Chapter 2 New Kings and Kingdoms Solutions
Question - 1 : - Match the following:
Gwjara-Pratiharas – Western Deccan
Rashtrakutas – Bengal
Palos – Gujarat and Rajasthan
Cholas – Tamil Nadu
Answer - 1 : -
Gurj ara-Pratiharas – Gujarat and Rajasthan
Rashtrakutas – Western Deccan
Palas – Bengal
Cholas – Tamil Nadu
Question - 2 : - Who were the parties involved in the ‘tripartite struggle’?
Answer - 2 : -
The parties involved in the tripartite struggle were Gurjar-Pratihara, Rashtrakuta, and Pala dynasties.
Question - 3 : - What were the qualifications necessary to become a member of a committee of the sabha in the Chola Empire?
Answer - 3 : -
The working of a sabha according to the Uttaramerur inscription is given below:
- All those who wish to become members of the sabha should be owners of the land from which land, revenue is collected.
- They should have their own homes.
- They should be between 35 and 70 years of age.
- They should have knowledge of the Vedas.
- They should be well-versed in administrative matters and honest in all dealings.
- If anyone has been a member of any committee in the last three years, he cannot become a member of another committee.
- Anyone who has not submitted his accounts, as well as those of his relatives, cannot contest the elections.
Question - 4 : - What were the two major cities under the control of the Chahamanas?
Answer - 4 : - Delhi and Ajmer were the two cities under control of the Chahamanas.
Question - 5 : - How did the Rashtrakutas become powerful?
Answer - 5 : -
Rashtrakutas became powerful in the following manner:
- Rashtrakutas were subordinates to the Chalukyas of Karnataka.
- In the mid-eighth century Dantidurga, a Rashtrakuta chief, overthrew his Chalukyan overlord.
- He performed a ritual called Hiranya-garbha with the help of Brahmanas.
- This ritual was, then, considered to lead the rebirth of the sacrificer as Kshatriya, even if he was not Kshatriya by birth.
Question - 6 : - What did the new dynasties do to gain acceptance?
Answer - 6 : - The new dynasties gained power and wealth. Thereafter they declared themselves to be maha-samantas or mahamandaleshwara. Many of such kings adopted high sounding titles like maharaja-adhiraja or tribhuvana-chakravartin. They also deputed learned brahmanas to depict them as valiant, victorious warriors. Their activities were recorded in Prashastis. They tried to demonstrate their power and resources by building large temples.
Question - 7 : - What kind of irrigation works were developed in the Tamil Nadu?
Answer - 7 : -
Large scale cultivation was developed in Tamil Nadu and in many cases artificial irrigation became necessary. A variety of methods were used:
- Wells were dug
- Huge tanks were constructed to collect rainwater
- Canals were constructed
All this work required planning, organizing labour and resources. Decisions were taken collectively on the usage of water. New rulers and people took an active interest in these activities.
Question - 8 : - What were the activities associated with Chola temples?
Answer - 8 : -
Splendid temples and bronze sculptures of the Cholas:
- Rajaraja and Rajendra built big temples of Thanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram.
- They are architectural and sculptural marvels.
- Chola temples often became the centre of settlements around them.
- These were centres of craft production.
- Temples were also endowed with land by both rulers and others.
- The produce of this land went to maintain all the specialists who worked at the temple and very often lived near it.
- They included priests, garland makers, cooks, sweepers, musicians, dancers, etc.
- In other words, temples were not only places of worship; but also the hub of economic, social and cultural life.
- Amongst the crafts associated with temples, the making of bronze images was the most important.
- Chola bronze images are amongst the finest in the world.
- Most images were of deities, sometimes images were made of devotees also.
Question - 9 : - Look at Map 1 once more and find out whether there were any kingdoms in the state in which you live.
Answer - 9 : - The answer may vary as per the students’ state where they live. So the students should answer this question on the basis of their individual study of the Map.
Question - 10 : - Contrast the ‘elections’ in Uttaramerur with present day panchayat election?
Answer - 10 : - The system of election in Uttaramerur was quite different from that of the present day panchayat elections. In the Uttaramerur election, the names of the persons eligible to be members of the committees were written on small tickets of palm leaves. The tickets were put into an earthenware pot. Thereafter a young boy was asked to take out the tickets, one by one for each committee. But the present day panchayat members are elected through a general election.
The names of the total members are printed with a symbol allotted to them on a paper called ballot paper. The voter put a stamp over their choice and drops it in a ballot box. Votes are counted and the winners’ name is declared by the Returning Officer. Every procedure is organized by a statutory body.