Introduction

Agricultural Practice and Village Life

1.Peasant Farming: Agriculture was predominantly carried out by peasants who formed the majority of the population. Each peasant cultivated a plot of land, the size of which varied greatly.

2.Village Self-Sufficiency: Villages during this period were largely self-sufficient, producing and consuming their own goods. This autonomy was supported by a range of cultivated plot sizes, from large holdings by the khuts (village headmen) to smaller plots held by the balahara (village menials).

Landless Population and Village Structure

Diverse Social Structure: In addition to land-owning peasants, there was a significant landless population within these villages, likely engaging in labour and other menial tasks to support their livelihoods.

State Interaction and Revenue Collection

1.Role of Intermediaries: Historically, the state interacted with the villages through local intermediaries like khuts, muqaddams (village chiefs), and chaudharis (tribal leaders) who played a crucial role in managing local affairs and collecting land revenue.