HISTORY (VII)- LESSON- 2 NEW KINGS AND KINGDOMS (LESSON NOTES)

HISTORY (VII)- LESSON- 2

NEW KINGS AND KINGDOMS

(LESSON NOTES)

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v INTRODUCTION

Ø Many ruling dynasties emerged in different parts of the subcontinent between the seventh and twelfth centuries. This lessons focus on some dynasties. We also see their administration system.

DYNASTIES	AREAS	DYNASTIES	AREAS
Gurjara-Pratiharas	MP, RAJASTHAN	Gangas	ODISHA
Rashtrakutas,	MAHARASHTRA	Utkals	ODISHA
Palas	BENGAL	CHERAS	KERALA
Chahamanas (Chauhans).	RAJASTHAN	Cholas	N TAMILNADU
Parmars-	MP	Chera	S TAMILNADU
Chandells	UP

v THE EMERGENCE OF NEW DYNASTIES

Ø By the 7th century, there were big landlords or warrior chiefs (Samantas) in different regions of the subcontinent.

Ø Samantas were expected to bring gifts for their kings or overlords and provide them with military support.

Ø When Samanata became powerful they assumed titles as Maha-samanta, Mahamandaleshvara etc and consolidate the power and declare them as king and established their dynasties.

v THE EMERGENCE OF RASHTRAKUTAS

Ø Initially Rashtrakutas were subordinate to the Chalukyas of Karnataka.

Ø In the mid-eighth century, Dantidurga, a Rashtrakuta chief overthrew his Chalukya overlord.

Ø He performed a ritual with the help of Brahmanas called hiranya-garbha (literally, the golden womb).

Ø It was the symbolic of the “rebirth” of the Rashtrakutas as a Kshtriyas.

v ADMINISTRATION IN THE KINGDOMS

Ø The kings at apex and adopted big titles like Maharaja-adhiraja, tribhuvana-chakravartin.

Ø The kings shared power with their samanats, and with an association of peasants, traders and Brahmanas.

Ø Resources were obtained from the producers .These resources were used to finance the king’s establishment and construct temples and forts.

Ø Functionaries for collecting revenue were recruited from influential families.

v PRASHASHTIS AND LAND GRANTS

Ø The inscriptions which were written in praise of king was known as prashashti. It tells us how rulers wanted to depict themselves as valiant and victorious warriors. Nagabhata, a Pratihara king prashashti in Gwalior.

COPPER PLATES

Ø The kings often rewarded Brahmanas by grants of land. These were recorded on copper plates, which were given to those who received the land.

v WARFARE FOR WEALTH

Ø Tripartite struggle

§  The struggle among Gurjara-Pratihara, Rashtrakuta and Pala’s dynasties to control over Kannauj was known as tripartite struggle.

Ø Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni

§  He was a well known ruler of Afghanistan who ruled from 997 to 1030 AD. He raided the subcontinent seventeen times between 1000 to1025 AD. His main purpose was to plunder the wealth of India. He looted temples like Somnath, Gujarat. He also have a scholar named Al-Biruni who wrote a book Kitab-I Hind.

Ø Chauhan or chahaman rulers

§  Chauhan, ruler ruled over the region around Delhi and Ajmer.

§  They also have conflict with Chalukyas of Gujarat and the Gahadavalas of western.

§  Prithviraj III was a popular Chauhan ruler who defeated Afghan ruler Ghori in 1191in battle of Tarain but lost to him in second battle in 1192.

v THE CHOLAS-EMERGENCE

Ø Cholas were from a small family of Uraiyur. Intially they wer the subordinate of Pallava kings of Kanchipuram.

Ø In 9^th century chief Vijayalaya become independent and built city Thanjavur.

Ø Rajaraja I was considered the most powerful Chola ruler and expanded control over most of these areas.

Ø His son Rajendra I, conquered Sri Lanka and countries of Southeast Asia.

v SPLENDID TEMPLES

Ø Cholas were big temple builders. Two famous temples were in Thanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram.

Ø These temples were the centres of craft production as priests, garland makers, cooks, sweepers, musicians, dancers, etc lived around them.

Ø Temples were not only places of worship but they were the hub of economic, social and cultural life.

Ø In crafting ,making of  bronze image was the finest in chola temples.

v AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION

Ø Agriculture was well developed in Cholas along with various methods of irrigation.

Ø The river Kaveri provides the fertile soil and its channel provides the water facility which was good for rice crops.

Ø The rulers also built many canals, tanks, embankments and wells for irrigation.

v THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CHOLA EMPIRE

Ø Settlements of peasants called were called as UR became prosperous with the spread of irrigation in agriculture.

Ø The village council and the Nadu performed several administrative functions.

Ø Association of traders known as nagarams also performed administrative functions in the town.

Ø Inscriptions also mention about sabha, an assembly or of prominent Brahmana landholders The Sabha had many committees to look after irrigation works, gardens, temples, etc.

v GLOSSORY

Ø Rulers of  Kadamba Mayurashrman and Gurjara-Pratihara Harichandra, were brahmanas by birth, used their military skills to establish their kingdoms in Karnataka and Rajasthan.

Ø Kalhana’s long poem Rajtarangini in Sanskrit recorded the history of kings who ruled over Kashmir. He usually used a variety of sources, including, inscriptions, documents, eyewitness accounts, and earlier histories, in order to present his accounts.

Ø Samantas: The subordinates of kings or overlords who used to bring gifts for their kings or overlords.

Ø Maha-Samanta or Maha-mandaleshwara: The Samantas who gained power and wealth declared themselves Maha-Mahabaleshwar or Maha-samantas i.e. the great lord of a circle or region.

Ø Maharaja-adhiraja: A high sounding title used for great king, overlord.

Ø Tribhuvan-chakravartin: Lord of the three worlds.

Ø Rent: The part of the product that the producers—the peasants, cattle-keepers, artisans- were compelled to pay to the lords.

Ø Revenue: The tax traders had to pay to their lords.

Ø Sultan: An Arabic term used for the ruler.

Ø Ur: Settlements of peasants.

Ø Brahmadeya: The land given to the Brahmanas as a grant.

Ø Vellanvagai: The land of non-Brahmana peasant proprietors.

Ø Shalabhoga: The land for the maintenance of a school.

Ø Devadana/Tirunamattukkani: The land gifted to temples.

Ø Pallichchhandam: The land donated to Jaina institutions.

Ø Nagarams: Associations of traders.

Ø Sabha: The assembly of Brahmanas.

Ø 985 – Rajaraja I became a great Chola ruler.