Fragmentation and Segmentation versus Integration? Reflections on the concepts of Indian feudalism and the segmentary state in Indian history

In: Studies in History, 4 (1982), Nr. 1. pp. 237-263. ISSN 0258-1698

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Abstract

At present there exist at least three different structural models for the early medieval Indian kingdoms of the post-Gupta and pre-Delhi Sultanate period (c. 550-1200 A.D.): (i) The "conventional model" of a rather unitary, centrally organized kingdom with a strong central bureaucracy; (ii) the Marxist-influenced "Indian feudalism model" of decentralized feudal states (which, however, presupposes the existence of an earlier rather strong central state which had been weakened through feudalization of the society); and (iii) the model of a "segmentary state" which allots the Hindu kingdom a position on a continuum of governance formation between the tribal "stateless" form of government and the unitary state.