Elucidate environmental history of medieval era in India. How do you see manenvironment relationship and interaction during this age?

 Policy and Laws in Ancient India (500 BC-1638 AD) Environmental awareness can be said to have existed even in the prevedic Indian valley Civilization which flourished in northern India about 5,000 years ago. This is evident from the archaeological evidence gathered from Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro which were the prominent cities of the civilization. Their awareness about hygiene and sanitation as evident from their constructions of ventilated houses, orderly streets, numerous wells, bath rooms, public baths and covered underground drains.

Protection and cleaning up of environment was the essence of Vedic (1500-500 BC) culture. Charak Samhita (medical Science book of 900 BC – 600 BC) give many instructions for the use of water for maintaining its purity. Under the Arthashastra (an ancient book on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy), various punishments were prescribed for cutting trees, damaging forests, and for killing animals and environmental ethics of nature conservation were not only applicable to common man but the rulers and kings were also bound by them.

Policy and Laws in Medieval India (1638-1800 AD) To Mughal rulers, forest meant no more than woodlands where they could hunt. The history of medieval India is dominated by Muslim Rulers where no note worthy development of environmental jurisprudence took place except during the rule of Mughal Emperor Akbar.  During Akbar’s rule except rulers others are prohibited from hunting or shikar. But no major initiatives took place during medieval period to prevent environmental protection and conservation of natural resources as the rulers were only interested in war, religion propagation and empire building.

Barring “royal trees” which enjoyed patronage from being cut except upon a fee, there was no restriction on cutting of other trees, hunting animals, etc. Forests during this period shrank steadily in size. Various literary texts caution us against environmental degradation and for ensuring effective sustainability. The Mahabharata states that although it takes a few, to deteriorate the environment and cause pollution, it warns the society at large that it may cause various diseases.

Chanakya’s reference to vikriti (pollution), warns people regarding the side effects of impurity in air and polluted water. Similarly in the Quran, reference is made regarding the environment which says-“Do not make mischief on the earth”. Christians baptize a newborn child in the water, which denotes ‘purification from original sins’. In Buddhism, Gautam Buddha was fond of trees and stated that trees provide shade and shelter. He preached in Vanaropa Sutra in Sanyukta Nikaya.

MAN AND ENVIRONMENT RELATIONSHIP IN MEDIEVAL INDIA:

Plague devastates Europe in the 1300s but leads to the beginnings of a public health system. Water pollution tends to be less of a problem for dispersed populations than it would later become.  Tree cutting in the forests of England, France, Germany leaves large tracts totally denuded by around 1550 in England and the 16oos in Europe, forcing a switch to coal. Soil conservation was not widely practiced in the Mediterranian region, but cultures in China, India and Peru understood the long term impact of soil erosion and used terracing, crop rotation and natural fertilizer to prevent it. 1079 – English King William (the Conqueror) establishes the New Forest as a hunting preserve.

According to the official visitor’s site, “The ancient system … to protect and manage the woodlands and wilderness heaths is still in place today through the efforts of Verderers, Agisters and Commoners – literally the judges, stockmen and land users of the forest. 1150 – Sri Lankan King Nissanka Malla carved into a stone a decree stating that, “It is ordered, by beat of the drum, that no animals should be killed within a radius of seven gau from the city” of Anuradhapura, his capitol. The decree combined consideration for animal welfare with concerns about public health and sanitation, and about the emotional effect on children of witnessing slaughter.

One not very satisfying idea about this is that Jews, with greater understanding of elementary hygiene, may have had a lower infection rate, which in turn might have seemed suspicious, People had no explanation for the Black Death other than rumor, superstition and vague theories about miasmas and air pollution. (Ziegler, Markham). Plague was brought to Europe from Constantinople by returning crusaders, and the flea-infested black rats who stowed away on their vessels, it attacked most virulently after terrified cities blamed it on “witchcraft” and purged from their midst both the majority of people who had medicinal skill (mostly older women) and their “familiars,” mostly the cats who had provided rat control.

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