New Kings And Kingdoms

Maps

• Maps show the changes that happen throughout the years.
• However, the maps were not constant always in the history.
• The accuracy of map differs throughout the period.
• Changes in names of geographical places can also be traced through historical maps.

New and Old Terminologies

• The significance, usage and meanings of terminologies change over time.
• The context changed from geographical and cultural to political.

→ In modern context, foreigner means a person who is not Indian.

→ During the medieval period, a foreigner was any stranger who appeared in a village or city.

Historians and their Sources

• Major sources of historical information are:
  • Coins
  • Architecture
  • Inscriptions
  • Textual records
• The period from 700 AD to 1750 AD saw an increase in the number of textual records.

→ The reason was easy availability of paper and its low cost.

New Social and Political Groups

• There was large scale and variety of developments over the period between 700 AD and 1750 AD.

→ New technologies in irrigation, agriculture, crafts and warfare appeared in the subcontinent.

→ Travelling for trade and exploration also increased.

• Rajputs, a group of warriors who claimed Kshatriya status, gained in importance.
• The Marathas, Sikhs, Jats, Ahoms and Kayasthas also became important.

Caste System

• People were grouped into jatis or sub-castes.

→ They were ranked on the basis of their backgrounds and their occupations.

• Jatis framed their own rules and regulations to manage the conduct of their members.

Region and Empire

• During this period, many dynasties emerged.
• Dynasties like the Cholas, Khaljis, Tughluqs and Mughals were able to build a pan-regional empire.

Old and New Religions

• Religion was often closely associated with the social and economic organization of local communities.

→ Important changes occurred in Hinduism during this period:

→ They included the worship of new deities, and royal patronage of temples.

→ The teachings of Islam were also introduced through migrants and merchants.

→ Muslims regard the Quran as their holy book and accept the sovereignty of the one God, Allah.

Time and historical periods

• Time reflects changes in social and economic organisation, and in ideas and beliefs.
• British historians divided India’s history into three periods: “Hindu”, “Muslim” and “British”.

→ This was based on the idea that the religion of rulers defined the age.

→ Modern historians focus on economic and social factors, dividing history into ancient, medieval and modern periods.

MCQs

1. Mahmud of Ghazni was the ruler of

(a) Delhi

(b) America

(c) Iran

(d) Afghanistan

► (d) Afghanistan

2. The Chola king who brought half of Ceylon under his control

(a) Rajaraja I

(b) Kulottunga I

(c) Rajendra

(d) Rajadiraja

► (a) Rajaraja I

3. The functionaries for collecting revenue were generally recruited from

(a) Brahmanas

(b) Farmers family

(c) Influential families

(d) Artist family

► (c) Influential families

4. Who were subordinate to the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram

(a) Pala

(b) Rashtrakutas

(c) Chera

(d) Cholas

► (d) Cholas

5. Settlements of peasants, known as____ , became prosperous with the spread of irrigation agriculture

(a) Uzi

(b) Ur

(c) Uri

(d) Udi

► (b) Ur

6. The river Kaveri branches off into several small channels before emptying into the

(a) Godavari

(b) Indian ocean

(c) Bay of Bengal

(d) Arabian sea

► (c) Bay of Bengal

7. Somnath temple is in

(a) Kerala

(b) Odisha

(c) Gujarat

(d) Tamil Nadu

► (c) Gujarat

8. Hiranyagarbha rituals were performed with the help of

(a) Farmers

(b) Brahmanas

(c) Shudras

(d) Artist

► (b) Brahmanas

9. Kitab-al Hind written by

(a) Akbar

(b) Ghazni

(c) Al-biruni

(d) Nagabhat

► (c) Al-biruni

10. The city of Kanauj is in the

(a) Yamuna valley

(b) Narmada valley

(c) Ganga valley

(d) Tapi valley

► (c) Ganga valley

11. Who was the founder of the Chola kingdom?

(a) Simhavishnu

(b) Vijayalaya

(c) Rajendra

(d) Krishna

► (b) Vijayalaya

12. Which of the following rulers involved in the tripartite struggles

(a) Gurjara-Pratihara, Chera and Pala dynasties

(b) Gurjara-Pratihara, Chola and Chera dynasties

(c) Gurjara-Pratihara, Chola and Pala dynasties

(d) Gurjara-Pratihara, Rashtrakuta and Pala dynasties

► (d) Gurjara-Pratihara, Rashtrakuta and Pala dynasties

13. Following sources used by the Kalhana except

(a) Paintings

(b) Documents

(c) Eyewitness accounts

(d) Inscription

► (a) Paintings

14. Kings often rewarded Brahmanas by grants of

(a) House

(b) Land

(c) Foods

(d) Golden Coin

► (b) Land

15. Chola bronze images are considered amongst the finest in the

(a) World

(b) Asia

(c) India

(d) Europe

► (a) World

16. Tribhuvana-chakravartin means

(a) Overlord of king

(b) Lord of Rashtrakutas

(c) Overlord of farmers

(d) Lord of the three worlds

► (d) Lord of the three worlds

17. Chahamanas ruled over the

(a) Delhi and MP

(b) Delhi and Gujarat

(c) Delhi and UP

(d) Delhi and Ajmer

► (d) Delhi and Ajmer

18. A minor chiefly family known as the Muttaraiyar held power in the

(a) Mahanadi delta

(b) Godavari delta

(c) Krishna delta

(d) Kaveri delta

► (d) Kaveri delta