Meaning of the term Sist used during Vijaynagar Empire
The term “Sist” was used during the Vijayanagara Empire to refer to a system of revenue collection. It was a type of tax levied on agricultural produce, typically a share of the crop rather than a fixed monetary amount. The Sist system was commonly used in South India during the medieval period and was an important source of revenue for the Vijayanagara Empire.
Under the Sist system, a percentage of the crop produced by a particular plot of land was taken as tax. The exact percentage varied depending on factors such as the fertility of the land, the type of crop grown, and the prevailing market conditions. The Sist was usually collected by officials appointed by the Vijayanagara administration, who would periodically visit the villages and collect the tax from the farmers.
The Sist system was an efficient way for the Vijayanagara Empire to collect revenue, as it allowed the government to share in the risks and rewards of agriculture. In times of good harvests, the revenue collected through Sist would be higher, while in times of poor harvests, the revenue would be lower. This system was also beneficial for the farmers, as they did not have to pay a fixed amount of tax regardless of their crop yield.
Overall, the Sist system played an important role in the economy of the Vijayanagara Empire and was a key factor in the empire’s ability to maintain its power and prosperity for several centuries.