Solutions for NCERT Class 7 History Our Pasts ll Chapter 2 ‘Kings and Kingdoms’

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Find Solutions for NCERT Class 7 History Our Pasts ll Chapter 2 ‘Kings and Kingdoms’ here.

New Kings and Kingdoms

1. Match the following:

Gurjara-Pratiharas	Western Deccan
Rashtrakutas	Bengal
Palas	Gujarat and Rajasthan
Cholas	Tamil Nadu

     Answer:

Gurjara-Pratiharas	Gujarat and Rajasthan
Rashtrakutas	Western Deccan
Palas	Bengal
Cholas	Tamil Nadu

2. Who were the parties involved in the “tripartite struggle”?
Answer:
The parties involved in the ‘tripartite struggle” over control of Kannauj were the Gurjara-Pratihara, Rashtrakuta and Pala dynasties.

3. What were the qualifications necessary to become a member of a committee of the ‘sabha’ in the Chola empire?
Answer: 
The following qualifications were stipulated for becoming a member of the ‘sabha’ in the Chola empire:

(i)  All those who wish to become members of the sabha should be owners of the land from which
     land, revenue is collected.

(ii) They should possess 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.

(vi) If anyone has been a member of any committee in the last three years, he cannot become a
       member of another committee.

(vii) Anyone who has not submitted his accounts, as well as those of his relatives, cannot contest the
        elections.

4. What were the two major cities under the control of the Chahamanas?
Answer: 
The two major cities that were under the control of the Chahamanas were Delhi and Ajmer.

5. How did the Rashtrakutas become powerful?
Answer: 
Intitally, the Rashtrakutas in the Deccan were subordinate to the Chalukyas of Karnataka. During the mid-8th century, Dantidurga, a Rashtrakuta chief, overthrew his Chalukya overlord and performed a ritual called ‘Hiranya-garbha’ with the help of Brahmanas. It was believed that the sacrifcer would be reborn as a Kshatriya. The Rastrakutas also fought against the dynasties of Gurjara Pratihara and Palas.

6. What did the new dynasties do to gain acceptance?
Answer:
To gain acceptance, the kings of the new dynasties who grew powerful and wealthy adopted grand titles like ‘Maha-mandaleshwara’ and performed religious rituals like “hiranya-garbha” with the help of Brahmanas to become a part of the Kshatriyas. They fought wars to carve out kingdoms for themselves, built large temples to demonstrate their wealth, and also deputed Brahmanas to compose “Prashastis” depicting them as valiant and victorious.

7. What kind of irrigation works were developed in the Tamil region?
Answer: 
Large scale cultivation was developed in Tamil Nadu and in many areas two crops were grown in a year. So, 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 meticulous planning and organising labour and resources. Decisions on the usage of water were taken collectively and the new rulers and villagers took active interest in these activities.

8. What were the activities associated with Chola temples?
Answer:
The Chola temples became the nuclei of settlements which grew around them. They were centres of craft production. Temples were endowed with land by rulers and others. The produce of such land was used for maintenance of all the priests, garland-makers, cooks, sweepers, musicians, dancers etc. who were associated with the temples.

The temples were not just places of worship but the hub of economic, social and cultural life as well. The making of bronze images was the most distinctive craft associated with the Chola temples. Chola bronze images are considered among the finest in the world. Most of these bronze images were of deities, while some of these images depicted devotees as well.

Let’s Discuss (Page No 29)

9. Look at Map 1 once more and find out whether there were any kingdoms in the state in which you live.
Answer:
I live in Delhi.  The Chahamanas, later known as the Chauhans ruled over the region around Delhi.

10. Contrast the ‘elections’ in Uttaramerur with present day panchayat election?
Answer:
The system of election in Uttaramerur was quite different from that of the present-day panchayat elections.
The Sabha had separate committees to look after irrigation, gardens, temples etc. The names of the eligible members of these committees were written down on small tickets of palm leaves which were placed in an earthenware pot. A young boy was asked to take out tickets one by one for each committee. So, the selection was randomly done as in a lottery.

By contrast, present day Panchayat elections are conducted through a proper election process. The names of all the members along with their party symbols are printed on ballot papers, Each voter puts a stamp over their choice of candidate and drops the ballot paper in the ballot box. After all the votes are counted, the winner’s name is announced by the returning officer. So the person with the most votes is elected.

