Newkings & Kingdoms
Newkings & Kingdoms
Newkings & Kingdoms
Who were the Samantas? (Who were the maha samantas/ maha-mandaleshwaras?)
The big land lords or the warrior chiefs who existed in different
regions of the subcontinent were known as the samantas. They were the subordinates of
the kings. They were expected to bring gifts to their kings or overlords, be present at their
courts and provide them with military support. As samantas gained power and wealth,
they declared themselves maha samantas or maha-mandaleshwaras.
How did the Rashtrakutas rise to power? (How did the samantas assert their independence
from their overlords?) Initially the Rashtrakutas were subordinate to the
Chalukyas of Karnataka. In the mid 8th century, Dantidurga, a Rashtrakuta chief, overthrew
his Chalukya overlord and performed a ritual called hiranyagarbha and became a
Kshatriya.
Do you think being born as a Kshatriya was important in order to become a ruler during the
medieval period? No, being born as a Kshatriya was not important in order to
become a ruler during this period. In some cases, men from enterprising families used
their military skills to carve out kingdoms. For instance, the Kadamba Mayurasharman and
the Gurjara Pratihara Harichandra were Brahmanas who gave up their traditional
professions and took to arms, successfully establishing kingdoms in Karnataka and
Rajasthan respectively.
How were resources obtained during the medieval period? How were the resources obtained
used? Resources were obtained from the producers - peasants,
cattle keepers, artisans - who were compelled to surrender their produce as ‘rent’ to their
land-lords. Revenue was also collected from traders. The resources were used to finance
the king’s establishment, for the construction of temples and forts. They were also used to
fight wars.
hereditary.
Sultan Mahmud was interested in finding out more about the people he conquered. Prove with
example. (Kitab al Hind remains an important source for historians. How?)
write an account of the subcontinent. This Arabic work, known as the Kitab al-Hind
remains an important source for
Which are the sources that provide information about the Cholas?
Much information about the Cholas is obtained from the Sangam literature
and the megaliths.
What were the crafts associated with temples during the Chola period?
The making of bronze images was the most distinctive craft associated with
temples. Chola bronze images are considered amongst the finest in the world. While most
images were if deities, images of devotees were also made. Chola statues had an
elaborate headdress that represented high status.
How did the river Kauveri benefit the Chola kingdom?
The river Kaveri branches off to several small channels before emptying into the
Bay of Bengal. These channels overflow frequently depositing fertile soils on their banks.
Water from the channels also provides the necessary moisture for agriculture, particularly
the cultivation of rice.
Write a short note on the agriculture of Tamil Nadu during the 5th and 6th century?
Large scale cultivation was prevalent during the 5th and 6th century in Tamil
Nadu. Forests were cleared in some regions and lands were levelled in other areas. In the
delta region embankments had to be built to prevent flooding and canals were constructed
to carry water to the fields. In many areas two crops were grown in a year.
*Sultan: An Arabic term meaning ruler *Hamlet: A small village. *Sluice: A water
channel that is controlled at its head by a gate. *Sluice gate: A wooden or metal plate
which slides in grooves in the sides of the channel to control levels and flow rates in
rivers and canals. *Embankment: An earth or stone bank for keeping back water.
*Sabha: An assembly of learned Brahmans. *Megalith: Huge stone structures (mega-
huge; lith-stone)