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CBSE CLASS VII HISTORY
The document discusses the medieval period in India, spanning from the 8th to the 18th century, focusing on significant political developments, the importance of geographical knowledge, and the emergence of new social and religious groups. It highlights the influence of Muslim conquerors and European traders, the role of cartography, and the contributions of medieval scholars. Additionally, it addresses the evolution of languages, the absorption of new social groups into the caste system, and the impact of religious movements such as the Bhakti movement and Sufism.
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CBSE CLASS VII HISTORY
- 1. Dr. ABDUL KALAMACADEMY MARAI MALAI NAGAR-603209, TAMIL NADU CBSE CLASS – VII HISTORY
- 2.
- 3. This chapter containsinformation about… The time period of the medieval period. The major political developments in the age. Importance of Geographical knowledge like maps and names of places in the medieval period. Names of medieval scholars who visited India Medieval documents and the language used New social, political groups and religious groups which arose in the medieval period.
- 4. Major Topics ofthe Chapter • Introduction • Major Political Developments • Importance of Geographical Knowledge • Keeping Records • New Social and Political Groups • Old and New Religions
- 5. Three periods ofhistory The history of the world can be divided into three broad periods: • Ancient • Medieval • Modern
- 6. Medieval Age • Themedieval period in India spans over a millennium (1000 years) from 8th century AD to 18th century AD. • But in Europe the medieval age began in the 5th century AD.
- 7. Two phases ofMedieval Age in India The Medieval period in India can be divided broadly into two phases: Early medieval period (8th century AD to 13th century AD) and Later medieval period (13th century AD to 18th century AD).
- 8. Early Medieval Period •The Early Medieval Period (8th to 13 century AD) saw power struggles among regional kingdoms of both North and South. • The Rajputs in North India and the Cholas in South India were the prominent kingdoms. • The distinctive cultural characteristics of the regional kingdoms spread in the new regions that came under them.
- 9. Later Medieval Age •Muslim conquerors from Central Asia especially the Turks, the Afghans and the Mughals ruled India. • The Khaljis, the Tughluqs and the Mughals established mighty dynasties. • Islamic customs influenced political, economic, social and cultural life in India and a Indo-Islamic culture grew in a big way.
- 10. European traders • Towardsthe end of the 15th century, Europeans began direct trade with Indian seaports. • Portuguese came first followed by the English, the Dutch and the French. • By the mid 18th century, the British beat the French to be the dominant political force in India. • This marked the beginning of the Modern Age.
- 11. Importance of GeographicalKnowledge • Geographic knowledge especially maps helped to understand a region better. • Geographical features of a region and the region’s location with respect to other regions explains why a region prospered or remained isolated or was invaded frequently.
- 12. Cartography and MedievalIndia • Cartography or map making was unknown in ancient India. • The worldwide growth of trade and the expansion of empires during the medieval period created the need for accurate maps. • The Arabs and the Europeans who undertook long journeys over land and sea developed cartography. • India was introduced to cartography by the Arabs and the Europeans.
- 13. Al-Idrisi and hisupside down map • Al-Idrisi is a 12th century cartographer from Morocco. • His upside down map (the map has the south shown at the top) has Arabia at the centre and India to its left. • Above India is an island which could be Sri Lanka. • Below Arabia is Turkey and further down Europe. • But by the end of the medieval period cartography became more accurate.
- 14. Medieval Maps ofIndia • Most medieval maps of India were drawn by sailors who were more familiar with the coastal regions. • Hence, these maps show the coastal areas in more detail than the interior regions.
- 15. Place names • Medievalmaps and writings of medieval authors provide valuable information about the geographical feature and the names of places in those times. • But the names of places mentioned in those documents and maps may have changed over time. • Historians have to find out the present names and match it with old names.
- 16. Medieval Scholars whovisited India • Alberuni, a famous Central Asian scholar came to India and mastered Sanskrit and translated some Sanskrit texts into Arabic. He also wrote a book called Kitab-al-Hind on India. • Ibn Batutah came to India from Tangier (North Africa)in the 14th century. His work Rihla describes his travels in India. • Their writings give us the valuable geographical information on medieval India
- 17. Record Keeping • Inthe medieval kingdoms in India, records were maintained properly. • At that time, paper came into wide use as a writing material. • These documents area now preserved in the archives (a place where historical documents are maintained by the government.
- 18. Nature of themedieval documents • Medieval records of land revenue and land grants, works of religious literature and secular works such as travel writing, history and science are preserved till date.
- 19. Prashastis / Rajatarangini •Most of the historical works are prashastis or eulogies which are writing praising somebody, usually a ruler. • One exception is Kalhana’s Rajatarangini – a history of Kashmir in Sanskrit verse written in the 12th century. • As a true historian, Kalhana referred to different original documents, inscriptions and coins to check the facts.
- 20. Growth of newlanguages … • Most scholars and officials all over India wrote either in Sanskrit or in Persian. • But regional languages came into wide use in regional kingdoms. • Telengani was used in Telengana, Kashmiri in Kashmir, Awadh (a form of Hindi) in Uttar Pradesh, Gujari in Gujarat and Gauri in Bengal. • Many literary works were composed in these languages and they provide valuable historical information.
