The early medieval period in India was characterized by the decline of the Gupta Empire (320-550 CE) and the rise of various regional kingdoms. This era saw the emergence of powerful dynasties such as the Pratiharas, the Rashtrakutas, and the Palas, which vied for control over the Indian subcontinent. The period was also marked by the invasion of India by foreign powers, including the Arabs, the Turks, and the Mongols.
The state, faced with a shortage of metallic currency and a decline in trade revenues, began paying priests, temples, and secular officials with land instead of cash. These land grants transferred not just the right to collect revenue, but also administrative and judicial rights over the peasants. Over time, these primary landholders granted portions of their lands to others, creating a complex chain of intermediaries known as subinfeudation. 2. Decline of Trade and Urban Centers Early Medieval Indian Society Rs Sharma Pdf Download -