11. Compare the temple shown in this chapter with any present-day temple in your neighbourhood, highlighting any similarities and differences that you notice.
Answer: 

The Chola temple at Gangaikondacholapuram

The Hanuman temple at Hauz Khas, Delhi

1. The Chola Temple is a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture. It features intricate stone sculpture son the outer walls 2. Built in the 11th century during the Chola dynasty, it was dedicated to Lord Shiva. It was constructed to commemorate the victory of Chola king Rajendra I over northern kingdoms.   3.  Reflects the artistic and architectural achievements of the Chola dynasty, showcasing their religious and cultural beliefs.

1. The Hanuman Temple features a blend of modern and traditional architecture, with a red sandstone exterior and intricate carvings.   2. Built in 1999, it is relatively recent compared to ancient temples. The temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman, a revered deity in Hinduism known for strength, devotion, and loyalty.   3. Represents modern Hindu worship practices with devotional activities and community engagement.

12. Find out more about taxes that are collected at present. Are these in cash, kind, or labour services?
Answer:
We pay a number of taxes at present like property tax, road tax, income tax, entertainment tax, water tax, GST, wealth tax, etc. These taxes are in cash only and not in kind of labour services.

Solutions for In–Text questions of NCERT Class 7 History Our Pasts-ll Chapter 2 ‘Kings and Kingdoms’

Text Book Page No 16

1. Locate the Gurjara-Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas, Palas, Cholas and Chahamanas (Chauhans). Can you identify the present-day states over which they exercised control?
Answer:

Yes, we can identify the present states over which they exercised and control as shown below:

Gurjara-Pratiharas: Western Uttar Pradesh; Northern Madhya Pradesh

Rashtrakutas—Maharashtra, Central Madhya Pradesh, Northern Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka

Palas—Bengal and North east of India

Cholas—Tamil Nadu

Chahamanas (Chauhans)—Eastern Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab

Text Book Page No 17

2. Do you think being born as a Kshatriya was important in order to become a ruler during this period?
Answer:

No, it was not important to be born a Kshatriya in order to become a ruler because new kings could perform a ritual called ‘hiranya-garbha’ with the help of Brahamanas which was thought to lead to the “rebirth” of the sacrificer as a Kshatriya. So, men from enterprising families used their military skills to carve out kingdoms for themselves.

Even some Brahamanas gave up their traditional professions and took to arms as seen in the case of the Kadamba Mayurasharman and the Gurjara-Pratihara Harischandra who successfully established their kingdoms in Karnataka and Rajasthan respectively.

Text Book Page No 18

3. Are any such taxes collected today?
Answer:

At present there are no taxes like ‘Vetti’ which are in the form of forced labour. There are no taxes for thatching the roof of a house or using a ladder.
But taxes are payable on land revenue and inheritance of property in cash.

4. In what ways was this form of administration different from the present-day system?
Answer:

Administration of the Kingdoms

Present administration

In each of these states, resources were obtained from the producers – that is, peasants, cattle-keepers, artisans. – who were often persuaded or compelled to surrender part of what they produced. Sometimes these were claimed as “rent” due to a lord who asserted that he owned the land. Revenue was also collected from traders. The most frequently mentioned tax is “vetti” which is extracted not in cash but in the form of forced labour. These resources were used to finance the king’s establishment, as well as for the construction of temples and forts. They were also used to fight wars. The functionaries for collecting revenue were generally recruited from influential families, and positions were often hereditary. The Kings’ relatives often held these positions

Resources are raised from different taxes and tariffs on producers, consumers and citizens. Nowadays, no one can compel any labour or worker to work, so there is no tax like ‘Vetti”     These resources are used for developing the state and providing facilities to the citizens.   The present administration recruits civil servants through a rigorous examination process to collect revenue and run the administration.

Textbook page 19

5. Also, see if you can find some of the areas mentioned in the inscription on Map 1. Other rulers made similar claims as well. Why do you think they made these claims?
Answer:

Yes, we can find some areas like ‘Kalinga’ and ‘Kanauj’ mentioned in the inscription on Map 1.

Rulers had to exercise control over large regions, so there must have been some disputed territories which were claimed by more than one ruler. Other rulers made similar claims as Nagabhata about their victories because they wanted to appear invincible and powerful.

Textbook Page 21

6. Look at Map 1 and suggest reasons why these rulers wanted to control Kanauj and the Ganga valley.

Answer:  
As seen in the Map above, Kanauj was situated in the fertile Gangetic plains which is why it was much sought after. There was a long-drawn “tripartite struggle” between the Rashtrakutas, Gurjaras- Pratiharas and Palas for control over the region.

7. Look at Map 1 again and discuss why the Chahamanas may have wanted to expand their territories?
Answer:
The Chahamanas might have wanted to expand their territories to cover the entire fertile Indo-Gangetic plain and to grow so powerful that no other king would dare to attack their kingdom.