- 21. Historians’ Problems • Allmedieval documents were manuscripts (handwritten documents) as there was no printing press at that time. • Scribes (writers) made copies of original documents and some of them put in their own thoughts in their own language changing the original text. • Later historians had to check these documents with other sources to ascertain the truth in case the original document was lost.
- 22. Historians’ problem continued •Another problem which confronts the historians is that the languages used in the documents have changed. • Historians are not able to read the documents because the handwriting of the scribes are illegible or because the script (lettering) is no longer in use.
- 23. Historian problems continued… •Here are two examples to show how the usages and expressions changed with time. • The term mlechchha was used during ancient times for all non-Aryan people including hill and forest dwellers. • During the early medieval period, the term referred to all foreigners culturally different people from kings to untouchables. • Gradually when some untouchables were absorbed into the varna (caste system), the term came to be applied for meat eating people and those who did not observe caste rules.
- 24. Historians’ problem continued •The term Hindustan referred to different territories at different times. • Around 3rd century AD, the southern part of the Indus plain was called Hindustan in an inscription of the Sassanians of Persia who ruled over this region. • In the early medieval period, the Arabs referred to the land between the Indus and the Ganga-Yamuna Doab as Hindustan and its people Hindu derived from the word Sindhu or Indus. • In the later medieval period, the whole of India except the extreme south was called Hindustan. • Today, the county India, is also called Hindustan.
- 25. New Social andPolitical Groups • During the medieval period, many new social groups emerged. • Some of these groups also became politically powerful. • Among them were the Rajputs from Rajasthan and its surroundings, the Sikhs, who were a religious group of Punjab, the Jats of Harayana, who were farmers, the Ahoms, who conquered and ruled Assam, and the Marathas, who were warriors of Maharashtra.
- 26. New social groupsgot absorbed… • New social groups were absorbed into the caste system. • For example, the Rajputs, being heroic and noble, got Kshatriya (warrior) status. • With the expansion of agriculture and trade, wealthy landowners and traders acquired higher social status. • Forest dwellers, tribal herders who took to agriculture were absorbed into the Shudra caste.
- 27. Brahmans enter lowcaste profession • High caste Brahmans entered low caste professions like agriculture, trade and craft in the medieval age.
- 28. Subcastes - Jatis •The growth of new professions gave rise to a large number of subcastes each called a Jati. • A jati consisted of people who were in the same profession. • Prominent among the jatis that emerged were the Kayasthas-a subcaste of scribes. • The Kayasthas rose to prominence because record keeping had become an important profession. • The jatis had their own rules and regulations administered by elders. Besides, all the jatis had to follow the civil rules of towns and villages.
- 29. Portuguese and potatoes •Many foreigners settled in coastal cities and near the north western border. • These foreigners brought along their culture, customs, religion, crafts, technologies and even fruits and vegetables. • Sericulture came from China and Persian water wheel from Persia. • Turks brought plums, peaches, oranges and lemons. • Portuguese brought potatoes, tomatoes and chillies.
- 30. Old and NewReligions • Hinduism went through some changes. • New deities came to be worshipped. • Tribal ideas of worship entered Hinduism. • Building temples became an important activity. • The deities worshipped in these temples often represented the qualities that an ideal ruler was expected to have.
- 31. Brahmans became wealthyand powerful • Rulers patronised learned Brahmans and granted them tax-free land. • Thus, many Brahmans became wealthy and powerful. • They used their power to made the caste rules and religious norms very rigid.
- 32. Islam • Islam, thereligion of the Muslims, arose in Arabia in the 7th century AD. • Islam is centred on the belief in one God, Allah, and the teachings of His last prophet, Muhammad. • The teachings are contained in the holy book called the Quran.
- 33. Shia and Sunni •After Prophet Muhammad’s death, a Caliph, or Khalifa, succeeded him as the religious and political head of the Muslim community. • Later, the community split into two manor sects- Shia and Sunni. • The Shias regard Muhammad’s son-in-law Ali as the Prophet’s true successor. • They believe that a caliph is appointed by divine will. • But the Sunnis believe that a caliph should be chosen by the whole community. • Apart from the Quran, they follow the Sunnah (customs and laws based on the deeds and words of Muhammad).
- 34. Islam and India •Islam was brought to India by Arab traders. • Later, Muslim conquerors ruled India according to Islamic law and the ulema (experts in Islamic law)received their patronage. • Among the various schools of Islamic law that had developed, the Hanafi school became popular in India. Turks made it popular in India.
- 35. Bhakti Movement • Towardsthe end of the ancient period, around the 7th century AD, several Hindu religious thinkers of South India started challenging the Brahman domination. • They stressed on bhakti (personal devotion to God) without the help of a middle man (Brahman priest). This is called the Bhakti Movement. • In North India, it began only around the 13th century AD. • Bhakti Movement attracted people all sections of society.
- 36. Sufism – From aroundthe 8th century, some Muslims began to be influenced by Hindu, Greek and Buddhist religious ideas. • This gave rise to a faith called Sufism. • Sufi philosophy is basically Islamic. • Besides devotion to one God, it preaches brotherhood among men. • After the Turkish invasions, many Sufi saints came to India to spread their faith.
- 37. THANK YOU !!! HopeIt Was Useful To You! LET US MEET AGAIN IN THE NEXT CHAPTER