins were in circulation rather A Yaudheya coin than being hoarded? Ü Discuss... What are the transactions involved in trade? Which of these transactions are apparent from the sources mentioned? Are there any Fig. 2.9 that are not evident from the A Gupta coin sources? Reprint 2024-25 46 THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY Fig. 2.10 An Asokan inscription 7. Back to Basics How Are Inscriptions Deciphered? So far, we have been studying excerpts from inscriptions amongst other things. But how do historians find out what is written on them? 7.1 Deciphering Brahmi Most scripts used to write modern Indian languages are derived from Brahmi, the script used in most Asokan inscriptions. From the late eighteenth century, European scholars aided by Indian pandits worked backwards from contemporary Bengali and Devanagari (the script used to write Hindi) manuscripts, comparing their letters with older specimens. Scholars who studied early inscriptions sometimes assumed these were in Sanskrit, although the earliest inscriptions were, in fact, in Prakrit. It was only after decades of painstaking investigations by several epigraphists that James Prinsep was able to Fig. 2.11 decipher Asokan Brahmi in 1838. Asokan Brahmi with Devanagari equivalents 7.2 How Kharosthi was read The story of the decipherment of Kharosthi, the script Ü Do some Devanagari letters used in inscriptions in the northwest, is different. appear similar to Brahmi? Are Here, finds of coins of Indo-Greek kings who ruled there any that seem different? over the area (c. second-first centuries BCE) have Reprint 2024-25 KINGS, F ARMERS AND TOWNS 47 facilitated matters. These coins contain the names Source 10 of kings written in Greek and Kharosthi scripts. European scholars who could read the former The orders of the king compared the letters. For instance, the symbol Thus speaks king Devanampiya for “a” could be found in both scripts for writing Piyadassi: names such as Apollodotus. With Prinsep identifying the language of the Kharosthi inscriptions as Prakrit, In the past, there were no it became possible to read longer inscriptions as well. arrangements for disposing affairs, nor for receiving 7.3 Historical evidence from inscriptions regular reports. But I To find out how epigraphists and historians work, have made the following let us look at two Asokan inscriptions more closely. (arrangement). Pativedakas Note that the name of the ruler, Asoka, is not should report to me about the mentioned in the inscription (Source 10). What is affairs of the people at all used instead are titles adopted by the ruler – times, anywhere, whether I devanampiya, often translated as “beloved of the am eating, in the inner gods” and piyadassi, or “pleasant to behold”. The apartment, in the bedroom, name Asoka is mentioned in some other inscriptions, in the cow pen, being carried which also contain these titles. After examining all (possibly in a palanquin), or these inscriptions, and finding that they match in in the garden. And I will terms of content, style, language and palaeography, dispose of the affairs of the epigraphists have concluded that they were issued people everywhere. by the same ruler. You may also have noticed that Asoka claims that Ü Epigraphists have earlier rulers had no arrangements to receive reports. translated the term If you consider the political history of the pativedaka as reporter. subcontinent prior to Asoka, do you think this In what ways would the statement is true? Historians have to constantly functions of the assess statements made in inscriptions to judge pativedaka have been whether they are true, plausible or exaggerations. different from those we Did you notice that there are words within generally associate with brackets? Epigraphists sometimes add these to make reporters today? the meaning of sentences clear. This has to be done carefully, to ensure that the intended meaning of the author is not changed. Fig. 2.12 A coin of the Indo-Greek king Menander Reprint 2024-25 48 THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY Source 11 Historians have to make other assessments as well. If a king’s orders were inscribed on natural The anguish of the king rocks near cities or important routes of communication, would passers-by have stopped to When the king Devanampiya Piyadassi had been ruling read these? Most people were probably not literate. for eight years, the (country Did everybody throughout the subcontinent of the) Kalingas (present- understand the Prakrit used in Pataliputra? Would day coastal Orissa) was the orders of the king have been followed? Answers conquered by (him). to such questions are not always easy to find. Some of these problems are evident if we look at One hundred and fifty an Asokan inscription (Source 11), which has often thousand men were deported, been interpreted as reflecting the anguish of the a hundred thousand were ruler, as well as marking a change in his attitude killed, and many more died. towards warfare. As we shall see, the situation becomes more complex once we move beyond reading After that, now that (the the inscription at face value. country of) the Kalingas has While Asokan inscriptions have been found in been taken, Devanampiya (is devoted) to an intense study present-day Orissa, the one depicting his anguish of Dhamma, to the love of is missing. In other words, the inscription has not Dhamma, and to instructing been found in the region that was conquered. What (the people) in Dhamma. are we to make of that? Is it that the anguish of the recent conquest was too painful in the region, and This is the repentance of therefore the ruler was unable to address the issue? Devanampiya on account of his conquest of the (country 8. The Limitations of Inscriptional of the) Kalingas. Evidence For this is considered very By now it is probably evident that there are limits to painful and deplorable what epigraphy can reveal. Sometimes, there are by Devanampiya that, technical limitations: letters are very faintly while one is conquering engraved, and thus reconstructions are uncertain. an unconquered (country) Also, inscriptions may be damaged or letters missing. slaughter, death and Besides, it is not always easy to be sure about the deportation of people (take exact meaning of the words used in inscriptions, place) there … some of which may be specific to a particular place or time. If you go through an epigraphical journal (some are listed in Timeline 2), you will realise that scholars are constantly debating and discussing alternative ways of reading inscriptions. Although several thousand inscriptions have been discovered, not all have been deciphered, published and