Textbook Page No 27

8. Do you think women participated in these assemblies? In your view are lotteries useful in choosing members of committees?
Answer:
I think that women didn’t participate in these assemblies because there is no mention in inscriptions and documents about the role of women.

No, lotteries are not a useful method for choosing members of committees because such selection is random. The best way to choose committee members is by conducting elections.

9. Were there any Brahmanas in this hamlet? Describe all the activities that were taking place in the village? Why do you think temple inscriptions ignore these activities?
Answer:
There were no Brahmanas in this hamlet because it was a hamlet of Pulaiyas or “outcastes”

The inabitants of the hamlet were engaged in menial occupations. The village was teeming with activity. Brawny Pulaiyar men worked in the paddy fields, the wavy haired Pulaiyar women sang while husking paddy, children wearing bracelets of black iron pranced around carrying little puppies, the red-crested cock crowed, chickens moved about in groups, a baby was put to sleep on a piece of leather under the arjuna tree, drums hung from the branches of the mango tree.

These were considered insignificant because the Pulaiyas were considered “outcastes”, hence temple inscriptions ignored these activities.

Extra Questions for NCERT Class 7 History Our Pasts-ll Chapter 2 ‘Kings and Kingdoms’

A. Multiple Choice type Questions (MCQ)

1. When did big landlords or warrior chiefs called ‘samantas’ rise to power?(i) in the 8^th century
(ii) in the 7^th century
(iii) in the 11^th century
(iv) in the 9^th century

2. Who were subordinate to the Chalukyas of Karnataka?

(i) The Gurjara-Pratiharas
(ii) The Chahamanas
(iii)The Rashtrakutas
(iv) None of the above

3. Which ritual was thought to lead to the “rebirth” of a person as a Kshatriya?

(i) devadana
(ii) vetti
(iii)hiranya-garbha
(iv) All of the above

4. Who was a Brahmana who took up arms to establish a kingdom in Rajasthan?

(i) Mayurasharma
(ii) Harichandra
(iii) Dantidurga
(iv) None of the above

5. How were resources raised in the new kingdoms?
(i) from the producers
(ii)  from traders
(iii) as rent on land
(iv) all of the above

6. How many taxes are mentioned in the Chola inscriptions?

(i) 333
(ii) 250
(iii) 400
(iv) None of the above

7. The grants of land rewarded by the kings to the Brahmanas were recorded on _______plates

(i) gold
(ii) paper
(iii) copper
(iv) bronze

8. A long Sanskrit !2th century poem containing the history of Kashmir kings was written by_______.

(i) Al- Biruni
(ii) Periyapuranam
(iii) Kalhana
(iv) None of the above

9. Which temple did Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni  raid?

(i) The temple at Gangaikondacholapuram
(ii) The temple of Thanjavur
(iii) Somnath temple of Gujarat
(iv) all of the above

10. Rulers of which dynasties fought for control over Kanauj?

(i) Palas
(ii)Rashtrakutas
(iii) Gurjara-Pratihara
(iv) All of the above

Answers:

1. (ii) in the 7^th century

2. (iii)The Rashtrakutas

3. (iii)hiranya-garbha

4. (ii) Harichandra

5. (iv) all of the above

6. (iii) 400

7. (iii) copper

8. (iii) Kalhana

9. (iii) Somnath temple of Gujarat

10. (iv) All of the above

B. Fill in the blanks with suitable words from the box to complete the following sentences:

Muttaraiyar

Periyapuranam

influential

Prithviraja lll

Al -Biruni

1. The officials generally recruited for collecting revenues and army were from __________ families.

2. Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni entrusted a scholar named ________ to write an account of the
     subcontinent.

3. A minor chiefly family known as the __________ held power in the Kaveri delta.

4. The best known Chahamana ruler was _______________.

5. In the twelfth century, _________, a Tamil work was written about the lives of ordinary people.

Answer:

1. The officials generally recruited for collecting revenues and army were from influential families.

2. Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni entrusted a scholar named Al-Biruni to write an account of the
     subcontinent.

