The topic Class 12 History Notes Chapter 8 Peasants and Agricultural Production is a part of the Class 12 History syllabus. It deals with the role of peasants in agricultural production during the Mughal period. The topic begins by introducing the reader to the concept of agrarian society and its importance in the Mughal Empire. It then goes on to discuss the different types of peasants and their role in agricultural production. The topic also deals with the various land revenue systems that were in place during the Mughal period. Finally, it discusses the impact of the Mughal agrarian system on the lives of peasants.
In this article, we will look into the topic of Class 12 History Chapter 8 Peasants and Agricultural Production in detail. It is an important topic in Class 12 History. Students can go through this article for comprehensive notes on Peasants and Agricultural Production.
Peasants and Agricultural Production| Class 12 History Notes
Peasants and Agricultural Production
The village was the primary unit of agricultural society, where peasants performed seasonal tasks like tilling soil, sowing seeds, and harvesting crops. They also contributed to the production of agro-based goods like sugar and oil. Rural India was not solely characterized by settled peasant production, as large tracts of dry land or hilly regions were not cultivable, and forest areas constituted a significant portion of the territory.
Looking for Sources
The understanding of rural society’s workings is mainly based on chronicles and documents from the Mughal court, particularly the Ain-i Akbari, authored by Akbar’s court historian Abu’l Fazl. The Ain meticulously records state arrangements for cultivation, revenue collection, and the relationship between the state and rural magnates, the zamindars. It aims to present a vision of Akbar’s empire where social harmony was maintained by a strong ruling class. However, the Ain’s account is limited to the top.
Other sources, such as revenue records from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, and the East India Company’s records, provide valuable information into agrarian relations in eastern India. These sources record instances of conflicts between peasants, zamindars, and the state, providing information into their perceptions and expectations of fairness from the state.
Peasants and their Lands
The term “raiyat” or “muzarian” was commonly used by Indo-Persian sources during the Mughal period to describe a peasant. There were two types of peasants: khud-kashta, who were residents of their village, and pahi-kashta, who were non-resident cultivators who cultivated lands elsewhere on a contractual basis. Pahi-kashta were either chosen or forced by economic distress after a famine.
The average peasant in north India rarely owned more than a pair of bullocks and two ploughs. Peasant lands were bought and sold in the same way as other property owners. The nineteenth-century description of peasant holdings in the Delhi-Agra region would apply to the seventeenth century. Asamis, who ploughed up fields, marked their boundaries with raised earth, brick, and thorn, allowing thousands of fields to be counted in a village.
Irrigation and Technology
The expansion of agriculture in India was largely driven by the abundance of land, labor, and the mobility of peasants. The primary purpose of agriculture was to feed people, with staple crops like rice, wheat, and millets being the most commonly cultivated. Areas with 40 inches or more of rainfall were generally rice-producing zones, followed by wheat and millets. Monsoons remained the backbone of Indian agriculture, but some crops required additional water, necessitating the development of artificial irrigation systems. State support was also provided for irrigation projects. Despite being labor-intensive, peasants used technologies like the wooden plough and broadcasting of seeds, which preserved moisture during hot months.
An Abundance of Crops
Agriculture in medieval India was organized around two major seasonal cycles: kharif (autumn) and rabi (spring). Most regions produced at least two crops a year, with some producing three crops due to continuous water supply. This led to an enormous variety of produce, with Mughal provinces like Agra, Delhi, and Bengal producing various varieties of rice. However, agriculture was not solely for subsistence; the Mughal state encouraged peasants to cultivate jins-i kamil (perfect crops), such as cotton and sugarcane, which brought in more revenue.
Cash crops included oilseeds, mustard, and lentils. During the seventeenth century, new crops from the world, such as maize, vegetables, potatoes, chillies, fruits like pineapple and papaya, reached the Indian subcontinent. This highlights the close intertwined nature of subsistence and commercial production in an average peasant’s holding.
Conclusion – Class 12 History Notes Chapter 8 Peasants and Agricultural Production
In conclusion, agriculture was the primary occupation of peasants and landlords, which created a relationship of cooperation, competition, and conflict among them. Agriculture was the main source of revenue for the Mughal Empire, so revenue collectors, accessors, and record-keepers always tried to control rural society. During the colonial period, peasants were forced to work without wages on the personal land of the landlords. If they refused, soldiers would catch them walking on the road and force them to work in the zamindar’s fields. In Hyderabad state, under the Nizam rule, there were many forms of subordinate chieftaincies like Jagirdars, Samsthanamdars, and Inamadars who ruled like independent chiefs.
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Peasants and Agricultural Production- FAQs
What is the focus of Class 12 History Chapter 8?
Chapter 8 focuses on peasants and agricultural production during the Mughal era, exploring their roles and contributions to the economy.
Who were the peasants in the Mughal Empire?
Peasants were farmers who cultivated land, produced crops, and paid taxes to the state or local landlords.
What were the key crops cultivated by peasants during the Mughal period?
Wheat, rice, barley, pulses, and cotton were among the main crops cultivated by peasants.
How did irrigation systems contribute to agricultural production?
Irrigation systems such as canals and wells facilitated water management, enabling cultivation in regions with irregular rainfall.
What were the challenges faced by peasants in agricultural production?
Peasants faced challenges such as natural disasters, pests, and high taxation, impacting their livelihoods and productivity.
How did the Mughal state influence agricultural production?
The Mughal state implemented policies to promote agriculture, including land grants, irrigation projects, and support for crop diversification.
What was the significance of peasants in the Mughal economy?
Peasants played an essential role in sustaining the agrarian economy of the Mughal Empire, providing food and revenue essential for its prosperity.
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