Question

Explain the process of state formation under the Rajputs in the early medieval period

Answer 1

State Formation in Rajput Era :-

In rajput era there were several small states. Each state was owned by specific rajput ruler Eg:- Chauhan, Chandel, Sholanki. There was no central ownership during that era. Hence each of these small states was ruled by individual rulers. There was not much of harmony between these rules and hence they remain politically un-united during foreign invasion. Also the boundaries of the state kept on changing continuously due to war ridden environment during that era to expand boundaries of respective state. Kings used to give their land to Zamindars. Zamindars used to called the land as Jagir and collect the taxes on behalf of king. They were like care takers of state.

Answer 2

After the death of Harshavardana, there was the decay of empire and centralization in India. It resulted into the political disintegration and rise of small regional kingdoms in the North. Here we saw the rise of Rajputs who established their kingdoms in the  Saurashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Jammu, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar in 7th century AD and dominated the political scene in these regions till 12th century.

Each Rajput state was owned by specific rajput ruler Eg:- Chauhan, Chandel, Sholanki etc.The Rajputs ruled as warriors, entrepreneurs, and zamindar (land owners) in these kingdoms.