3. A minor chiefly family known as the Muttaraiyar held power in the Kaveri delta.

4.  The best known Chahamana ruler was Prithviraja lll.

5. In twelfth century Periyapuranam, a Tamil work was written about the lives of ordinary people.

C. Match the words in column A with those in column B

A	B
vellanvagai	Dedicated to Goddess Nishumbhasudini
Harichandra	Kitab -ul-Hind
Dantidurga	Gurjara-Pratihara Brahmana who established kingdom in Rajasthan
Al-Biruni	Land of non-Brahmana peasant proprietors
Temple at Thanjavur	Over threw his Chalukya overlord

Answer:

A	B
vellanvagai	Land of non-Brahmana peasant proprietor
Harichandra	Gurjara-Pratihara Brahmana who established kingdom in Rajasthan
Dantidurga	Over threw his Chalukya overlord
Al-Biruni	Kitab -ul-Hind
Temple at Thanjavur	Dedicated to Goddess Nishumbhasudini

D. State whether the following statements are TRUE or FALSE:

1. The title ‘Maha-mandaleshwara’ means ‘The great Lord of the Circle”.

2. “Vetti” was a tax payable in cash during the reign of the Cholas.

3. The Prashasti found in Gwalior describing the exploits of Nagabhata was written in Sanskrit.

4. The Gurjara-Pratiharas ruled in Tamil Nadu.

5. The land for maintenance of schools was called ‘Shalabhoga”

Answer:

1. True- It is one of the titles which the samantas used after gaining power and wealth.

2. False – “Vetti” was a kind of tax imposed during the reign of the Cholas, but it was not payable in  
                   cash, but in the form of forced labour.

3. True

4. False- The Cholas ruled in Tamil Nadu

5. True

E.  Very Short Answer type Questions:

1. Who turned into a Kshatriya after performing a ritual called ‘Hiranya-garbha”?
Answer:
Dantidurga , a Rastrakuta chief. overthrew his Chalukya overlord and performed ‘hiranya-garbha’to be reborn as a Khsatriya.

2. What was known as “kadamai ‘ during the Chola rule?
Answer:
‘Kadamai’ was the name for land revenue collected during the Chola period.

3. Who paid rent ?
Answer:
The producers – i.e. the peasants, cattle-keepers ,and artisans had to surrender part of their produce as ‘rent’ payable to the landlord.

4. From whom was revenue collected?
Answer: 
Revenue was collected from traders.

5. What were the resources collected used for?
Answer:
The resources collected were used to finance the king’s establishments, to buils forts and temples and to fight wars.

6. What are  ‘prashastis’?
Answer:
The inscriptions found praising rulers and kings as valiant and victorious warriors are called ‘prashastis’.

7. How did kings reward Brahamanas?
Answer:
Kings often rewarded Brahamanas with grants of land.

8. Which ruler raided the Somnath temple in Gujarat?
Answer:
Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni raided the wealthy Somnath temple in Gujarat.

9. Who was the best known Chahamana ruler?
Answer:
The best known Chahamana ruler was Prithviraj lll.

10. What was ‘tripartite struggle’?           
Answer: 
The tripartite struggle was a long drawn conflict among the rulers of Gurjara- Pratihara, Rashtrakuta and Pala dynasties for control over Kanauj

11. Which king defeated the Afghan ruler Sultan Muhammed Ghori?
Answer:
Prithviraj lll defeated Sultan Muhammed Ghori in 1191, but lost to him in 1192.

12. What were the titles given by Chola kings to some rich landowners?
Answer:
Muvendavelan (a velan or peasant serving three kings), araiyar (chief), etc., were the titles given by Chola kings to some rich landowners.

13. Which temples are famous for their architectural and sculptural marvels?
Answer:  
The temples of Thanjavur and Gangaikonda-cholapuram are famous for their architecture and marvellous sculptures.

14. What do you understand by ‘ur’?
Answer: 
The settlements or villages of peasants in the Chola kingdom were called ‘ur’.

15. What were called ‘nadu’?
Answer: 
Groups of villages or ‘ur’ were called ‘nadu’.

16. Which was the most distinctive art associated with the Chola temples?
Answer:
The making of bronze images which are considered amongst the best in the world is the most distinctive art associated with the Chola temples.

F. Short Answer Type Questions:

1. Who were the samantas? What was their role ?
Answer:
 By the 7^th century there were big landlords or warrior chiefs in different regions of the subcontinent. The existing kings 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 military support when required.

As samantas gained power and wealth, they declared themselves to be ‘Maha-samanta, or ‘Maha-mandaleshwara. Some even asserted independence from their overlords or overthrew them.

2. Who was Kalhana? What was he famous for?
Answer:
Kalhana was a great Sanskrit poet who wrote a long Sanskrit poem narrating the history of the kings who ruled over Kashmir. He used a variety of sources, including inscriptions, documents, eyewitness accounts and earlier histories. He was different from the writers of ‘Prashastis’ for he did not hesitate to criticise rulers and their policies.

