New Kings and Kingdoms

Q45. How did chola temple become a hub of economic social and cultural life?

Ans. Chola temples often became the nuclei of settlements which grew around them. These were centres of craft production. Temples were also endowed with land by rulers as well as by others. The produce of this land went to maintain 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.

Q46. What were the qualifications necessary to become a member of a committee of the sabha in the Chola Empire?

Ans. The qualifications necessary to become a member of a committee of the sabha in the Chola Empire were:

                         i.        They should be owners of land from which land revenue is collected.

                        ii.        They should have their own homes.

                       iii.        They should be between 35 and 70 years of age.

                       iv.        They should have knowledge of the Vedas.

                       v.        They should be well-versed in administrative matters and honest.

Q47. Write a short note on architecture of Chola Period.

Ans. The big temples of Thanjavur and Gangaikondacholapuram, built by Rajaraja and Rajendra, are architectural and sculptural marvels. Chola temples often became the nuclei of settlements which grew around them. These were centres of craft production. Amongst the crafts associated with temples, the making of bronze images was the most distinctive. Chola bronze images are considered amongst the finest in the world. While most images were of deities, sometimes images were made of devotees as well.

Q48. Describe several categories of land mentioned in cholas inscriptions.

Ans. Chola inscriptions mention several categories of land.

Vellanvagai - land of non-Brahmana peasant proprietors

Brahmadeya - land gifted to Brahmanas

Shalabhoga - land for the maintenance of a school

Devadana, tirunamattukkani - land gifted to temples

Pallichchhandam - land donated to Jaina institutions

Q49. What did the new dynasties do to gain acceptance?

Ans. By the seventh century there were big landlords or warrior chiefs in different regions of the subcontinent. Existing kings often acknowledged them as their subordinates or samantas. They were expected to bring gifts for their kings or overlords, be present at their courts and provide them with military support. Many of these new kings adopted high-sounding titles such as maharaja adhiraja (great king, overlord of kings), tribhuvana-chakravartin (lord of the three worlds) and so on. However, in spite of such claims, they often shared power with their samantas as well as with associations of peasants, traders and Brahmanas.

Q50. Trace out the emergence of new dynasties.

Ans. Emergence of new dynasties

                       i.        By the seventh century there were big landlords or warrior chiefs in different regions of the subcontinent. Existing kings often acknowledged them as their subordinates or samantas.

                      ii.        As samantas gained power and wealth, they declared themselves to be maha-samanta, mahamandaleshvara and so on. Sometimes they asserted their independence from their overlords.

                      iii.        In other cases, men from enterprising families used their military skills to carve out kingdoms.

Q51. Write a short note on Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, Afghanistan.

Ans. Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni

                        i.        Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, Afghanistan ruled from 997 to 1030, and extended control over parts of Central Asia, Iran and the north-western part of the subcontinent.

                       ii.        He raided the subcontinent almost every year – his targets were wealthy temples, including that of Somnath, Gujarat.

                      iii.        Much of the wealth Mahmud carried away was used to create a splendid capital city at Ghazni.

                      iv.        He was 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-al Hind, remains an important source for historians. He consulted Sanskrit scholars to prepare this account.

Q52. How did the Cholas rise to power?

Ans. A minor chiefly family known as the Muttaraiyar held power in the Kaveri delta. They were subordinate to the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram. 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. The Pandyan and the Pallava territories to the south and north were made part of this kingdom. Rajaraja I, considered the most powerful Chola ruler, became king in 985 and expanded control over most of these areas. He also reorganised the administration of the empire. Rajaraja’s son Rajendra I continued his policies and even raided the Ganga valley, Sri Lanka and countries of Southeast Asia, developing a navy for these expeditions.