Class 7 History Chapter 1
Tracing Changes Through a Thousand Years
Introduction
The period between 700-1750 AD witnessed significant transformations in society, culture, and politics in India. These changes influenced how people lived, interacted, and documented their history.
Two Maps and Their Significance
Map by Al-Idrisi (12th Century)
Background:
Al-Idrisi was a renowned Arab cartographer who worked for King Roger II of Sicily.
His map of the world, created in 1154 CE, is known as the "Tabula Rogeriana."
Features:
South-oriented: South is at the top of the map, unlike modern maps.
Depicts the Indian subcontinent as a significant hub for global trade.
Emphasizes trade routes, rivers, and coastal regions.
Significance:
Reflects the interconnectedness of the world during the Islamic Golden Age.
Highlights India’s importance in medieval trade and culture.
Map by Guillaume De L'Isle (18th Century)
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Background:
Guillaume Delisle was a French cartographer known for his scientific and accurate approach to mapping.
Features:
Shows India under European colonial influence, with key cities like Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay.
Divides regions based on European and Mughal control.
Reflects advancements in geographical accuracy.
Significance:
A historical document showcasing India’s geopolitical changes during colonial times.
Marks the beginning of European dominance in trade and administration.
Comparison of the Two Maps
The thousand years between 700-1750 AD were marked by transitions in trade, technology, religion, and governance. These changes laid the foundation for the modern era and highlight the richness of India’s history.
1. New and Old Terminologies
The meanings of terms evolved over time.
Example: The term Hindustan in the 13th century referred to Punjab, Haryana, and the region between the Ganga and Yamuna, as noted by Minhaj-i-Siraj.
In contemporary usage, it refers to the modern nation of India.
2. Sources of History
Historians rely on diverse sources to reconstruct history:
Inscriptions: Written records on stone, metal, or other materials.
Coins: Indicators of economic conditions and governance.
Architecture: Reveals cultural and technological advancements.
Textual Records: Includes chronicles, religious texts, and letters.
Example: Ziauddin Barani’s two chronicles (1356 and 1358) demonstrate how texts could differ over time.
3. New Social and Political Groups
Emerging communities: Rajputs, Marathas, Sikhs, and Kayasthas (scribes) rose to prominence.
Technological advancements:
Persian wheel: Revolutionized irrigation.
Spinning wheel: Aided in weaving.
Firearms: Changed combat strategies.
New food items: Potatoes, corn, chillies, tea, and coffee were introduced.
4. Formation of Regions and Religious Changes
Large empires (e.g., Cholas, Tughlaqs, and Mughals) contributed to India’s cultural and linguistic diversity.
Hinduism: The Bhakti Movement emphasized personal devotion to deities.
Islam: Introduced by merchants and migrants, it emphasized monotheism and community.
5. Thinking About Time and Historical Periods
British historians divided Indian history into Hindu, Muslim, and British periods.
This classification ignored the rich diversity and complexity of India’s past.
6. Changes in Socio-Political and Cultural Life
New Technologies: Introduction of tools like the Persian wheel and spinning wheel.
Religious Transformations: Bhakti and Sufi movements emphasized devotion and mysticism.
Mobility and Migration: People moved for opportunities, clearing forests for agriculture and establishing new settlements.
Let’s Recall
1. Who was considered a “foreigner” in the past?
A "foreigner" in the past referred to any individual who did not belong to a specific society, culture, or locality, such as a stranger from outside a village or community, regardless of regional or cultural proximity. (In Hindi the term Pardesi) might be used to describe such a person and in Persian, Ajnabi.) A city-dweller, therefore, might have regarded a forest-dweller as a “foreigner”.
2. State whether true or false:
(a) We do not find inscriptions for the period after 700. False
(b) The Marathas asserted their political importance during this period. True
(c) Forest-dwellers were sometimes pushed out of their lands with the spread of agricultural settlements. True
(d) Sultan Ghiyasuddin Balban controlled Assam, Manipur, and Kashmir. False
3. Fill in the blanks:
(a) Archives are places where manuscripts are kept.
(b) Ziyauddin Barani was a fourteenth-century chronicler.
(c) Potatoes, corn, chillies, tea, and coffee were some of the new crops introduced into the subcontinent during this period.
4. List some of the technological changes associated with this period.
Medieval period was the period of economic, social, cultural and technological changes. Some of the technological changes which occurred in this period are – for irrigation people started using the Persian wheel, the spinning wheel for weaving and firearms for combat.
5. What were some of the major religious developments during this period?
This was the period when important changes occurred in different religions. People started travelling for survival, for new agricultural land or for trade and they bought their practices with them.
This was the period that important changes occurred in Hinduism. Like worship of new deities, the construction of temples by royalty and the growing importance of Brahmanas.
Emergence of the idea of bhakti was the one of the major developments during this period. This was also the period when new religions appeared in the subcontinent.
Merchants and migrants first brought the teachings of the holy Quran to India in the seventh century.
Let's Understand
6. In what ways has the meaning of the term “Hindustan” changed over the centuries?
Over the centuries there has been a vast change in the meaning of the term “Hindustan”.
a) Today “Hindustan” is understood as India, the modern nation state.
b) In the 13th century the term is used in political context for the lands under the Delhi Sultanate like Punjab, Haryana and area between Ganga and yamuna.
c) In 16th century Babur and Amir khusro used the term “Hindustan” to describe the geography, culture and fauna of the subcontinent.
7. How were the affairs of regulated?
When people start migrating for living, they formed some groups. On the basis of their background and occupations they got some ranks in the society. These groups were known as Jatis and the affairs of the Jatis were regulated by an assembly of elders, known in some areas as the jati panchayat.
These Jati Panchayat formed some rules and regulations to manage the conduct of their members.
8.What does the term pan-regional empire mean?
As the name suggests the term pan-regional empire is applied to an empire which stretches over many regions of diverse culture, religion and geography. The Tughluqs and Mughal empires are the good examples of pan-regional empire.
Let’s discuss
9. What are the difficulties historians faces in using manuscripts?
While using manuscripts, the historians face a number of difficulties.
1. Different interpretations: Manuscripts were written with hand and as a result there were small but significant difference between any two copies. The scribes who copied them introduced changes with their own interpretations.
2. Poor handwriting: As the Manuscripts were written with hand and as a result there were chances of errors while copying these scripts.
3. Copying errors: Copying scripts introduced changes which grew over the centuries. As a result historians have to read different manuscript versions of the same text to guess what the authors had originally written.
4. Confusion: Different versions of Manuscripts lead to the confusion and it becomes a challenge to decide the chronological order of their release.How do historians divide the past into periods?
10. Do they face any problems in doing so?
In the middle of the nineteenth century British historians divided the history of India into three periods on the basis of the religion of rulers: “Hindu”, “Muslim” and “British”. This division was based on the idea that there were no other important historical changes in the economy, society or culture.
But today most of the historians divide the past into periods based on the economic and social factors which characterize them.
In doing so they are faced with the problems:
1. Economic and social changes keep taking place hence definite boundaries cannot be drawn.
2. These periods are compared with modernity. Modernity gives a sense of progress. This implies that there was no progress before, which is not true.
3. Division on the basis of religion of the ruler ignored the rich diversity of the subcontinent.