Ans. The nomadic pastoralists kept animal herds as their resources base and depending upon the size of regularly available pasturage maintained the size of their herds. The pastoral economy was more individualistic than agricultural economy. The major community issue among nomadic pastoralists might have been the management of pastures invoking strict regulations about their use with respect to the periodicity of usage and seasonal rights of usage. The nomadic pastoralists, says Romila Thapar, “generally had a fairly conventional organization, with marginal variations.
The family formed the core and
patrilineal descent was often traced from a common ancestor”. Ecological and
seasonal factors seemed to have played a central role in the life of nomadic
pastoralists of the early period. Unmanageable distances traversed in search of
good pasturage and water sources would have had a destabilising effect on the
group. This would have given rise to some kind of territoriality, howsoever,
loosely delineated. Subsequently, interaction between different territorial groups
may al.
Hunter-gatherers slowly evolving into a
pastoral culture and agricultural sedementism have been simultaneous process. It
is evident that the nomadic pastoralists did not live in isolation of other communities
and would have maintained a relationship with them. It is suggested by Romila
Thapar that some pastoralists were nomadic, while others were semi-sedentary,
occasionally practicing a minimal agriculture as well. Most pastoralists were
part of a system of exchange that brought them into contact with cultivators
and others. The archaeological sites yielding evidence on domesticated animals
suggests that the size of the herd maintained by pastoralists was not unduly large, was within
manageable limits and therefore prone to developing, “Active symbiotic
relations with neighbouring groups producing cereals”.
The relationship between pastoralists
and cultivators was of advantage to both. The cereal requirements of the
pastoralists were fulfilled by the farming communities. The additional labour intensive
work of growing food-crops was therefore conveniently avoided by the
pastoralists. They could give most of their time to keeping the animal herds in
order. In return the agriculturalists received a regular supply of meat, wool
and hide.
Over a period of time there would take
place a multiplication in the variety of animals partially in response to a
demand created by the agriculturists. The herd was also encouraged to visit the
post-harvest fields so that the stubs left behind the harvesting operation would
be cleaned and the droppings of animals would serve the purpose of manure. The periodic
visit of nomadic pastoralists to the agricultural settlements would have
resulted into the nomads taking up grazing services for the livestock
maintained by the cultivating groups. The agricultural fodder was perhaps an
item of exchange for this service in addition to a few other commodities. It is
interesting to note that a different environment situation obtaining in
peninsular India gave rise to a different kind of development. Though the area is
generally rugged the drainage pattern of the main rivers has been such (from
west to east) that pasture land in patches but in excellent condition has been
available all over.
CONCLUSION
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