translated. Besides, many more inscriptions Ü Discuss... must have existed, which have not survived the Look at Map 2 and discuss ravages of time. So what is available at present is the location of Asokan probably only a fraction of what was inscribed. inscriptions. Do you notice There is another, perhaps more fundamental, any patterns? problem: not everything that we may consider Reprint 2024-25 KINGS, F ARMERS AND TOWNS 49 politically or economically significant was necessarily recorded in inscriptions. For instance, routine agricultural practices and the joys and sorrows of daily existence find no mention in inscriptions, which focus, more often than not, on grand, unique events. Besides, the content of inscriptions almost invariably projects the perspective of the person(s) who commissioned them. As such, they need to be juxtaposed with other perspectives so as to arrive at a better understanding of the past. Thus epigraphy alone does not provide a full understanding of political and economic history. Also, historians often question both old and new evidence. Scholars in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were primarily interested in the histories of kings. From the mid-twentieth century onwards, issues such as economic change, and the ways in which different social groups emerged have assumed far more importance. Recent decades have seen a much greater preoccupation with histories of marginalised groups. This will probably lead to fresh investigations of old sources, and the development of new strategies of analysis. Fig. 2.13 A copperplate inscription from Karnataka, c. sixth century CE Reprint 2024-25 50 THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY Timeline 1 Major Political and Economic Developments c.600-500 BCE Paddy transplantation; urbanisation in the Ganga valley; mahajanapadas; punch-marked coins c. 500-400 BCE Rulers of Magadha consolidate power c. 327-325 BCE Invasion of Alexander of Macedon c. 321 BCE Accession of Chandragupta Maurya c. 272/268-231 BCE Reign of Asoka c. 185 BCE End of the Mauryan empire c. 200-100 BCE Indo-Greek rule in the northwest; Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas in south India; Satavahanas in the Deccan c. 100 BCE -200 CE Shaka (peoples from Central Asia) rulers in the northwest; Roman trade; gold coinage c. 78 CE ? Accession of Kanishka c.100-200 CE Earliest inscriptional evidence of land grants by Satavahana and Shaka rulers c. 320 CE Beginning of Gupta rule c. 335-375 CE Samudragupta c. 375-415 CE Chandragupta II; Vakatakas in the Deccan c. 500-600 CE Rise of the Chalukyas in Karnataka and of the Pallavas in Tamil Nadu c. 606-647 CE Harshavardhana king of Kanauj; Chinese pilgrim Xuan Zang comes in search of Buddhist texts c. 712 Arabs conquer Sind (Note: It is difficult to date economic developments precisely. Also, there are enormous subcontinental variations which have not been indicated in the timeline. Only the earliest dates for specific developments have been given. The date of Kanishka’s accession is not certain and this has been marked with a‘?’) Reprint 2024-25 KINGS, F ARMERS AND TOWNS 51 Timeline 2 Major Advances in Epigraphy Eighteenth century 1784 Founding of the Asiatic Society (Bengal) Nineteenth century 1810s Colin Mackenzie collects over 8,000 inscriptions in Sanskrit and Dravidian languages 1838 Decipherment of Asokan Brahmi by James Prinsep 1877 Alexander Cunningham publishes a set of Asokan inscriptions 1886 First issue of Epigraphia Carnatica, a journal of south Indian inscriptions 1888 First issue of Epigraphia Indica Twentieth century 1965-66 D.C. Sircar publishes Indian Epigraphy and Indian Epigraphical Glossary Answer in 100-150 words 1. Discuss the evidence of craft production in Early Historic cities. In what ways is this different from the evidence from Harappan cities? 2. Describe the salient features of mahajanapadas. 3. How do historians reconstruct the lives of ordinary people? 4. Compare and contrast the list of things given to the Pandyan chief (Source 3) with those produced in the village of Danguna (Source 8). Do you notice any similarities or differences? 5. List some of the problems faced by epigraphists. Reprint 2024-25 52 THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY Write a short essay (about 500 words) on the following: 6. Discuss the main features of Mauryan administration. Which of these elements are evident in the Asokan inscriptions that you have studied? 7. This is a statement made by one of the best-known epigraphists of the twentieth century, D.C. Sircar: “There is no aspect of life, culture and activities of the Indians that is not reflected in inscriptions.” Discuss. 8. Discuss the notions of kingship that developed in the post-Mauryan period. If you would like to know more, read: 9. To what extent were agricultural practices D.N. Jha. 2004. transformed in the period under consideration? Early India: A Concise History. Manohar, New Delhi. Map work R. Salomon. 1998. Indian Epigraphy. Munshiram 10. Compare Maps 1 and 2, and list the mahajanapadas Manoharlal Publishers Pvt. Ltd, that might have been included in the Mauryan New Delhi. Empire. Are any Asokan inscriptions found in these areas? R.S. Sharma. 1983. Material Culture and Social Formation in Early India. Project (any one) Macmillan, New Delhi. 11. Collect newspapers for one month. Cut and paste all D.C. Sircar. 1975. the statements made by government officials about Inscriptions of Asoka. public works. Note what the reports say about the Publications Division, Ministry of resources required for such projects, how the Information and Broadcasting, resources are mobilised and the objective of the Government of India, New Delhi. project. Who issues these statements, and how and why are they communicated? Compare and contrast Romila Thapar. 1997. these with the evidence from inscriptions discussed Asoka and the Decline of the in this chapter. What are the similarities and Mauryas. Oxford University Press, differences that you notice? New Delhi. 12. Collect five different kinds of currency notes and coins in circulation today. For each one of these, describe what you see on the obverse and the reverse (the front and the back). Prepare a report on the common features as well as the differences in terms of pictures, scripts and languages, size, shape and any other For more information, you could visit: element that you find significant. Compare these with http:/projectsouthasia.sdstate. the coins shown in this chapter, discussing the edu/Docs/index.html materials used, the techniques of minting, the visual symbols and their significance and the possible functions that coins may have had. Reprint 2024-25