The study of the coinage of Deccan particularly Ya=dava coins as well as the currency system in the early medieval period reveal various facets of monetary system as a whole. Political conditions prevalent in Deccan create the background for the subject under the study. The different aspects of economy are studied in the light of contemporary literature and inscriptions. The study shows what role money played in the then economy as a medium of exchange. Number of coins discovered of this period and various coin-names appearing in literary works and inscriptions is indicative of developed money economy and its reflections are found in many other money related activities like monetary transactions carried out in the markets, guilds, temples, state, etc. The study also reveals how money played a significant role in determining the social relations between these institutions. The study of the symbolism on coins also helps us to understand the religion, faith and other social connotations prevalent in the period. Thus, it illustrates how the different aspects of the society are interwoven and influence each other in turn.
Dr. Vaidehi Pujari-Bhagwat is a Research Officer in Gazetteers Department, Government of Maharashtra, Mumbai. She has obtained her Doctorate in History from University of Mumbai. She is a recipient of fellowship of Indian Institute of Research in Numismatic Studies, Anjaneri, Nasik (2001-02) and Junior Research Fellowship of Indian Council for Historical Research (2003-05). She has published extensively on the socio-economic aspects of Deccan using the numismatic data in early Marathi literature, in many leading journals published by Literary Circle (Jaipur), Epigraphical Society of India etc. Her paper titled Some Aspects of Bazaar in early Medieval Deccan: Glimpses from Contemporary Marathi Literature was published in Proceedings of 62nd Session of Indian History Congress in 2002. This book is based on her doctoral dissertation titled History of Coinage in Deccan with Special Reference to Padmatankas (6th 13th Century A.D.).
Broadly speaking history of India is divided into three phases, Ancient, Medieval and Modern. Besides these three phases frequent reference to the term early medieval is found. The term early medieval period is used by many scholars to denote a post- Gupta period till the firm establishment of Delhi Sultanate in India. It can be used to mean a transitory period between ancient and medieval periods.
The early medieval period has been identified as an important phase of socio-economic transition. Fundamental changes occurred in the social, economic, political and ideological spheres during this period. This period in Indian history has generated a potential for research and in recent times there has been a great spurt of historical writings focusing on the nature of the socio-economic structure of early medieval India. In order to comprehend the complexities of the social formation of this period, greater significance is now being attached to analyse the study of social and economic history with the political and the ideological history. The need has arisen to understand the regional specificities of social formations. All these studies have significant bearing on our understanding of the regional specificities of the complex social relationships in early India which defy any rigid universalization at all India level and further go to remind us for the need to penetrate the hitherto historically un-researched researches and bring to light specific structural formations of these regions. This transitory period is significant in many ways. It was a passage to the medieval period. According to R. S. Sharma, this period is characterized by the rise of feudalism. This period displays trends, which worked towards the formation of the regional, political, economic and socio- religious order. Thus this period also saw rise of regionalism. Ultimately it gave rise to many regional languages.
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