The agrarian system of Moslem India

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 1804119261

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-188010

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Moreland, William Harrison http://d-nb.info/gnd/172263670

Title:: The agrarian system of Moslem India

Edition:: 2. ed. Reissue (d. Ausg. Cambridge) 1929; [Reprint]

Place of publication:: Delhi

Publisher:: Oriental Books, Munshiram Manoharlal

Year of publication:: 1968

Scope:: XVII, 296 S.

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

Usage license:: Get license information via the feedback formular.

Chapter

Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter II. The 13th and 14th centuries

Collection:: Economics Books

26 THE AGRARIAN SYSTEM OF MOSLEM INDIA revenue, the case was one for military force; and if rebellion in this sense was widespread or serious, the King might lead, or send, a punitive expedition! to put matters right. It is reasonable to infer that rebellion was conditioned largely by distance or accessibility, that it was comparatively rare near the provincial capital, and comparatively common near the boundaries; and that there might be areas where the Chiefs were practically independent, because the Governor was not in a position to reduce them to submission. In any case, the relations between a Chief and his peasants would not be affected by the establishment of Moslem rule, except in so far as more money might have to be raised in order to pay the revenue; inside the villages the established agrarian svstem would continue to function. 2. THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY There is no record of any large change in the agrarian system of the Delhi kingdom earlier than that which was effected by Alauddin Khalji about the year 1300, and the question arises whether any inference can be drawn from the silence of the chroniclers regarding the thirteenth century. So far as the first half of the century is concerned, I do not consider silence as necessarily significant. Minhaj- ul Sirdj, the chronicler of this period, was an ecclesiastical jurist, who for long periods was at the head of the qazis of the kingdom; his chronicle shows no trace of interest in economic or social matters; and I think it is quite possible that he might have ignored changes of importance in the agrarian system. He might indeed have noticed discussions as to the legality of the system, if they had occurred in his time, for in that case he would necessarily have taken part in them; but he was courtier as well as qazi,? and it is easy ! For examples, see Barn, 57 ff. Balban did not dare to go on distant wars of conquest owing toc the threat from the Mongols on the frontier, but he spent much of his time in these punitive expeditions, to Mewit, or Kanauj, or Badiiin, as necessity arose. .* His praise of King Balban is extravagant, but he does not mention the fact, recorded by Barni (p. 47), that this King paid no attention to Islamic law in matters of government. The topic was certainry important to a man in his position, but it was obvicusly an inconvenient one at a time when Balban ruled the kingdom.

Access restriction

Copyright

fullscreen: The agrarian system of Moslem India

Monograph

Chapter

Table of contents

Download

Monograph

Chapter

This page

Image fragment

Citation links

Citation recommendation