Economy of Ahom People

Origin of Ahom people

The first Thai speakers emerged in the Guangxi region of China, from where they moved to mainland Southeast Asia in the mid-11th century after a long and fierce war with the Chinese. The Tai-Ahoms are descended from Mong Mao in southern China or from the Hukawng Valley in Myanmar....

Tradition

Food is one of the important variables in Tai Ahom culture. Most Ahoms, especially in rural areas, are non-vegetarians, still maintaining a traditional cuisine similar to that of other Tai. Rice is a staple food Typical dishes are pork, chicken, duck, beef slices, frogs, many kinds of fish, hukoti maas (dried salted fish mix), muga lota (endi worm coconut seeds and muga), and red ant eggs.   Certain insects were also a favourite food of the Ahoms Luk-Lao or Nam-Lao (rice wine, pure or diluted) is the traditional drink. They consumed ‘Khar’ (an alkaline liquid extracted from charred banana peel/bark ash), ‘Betgaaj’ (young shoots of sugarcane), and many other natural plants with medicinal value. However, beef for Hindus in general and pork for Vaisnavites are shunned. Under the reign of Siva Singha, people gave up the gratuitous consumption of meat and drink....

Religion

Most Ahom today declare Hinduism as their religion, although efforts are being made to revive the traditional Ahom religion. The Ahom religion has declined since the time of Jayadhwaj Singha, who was the first Ahom king to adopt Ekasarana Dharma and received enlightenment from Auniati Mahanta....

Language

Today’s Ahoms speak Assamese after the traditional  Ahom language was completely abandoned. The Ahom language, a member of the Tai branch of the Kra-Dai language, is now dead, and its tonal system has completely disappeared. However, some large ahong groups are revived there....

Society

Ban-Mong Social System...

Economy of Ahom People

The economy of the Ahom kingdom was based on the paik system. In this system, able-bodied adult males called paikes were obliged to serve the state and form a militia in exchange for land. Suklenmung first introduced coins in the 16th century, but the paik system was still in effect. As the Ahom expanded into the Mughal region, the income system was adjusted accordingly....

Administration of the Ahom People

The administrative composition of the Ahom Kingdom is as follows:...

FAQs on Ahom Dynasty

Question 1: Who was the Ahom?...