INDIAN HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -Caste system was prevalent among Hindus. They were divided into four castes or varna: Brahmana, Vaishya, Kshariya and Shudra, which among them had their own subcastes. The status of women declined as compared to the liberal era of earlier times.

Detailed explanation-2: -With the increased political decentralization and liberal land grants, the hitherto tribal groups which lived isolated lives were brought into the caste system. In other words, Gupta era accelerated the detribalization of India. Further, the remnants of existing foreign groups such as Shakas, Yavanas, Kushanas etc.

Detailed explanation-3: -In the post Gupta period, a number of new political powers emerged in different parts of north India. Until the rise of Harsha in the early seventh century four kingdoms effectively held power in northern India: the Guptas of Magadha; the Maukharis of Kanauj; the Pushyabhutis of Thanesar; and the Maitrakas of Valabhi.

Detailed explanation-4: -Increasing pride of birth, characteristic of feudal society, and the accompanying self-sufficient village economy, which prevented both spatial and occupational mobility, gave rise to thousands of castes in India during the early medieval Period.