CHAPTER- 1 INTRODUCTION: Tracing Changes Through A Thousand years
NOTES
1. Cartographer– A person who creates maps or charts. Example– The 12th-century geographer Al-Idrisi and the early 18th-century French cartographer Guillaume Delisle's Atlas Nouveau.
- The sailors and traders of Europe used maps for their sea voyages.
2. Inscriptions– These are found in various languages, and these languages have also changed significantly over time.
3. In the 13th century, when the Persian historian Minhaj-i-Siraj used the term Hindustan, it was used to refer to the regions of Punjab, Haryana, and the area between the Ganga and Yamuna rivers.
- This term was used in a political sense for the regions that fell under the dominion of the Sultan of Delhi.
4. In the early 16th century, Babur used the term Hindustan to describe the geography, wildlife, and culture of the people of this subcontinent. This usage was somewhat similar to the term Hind used by the 14th-century poet Amir Khusrau.
5. Foreigner– Today, it means a person who is not Indian. In the medieval period, however, any unfamiliar person arriving in a village, who was not a part of that society or culture, was considered a foreigner.
6. Archive– A place where documents and manuscripts are preserved. Today, all national and state governments have archives where they maintain records of their old official documents and transactions.
7. Copies of Manuscripts– In those days, there were no printing presses, so scribes or copyists would create replicas of manuscripts by hand.
8. The 14th-century historian Ziauddin Barani wrote his account for the first time in 1356 and then again two years later. There are differences between the two versions, but historians were unaware of the first account until 1971.
9. Between the years 700 and 1750, advancements in technology can be observed- 1.Rahat (Persian wheel) in irrigation, 2. Charkha (spinning wheel) in spinning, 3. Firearms (gunpowder weapons) in warfare.
- Changes in Food– Potato, maize, chili, tea, and coffee.
- As a result, this period was also an era of economic, political, social, and cultural changes.
10. Rajput– This name is derived from Rajputra, meaning "son of a king."
- Between the 8th and 14th centuries, this name was generally used for a group of warriors who claimed to belong to the Kshatriya varna.
- The term Rajput also included commanders and soldiers.
- Poets and Charans praised the Rajput code of conduct, highlighting qualities of immense valor and loyalty.
11. From a political perspective, groups such as the Marathas, Sikhs, Jats, Ahoms, and Kayasthas (primarily a community engaged in clerical and administrative work) also took advantage of opportunities to gain significance.
12. Habitat– It refers to the environment of a region and the social and economic lifestyle of its inhabitants.
13. Higher or Lower Status– As social differences increased, people began to be classified into castes and sub-castes, and they were assigned a higher or lower status in society based on their background and occupation. These statuses were not permanent.
14. Caste Panchayat– Castes created their own rules to regulate the behavior of their members. The enforcement of these rules was overseen by a council of elders, which was known as the Caste Panchayat in some regions.
15. Delhi Sultan Ghiyasuddin Balban (1266-1287)-
- He was the ruler of a vast empire that extended from Bengal (Gauda) in the east to Ghazni (Gajjan) in Afghanistan in the west, including the whole of South India (Dravida).
16. Changes in Hinduism-
- Worship of new deities.
- Construction of temples by kings.
- The growing importance of Brahmins as priests in society.
17. Brahmins were highly respected in society due to their knowledge of Sanskrit scriptures. Their patrons were the newly emerging rulers who sought prestige for themselves. With the support of these patrons, their influence in society also increased.
18. Concept of Bhakti– In this, God was envisioned as a loving and personal deity, whom devotees could reach directly without the elaborate rituals performed by priests.
19. Muslims– They consider the Quran Sharif as their holy book and believe in the supremacy of one God, Allah, whose love, compassion, and generosity embrace every believer, regardless of their social background.
20. In the mid-19th century, British historians divided Indian history into three periods: Hindu, Muslim, and British.
21. Medieval history provides insights into- 1. The expansion of agrarian societies, 2.The rise of regional and social states, 3.Hinduism as a dominant religion.
