Chapter 14: Social
Change and Regional Cultures
·
Focus: A look at the social fabric and
the flourishing of regional identities during the medieval period.
·
Social Change: The structure of society
(nobility, peasantry, artisans), position of women (purdah, sati, economic
roles), and the evolution of the caste system.
·
Regional Cultures:
o
Language and Literature: Growth of
regional languages like Urdu (born from the interaction of Persian, Arabic, and
local dialects), Hindi (works of Bhakti poets), Bengali (Chaitanyadeva), and
Punjabi (Guru Granth Sahib).
o
Art and Painting: The development of the Mughal
School of Painting and the emergence of regional schools like the Pahari
(Rajput) and Deccan schools of art.
o
Music: The synthesis of Hindu and
Muslim traditions, the life and contribution of Tansen.