3. Who was Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni?
Answer:
Muhammad Ghazni was an Afghan Sultan. He ruled from 997 to 1030, and extended control over parts of Central Asia, Iran and the north-western part of the subcontinent. He raided the wealthy temples, including that of Somnath, Gujarat. Much of the wealth carried away by Mahmud of Ghazni was used to create a splendid capital in the city of Ghazni.

4. Why did the conquerors target the temples first?      
Answer:
Rulers tried to demonstrate their power and resourcesby building ostentatious temples. So, the foreign conquerors made temples their first targets. The most prominent example of this trend was the Somnath temple in Gujarat which was plundered several times by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni who came from Afghanistan. Much of the wealth he carried away was used to create a splendid capital city at Ghazni.

5. What was known as “Brahmadeya”?
Answer:
“Brahmadeya” means land gifted to Brahamanas. Brahamanas often received land grants. As a result, a large number of Brahamana settlements grew in the Kavery valley as in other parts of south India.
Each Brahmadeya was looked after by an assembly or sabha of influential Brahamana landholders.
They functioned very efficiently and kept records of all their decisions in inscriptions often on the stone walls of temples.

6. How was the Chola administration organised?
Answer:
Settlements of peasants, known as ‘ur’ became prosperous with the spread of irrigation agriculture. Groups of such villages formed larger units called ‘nadu’. The village council and the ‘nadu’ performed several administrative functions including dispensing justice and collecting taxes.

Rich peasants of the Vellala caste exercised considerable control over the affairs of the ‘nadu’ under the supervision of the central Chola government.

The Chola kings gave some rich landowners titles like ‘muvendavelan’ (a ‘velan’ or peasant serving three chiefs) and ‘araiyar’ (chief) etc. as a mark of respect, and entrusted them with important offices of the state at the centre.

7.  Describe the irrigation system of the Chola kingdom.  
Answer:
The irrigation system was very advanced during the Chola rulers. A variety of methods were applied for proper irrigation.
In some areas many wells were dug, in others huge tanks were constructed to collect rain water. Canals were also constructed to bring water to the fields. The kings themselves as well as the people living in the villages took interest in organizing labour and resources and extensive planning. How water was to be shared was also collectively decided.

8. What were the different categories of land as per the Chola inscriptions?
Answer:
Chola inscriptions mention several categories of land:

Vellanvagai – land of non-Brahmana peasant proprietors

Brahmadeva – Land gifted to brahmanas

Shalabhoga – Land for maintenance of school

Devadana, tirunamattukkani – Land gifted to temples

Pallichchhandam – Land donated to Jaina institutions

G. Long answer Type Questions

1. How did the Cholas rise to power?
Answer:
A minor chiefly family known as the Muttaraiyar, who were subordinate to the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram, held power in the Kavery delta. In the middle of the 9th century, Vijayalaya, who belonged to the ancient chiefly family of the Cholas from Uraiyur, seized the delta from the Muttaraiyar. He then built the town of Thanjavur and a temple dedicated to goddess Nishumbhasudini there.

The successors of Vijayalaya conquered neighbouring regions and the kingdom grew in size and power as the Pandyan and the Pallava territories to the north and south were made part of this kingdom.

Rajaraja l, the most powerful Chola ruler became king in 985 and expanded control over most of these areas and also reorganised the administration.

His 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. The big temples of Thanjavur and Gangaikonda-Cholapuram built by them are architectural marvels.

2. How did agriculture develop during the Chola period?
Answer:
Many of the achievements of the Cholas was possible through new developments in agriculture. The river Kaveri branches off into many channels before flowing into the Bay of Bengal. these channels overflow frequently depositing fertile silt on their banks. Water from the channels provide the necessary moisture for agriculture, particularly for growing rice.

Although agriculture had developed earlier in other parts of Tamil Nadu, this area was opened up for large-scale cultivation only in the fifth or sixth century. Forests were cleared in some regions and land had to be levelled in others. In the delta area embankments had to be built to prevent flooding and channels had to be constructed to carry water to the fields. In many areas two crops were grown in a year.

In many cases it was necessary to water the crops artificially. A variety of methods were used for irrigation. In some areas wells were dug, in others storage tanks were constructed to store rainwater. All this required meticulous planning – organising labour and resources, maintaining these works and deciding how water is to be shared. Most of the new rulers as well as the village people took an active interest in these activities.

Frequently asked Questions (FAQs) on NCERT Class 7 History Our Pasts ll Chapter 2 ‘Kings and Kingdoms’