Banjaras during the medieval period of Indian history were generally

Explicitly describes Banjaras as 'well-known group of graziers' who moved long distances, selling plough cattle and goods for grain and fodder.

A student could combine this with basic knowledge of pastoralism vs settled agriculture to infer Banjaras were pastoral/merchant-nomads rather than settled cultivators.

States that from the medieval period onward nomadic communities like the Banjaras traded forest and other goods, indicating a trading/itinerant function.

One could use this pattern of nomadic trade to question whether such groups practiced settled agriculture as their primary occupation.

Describes the medieval economy as village-based and agrarian with social segmentation and land-based inequality, implying settled agriculture was organised around villages and landholders.

A student could contrast the village-based agrarian structure with the mobile, trading role described for Banjaras to judge whether they fit the profile of primary agriculturists.

Notes that medieval cities had bazaars/markets as central features, signalling demand for goods and intermediaries who supply rural produce to towns.

A student might reason that Banjaras' itinerant trading and cattle-selling fit the role of market suppliers/intermediaries rather than settled farmers.

Shows social groups often combined occupations (e.g., Brahmins engaged in agriculture, trade and war), illustrating occupational diversity among communities.

This suggests the need to check whether Banjaras were multi-occupational or primarily pastoral/trading, rather than assuming they were principally agriculturists.

Explicitly identifies Banjaras as nomadic communities involved in trading forest products (elephants, hides, silk cocoons, etc.) from the medieval period onwards.

A student could combine this with regional trade-route maps or records of medieval markets to check whether Banjaras' activities align more with merchant/logistics roles than with military service.

Notes that some traditionally martial groups (kshatriyas) also engaged in trade, showing social roles could be mixed rather than purely warrior.

Use this pattern to investigate whether Banjaras might likewise have mixed economic and social roles rather than being primarily martial.

Points to widespread displacement and migration during the medieval period, a context that often produced or expanded nomadic trading groups.

A student could correlate known migration waves and the rise of nomadic traders to see if Banjaras grew as merchant groups in response to warfare-displacement rather than as military units.

Describes the prominence of medieval bazaars, markets and urban trade infrastructure—economic niches that nomadic trading groups could serve.

Combine this with geographic distribution of medieval walled towns and caravan routes to assess whether Banjaras' presence corresponds to trade networks rather than military postings.

Emphasises the existence of distinct warrior (Rajput) polities with a long martial tradition, suggesting clearly identified warrior groups separate from nomadic traders.

Contrast the documented roles and social status of Rajputs with those ascribed to Banjaras to test whether Banjaras fit the profile of organized warrior elites or a different occupational group.

Explicitly identifies Banjaras as a nomadic community involved in trading forest products and acting as intermediaries, linking them to transport/trade roles rather than craft production.

A student could combine this with the general distinction between nomadic trader groups and settled craft communities to suspect Banjaras were not primarily weavers.

Describes weaving as a family-based, often village-centered occupation requiring settled life, land management, and close relations with supply merchants.

Use the settled, village-based nature of weaving to contrast with nomadic lifestyles (e.g., of Banjaras) to test whether Banjaras likely practised weaving as a primary occupation.

States that weaving was undertaken by women and craft specialisation was a feature of settled societies in earlier periods, implying weaving is tied to settled craft groups.

Combine this pattern (weaving as part of specialized, settled craft production) with the Banjaras' nomadic/trading role to question the plausibility of them being primarily weavers.

Points out medieval Indian society was highly segmented by caste/occupation (social immobility and occupational specialization).

A student could infer that occupational identities (like traders vs weavers) tended to be distinct and hereditary, so Banjaras named as nomads/traders would less likely be identified as a weaving caste.

Notes frequent displacement and migration in medieval periods, indicating that some groups changed locations or occupations over time.

Use this to allow for exceptions—investigate whether some Banjaras might have taken up weaving locally during displacements, while still testing whether weaving was their primary medieval identity.