The agrarian system of Moslem India

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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

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Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

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

Collection:: Economics Books

THE 13tH AND l4tH CENTURIES 2% to suppose that he would have passed over in silence decisions which were unfavourable to his views. The case is different with Ziya Barni, who came of administrative stock,! and, as his personal narrative shows, was interested in agrarian matters. I think it is probable that he would have heard of, and duly recorded, any large change made by Balban, the only ruler in the second half of the century who is likely to have done anything of the kind; and his silence suggests that there was nothing to be told. However that may be, the only materials available for this century consist of incidental remarks, and one or two anecdotes. We see the peasantry supporting the kingdom by the revenue they furnished, and we read of rebellious, or defaulting, Chiefs being punished; but we are told nothing of the methods by which the revenue was assessed and collected, nor have I found any details bearing on the life of the peasants or their relations with their Chief. It is clear that Grants were freely given by the Kings, and that Assignments were common; as regards the former we have no particulars of interest, but something must be said of the assignment-system, the scope of which was in some respects wider than in some later periods. For practical purposes we must distinguish between small and large Assignments, both of which classes were described as 1qtd, and implied liability to military service. By small Assignments I mean those which were given to individual troopers, who were bound to present themselves, with horses and arms, whenever they were called up for service or in- spection. Their position can be illustrated by the story told of the ‘““Shamsi iqtadars” (Barni, 60, 61). Early in King Balban’s reign, reports were made to him regarding Assignments which had been allotted to about 2000 troopers in the time of Shamsuddin. Most of these men had become old or unfit for service. and the rest had come to terms with ! Barni tells us (p. 248) that his father was ‘*Niib and Khwija’’ in the province of Baran: the duties of the Khwija at this period are not described, but the word Naib indicates that he was Deputy-Governor, or the second man in the province; and he retained a position there long enough for his son to acquire the soubriquet by which he is usually known. Barni does not tell us what positions he himself occupied, so probably he never rose very high; but in one passage (p. 504), he speaks of having been employed at headquarters for more than 17 vears under Muhammad Tughlaq

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