Historians rely on different types of available sources of history to continues their research work. These are maps, inscriptions, coins, poetry, ornaments, paintings, chronicles, architecture and textual records.
Many historians analyse the changes in the social, political and economic aspects of the society. Manuscripts in archives are also a great help for historians in throwing light upon the events and happenings of history.

In the medieval period, we find the spread of peasant societies, the rise of regional and imperial state formations sometimes at the cost of pastoral and forest people. Medieval period shows the development of Hinduism and Islam and the arrival of European trading companies. Modern age shows a sense of material progress and intellectual advancement. Societies reached a certain level of prosperity.

The Hindustan of the 13th century implied the areas of Punjab, Haryana and the lands between the Ganga and Yamuna. Minhaj-i-Siraj used the term in a political sense for lands consisting of a part of the areas of the Delhi Sultanate modern India included all of South India which was excluded in the 13th century.

By 700 AD, many regions of Indian sub-continent already possessed distinct geographical dimensions and their own language and cultural characteristics. An empire comprises of the areas of many smaller regions or smaller kingdoms.
Pan-regional empire was developed in different dynasties. e.g. the empires of Chola, Tughluqs and Mughals without losing their distinctiveness.

Some of the major religious developments during this period were as follows
People started worship of new deities.
Rulers helped in the construction of temples.
Importance of Brahmanas, the priests class grew.
Sanskrit became the language of learned Brahmanas and were patronised by emperors. 
Merchants and migrants brought holy Quran with them. 
Idea of bhakti emerged among all the people.

Rulers made the exaggerated claims of conquests as they wanted to show others that they had control over large areas. They were the real rulers of the country. No other ruler could fight or challenge them. They showed power to make others fearful towards them.

Soil - It is the soil where plants are grown.
Soil - To make something dirty.
Example Soil- Fertile soil is required for good crop Soil- I do not want you soiling your hands with this Sort of work.
Copy- A thing that is made to be the same as something else.
Copy- Written material that is to be printed In a newspaper, magazine etc.
Example: I will send you a copy of the report. The subeditor prepares the reporter's copy for the paper.

The picture shows a scribe.
(b) He is making a copy of a manuscript.
(c) This painting is small in size, Because of smaller size, it is called as miniature  (10.5 cm by 7.1 ern).
(d) The two features of miniatures are 
(i) Miniature is used to illustrate the text of manuscripts
(ii) Miniatures are so beautiful that later collectors of manuscripts took the
manuscripts apart and just sold the miniatures.

Throughout the period there was a gradual clearing of forests and the extension of agriculture. These changes in their 'habitat' forcing the forest-dwellers to migrate into new lands. Many others started tilling the land and became peasants.
Regional markets, chieftains, priests, monasteries and temples began to influence the society. People were made to pay taxes to the ruler of the kingdom.
Significant developments were noticed which created differences among people and groups. Some possessed more productive lands, many others kept cattle.
People were categorised into 'Jatis' or sub-castes based on their occupations and were ranked according to their background. The status of the same Jati could vary from area to area.