UPSC Prelims 2015 Q55: Medieval History – Medieval Administration & Socio - Economic Institutions
With reference to Indian history, which of the following is/are the essential
element/elements of the feudal system?
1. A very strong centralized political authority and a very weak provincial or local political
authority
2. Emergence of administrative structure based on control and possession of land
3. Creation of lord - vassal relationship between the feudal lord and his overlord
Select the correct answer
using the code given below:
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Explanation
Essential elements of the feudal system
| Statement | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. A very strong centralized political authority and a very weak provincial or local political authority | Incorrect | Feudalism means the reverse: a weak centre and strong local lords |
| 2. Emergence of administrative structure based on control and possession of land | Correct | Power came from land grants |
| 3. Creation of lord-vassal relationship between the feudal lord and his overlord | Correct | The vassal owed service and loyalty in return for land |
Indian feudalism (early medieval period):
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Land grants | To Brahmins, temples and officers, with tax and judicial rights |
| Samantas | Subordinate chiefs who kept their own armies |
| Economy | Decline of trade and towns; self-sufficient villages |
| Historian | R.S. Sharma, in 'Indian Feudalism' |
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Statement 1 is false; feudalism has a weak central authority.
- (b) CORRECT. Feudalism rests on control of land and the lord-vassal relationship.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 2 is also true: administration was based on possession of land.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 1 describes the opposite of a feudal system.
Key point
Feudalism: weak centre, power based on land grants, lord-vassal ties (samantas); studied for India by R.S. Sharma.
Remember
Feudalism = land-based power + lord and vassal + weak centre.
Common mistakes
- Thinking feudalism means a strong king; it means divided authority.
- Forgetting that land grants carried administrative and judicial rights.
- Missing the Indian term for feudatory: samanta.
Exam tip
Feudal = fragmented. Any statement with 'very strong centralized authority' is wrong.
Sources
- R.S. Sharma — Indian Feudalism
- Upinder Singh — A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India (Early medieval polity)