New Kings and Kingdoms
How could Samantas declare themselves as Maha Samantas ?
With gaining more power and wealth, they rose to the status of Maha Mandeleshwar or Maha Samanta.
They also asserted their independence from their overlords.
Give an example of Samantas that rose to the power of Maha Samanta ?
Rashtrakutas in the Deccan. Initially
they were subordinate to the Chalukyas
of Karnataka. In the mid-eighth century,
Dantidurga, a Rashtrakuta chief,
overthrew his Chalukya overlord and performed a ritual called "Hiranya-Garbha"
Who were Kadamba Mayurasharman and the Pratihara Harichandra ?
They were Brahmanas who gave up their traditional professions and took to arms, successfully establishing kingdoms in Karnataka and Rajasthan respectively.
Mention any two high sounding titles adopted by the Samantas ?
Maharaja-Adhiraja (great king, overlord of kings), Tribhuvana-Chakravartin (lord of the three worlds)
Mention any two infamous taxes collected by the Cholas in Tamil Nadu ?
The most frequently mentioned tax is vetti, taken not in cash but in the form of forced labour, and kadamai, or land revenue.
What was unique about the approach of the author
"Kalhana" ?
Unlike the writers of prashastis, he was often critical about rulers and their policies. And he was one of the rarest examples of critical feedback during those times.
On the other hand rest of the authors wanted to impress their rulers.
Explain :
"Kitab ul-Hind"
Sultan Mahmud was also interested in finding out more about the people he conquered, and entrusted a scholar named Al-Biruni to write an account of the subcontinent.
This Arabic work, known as the Kitab ul-Hind, remains an important source for historians. He consulted Sanskrit scholars to prepare this account.
How did the Cholas rise to power?
Vijayalaya, who belonged to the ancient chiefly family of the Cholas from Uraiyur, captured the delta from the Muttaraiyar in the middle of the ninth century. He built the town of Thanjavur and a temple for goddess Nishumbhasudini there.
The successors of Vijayalaya conquered neighbouring regions and the kingdom grew in size and power.
He won a victory over Chakrayudha (the ruler of Kanauj) ... He defeated the king of Vanga (part of Bengal), Anarta (part of Gujarat), Malava (part of Madhya Pradesh), Kirata (forest peoples), Turushka (Turks), Vatsa, Matsya (both kingdoms in north India) ...
The above statements are an example of ?
Explain the system that it signifies.
Prashastis.
These contain details that may not be literally true. But they tell us how rulers wanted to depict themselves – as valiant, victorious warriors, for example.
These were composed by learned Brahmanas, who occasionally helped in the administration.
"Chola temples often became the nuclei of settlements which grew around them"
Explain the statement
The produce of this land went into maintaining all the specialists who worked at the temple and very often lived near it – priests, garland makers, cooks, sweepers, musicians,
dancers, etc. In other words, temples were not only places of worship; they were the hub of
economic, social and cultural life as well.
"River Kaveri branches off into several small channels before emptying into the Bay of Bengal"
These channels overflow frequently.
What were some effective measures taken by the Chola Administration to eradicate the issue:Embankments had to be built to prevent flooding and canals had to be constructed to carry water to the fields.
A variety of methods were used for irrigation. In some areas wells were dug.
In other places huge tanks were constructed to collect rainwater. Remember that irrigation works require planning – organising labour and resources, maintaining these works and deciding on how water is to be shared.
"Brahmanas often received land grants or Brahmadeya"
Discuss the administrative functions of Brahmadeya.
Each brahmadeya was looked after by an assembly or sabha of prominent Brahmana landholders. These assemblies worked very efficiently. Their decisions were recorded in detail in inscriptions, often on the stone walls of temples.
The sabha had separate committees to look after irrigation works, gardens, temples, etc.