Page 1 - Notes

Class 12 History Notes Chapter 3 Kinship,

Caste and Class Early Societies

 A number of important changes occurred in the economic and political life of
India during the period from 600 BCE to 600 CE.
 The changes occurred during this period had left a deep mark on the
contemporary society.
 A new change began to occur with the expansion of agriculture.
 Emergence of different crafts and distinct social groups also witnessed during
this period.
 Social disparities began to increase as a result of unequal distribution of
wealth.
 Historian made use of textual tradition for many reasons.
 According to the text written in ancient the most popular and famous is
Mahabharata, which was composed between 500 BCE and 500 CE.
 Historians believed that it was written by Ved Vyasa, but most of the Historians
think that it is the creation of many authors.
 In the beginning, Mahabharata was known by the name of Jail and held only
8800 verses. Later on the number of verses increased to one lakh.
 An important work began in 1919 under the leadership of V.S. Sukthankar, a
famous Sanskrit scholar who took up cudgels to prepare a critical edition of
Mahabharata.
 Many types of social institutions existed in this period these were as follows;
 Monogamous family
 Polyandrous family
 Polygons family
 Consanguineous family
 Patrilineal family
 Matrilineal family
 Neolocal family
 Rural family
 Urban family
 Joint family
 Nuclear family
Kinship is a system of relation between such relatives which determine our
relationship on the basis of lineage. These relations were based on lineage or
vansha are developed by a family.
Patriliny means that the descent which is traced from father to son, then
grandson and great grandson.
Patriliny was prevalent even before the Mahabharata, yet Mahabharata
strengthen it.