Tag: kings and kingdoms of the early medieval period

Sher Shah started the Suri dynasty in 1540 by defeating Humayun. He was one of the greatest administrators of medieval India. During his rule, he introduced Dam- small copper coin,  Mohur, the gold coin and Rupiya the silver coin. His silver rupee coins weighed 180 grains, of which 175 grains were pure silver. Sher Shah’s name and title and place of mint were invariably inscribed on the coins in Arabic characters. 

In Akbar's reign, the principal outlets for foreign sea trade were ports of Cambay and Surat. The chief exports of Mughal empire during Akbar's reign were textiles,  pepper, indigo, opium and other drugs and other miscellaneous goods, while imports from abroad included horses, raw silk, metals, ivory, coral, amber drugs and Chinese goods.

In large parts of the subcontinent, society was already divided according to the rules of varna. These rules, as prescribed by the Brahmanas, were accepted by the rulers of large kingdoms. The difference between the high and low, and between the rich and poor, increased. Under the Delhi Sultans and the Mughals, this hierarchy between social classes grew further. Here, in the question, the keyword is "further". Division on the basis of caste was present even before the rule of the Delhi Sultans and Mughals.
Hence, division of society on the basis of caste cannot be the main reason for the division to grow further. The divisions grew due to new administrative measures and the introduction of rank system.

A majority of people lived in villages. The villages were mostly self - sufficient. Only salt had to be imported from other places. The needs of farmers were limited. They grew jowar , bajra , wheat , ragi , maize , rice and other grains in their fields.

Tobacco was introduced into India by Portuguese traders during AD 1600.

India had inland and maritime trade relations with foreign countries. The two major inland trade routes were from Lahore to Kabul, and from Multan to Kandahar. The direct trade between India and Europe began with the arrival of Vasco da Gama at Calicut in 1498.

India had inland and maritime trade relations with foreign countries. The Arabs were the middlemen in the import of horse from Central Asia. In South India the horse traders were known as Kuthirachettis.

Women's life in Medieval India was full of hardships.Their world was confined to the house of first father, and then their husband. Their education was neglected. Only a few exceptional women had achieved any progress in literacy , administration and battle skills. They include Veermata Jijabai , Maharani Yesubai , Maharani Tarabai, Umabai Dabhade , Gopikabai , Punyashlok and Ahilyabai.

Customs like Child marriage , Unequal marriage , Widowhood , Keshwapan , Sati , Polygamy had imposed harsh restriction on the way women lived.The ritual of dying at the funeral pyre of the husband is called Sati.Child marriage was a norm in medieval India.Girls were married off at the age of 8 - 10.Widows in medieval India not treated as human beings and were subjected to a lots of restrictions. The girls of medieval India and especially Hindu society were not given formal education.

Balban was the ninth sultan of the Mamluk dynasty of Delhi. He laid great emphasis on improving agriculture and crop productivity. In this process to increase the cultivation, Balban allocated doab region to farmers for farming.