Land Grants in Early Medieval India

Abstract

Scholars are of the view that land grants started first in outlying and backward areas and then gradually extended to the Ganga valley the hub of Brahamanical culture. The chronological sequence of land grants obtained from various sources is as follows. In the fourth fifth centuries, Andhra, northern Deccan and a major portion of central India began the practice. In the fifth centuries, Bengal and orissa as also Gujrat and Rajasthan followed. In the seventh-eight centuries, Karnataka and Tamilnaidu began the system ;and in the ninth century, Kerla; and by the end of 12^th century, the practice had spread to almost the entire country with the possible exception of Punjab¹.