The World of HarshaThe World of Harsha

Era of TransitionEra of Transition

Harsha and his timeHarsha and his time Dynastic Origins of Harsha Dynastic Origins of Harsha

Vardhana (607-647)Vardhana (607-647) Harsha as an Emperor and Harsha as an Emperor and

conquerorconqueror Ideals of Emperor Ideals of Emperor Touring EmperorTouring Emperor Nagananda,Nagananda,

Ratnavali, and Priyadarsika Ratnavali, and Priyadarsika Sources about Harsha’s Sources about Harsha’s

empire: empire: Harsha Charita Harsha Charita Hsuan Tsang/Xuan ZhuangHsuan Tsang/Xuan Zhuang

A Limited MonarchA Limited Monarch

ChakravartinChakravartin SamantachakaraSamantachakara MaharajadhirajMaharajadhiraj MahasamantasMahasamantas Land Grants to Land Grants to

BrahminsBrahmins Rival Kings in Bengal, Rival Kings in Bengal,

Chalukyan of Badami or Chalukyan of Badami or Pulakeshin IIPulakeshin II

Transformation in Administrative Transformation in Administrative structure structure

Hierarchy of Hierarchy of Administration: Desha, Administration: Desha, Rastra bhukti (Province)Rastra bhukti (Province)

Districts Pradesh or VishayaDistricts Pradesh or Vishaya Provincial Governor or Provincial Governor or

Distirct incharge Distirct incharge KumarmatyaKumarmatya

Village Assembly- astrakula Village Assembly- astrakula adhikaranasadhikaranas

Mahattar as eleders of the Mahattar as eleders of the communitycommunity

Grama adhyakhshas Grama adhyakhshas

Urban AdministrationUrban Administration

Head of Urban Affairs Head of Urban Affairs nagarashresthinnagarashresthin

Representative of Guilds Representative of Guilds SharthavahaSharthavaha

Chief artisan Prathama-Chief artisan Prathama-Kulika Kulika

Chief Scribe Pratham Chief Scribe Pratham KayasthaKayastha

Community and State Community and State intermeshed in intermeshed in administrative structureadministrative structure

Agrarian Economy and Significance Agrarian Economy and Significance of Land Grantof Land Grant

Land grant to collectivity of Land grant to collectivity of Brahmin (Brahmadeya)Brahmin (Brahmadeya)

Grant to Temples and Grant to Temples and MonasteriesMonasteries

Revenue Rights as an Revenue Rights as an alternative to cash salariesalternative to cash salaries

Granting of judicial and Granting of judicial and administrative rightsadministrative rights

Water wheels and stepwellsWater wheels and stepwells Conversion of land into Conversion of land into

peasant settlementpeasant settlement

Relationship between Community Relationship between Community and State and State

Linkage between community and stateLinkage between community and state Social customs and boundaries of state Social customs and boundaries of state

authorityauthority Brahmanical authority and its limitsBrahmanical authority and its limits Monarchy limited by customsMonarchy limited by customs Feudatories limited by monarchs and peasant Feudatories limited by monarchs and peasant

mobilitymobility Communitarian StateCommunitarian State