Explain the changes in polity, administration, and society during the 6th to 10th centuries in India.

Large empires broke into smaller, decentralised kingdoms during this period. Kings ruled core areas directly and outer regions through sāmantas or vassals who managed local administration and armies. Territories were divided into provinces, districts, and villages, with villages largely self-governed by local officials and committees. Indian society became more complex, with jātis increasing in number based on occupation or region. Most communities practised endogamy, and some tribes and occupational groups were absorbed into the varṇa-jāti system. The system varied by region and was flexible, not rigid. Despite social divisions, different jātis depended on one another economically, and rulers patronised Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions that mostly coexisted peacefully.