Class 7 Social Science Part 2 Chapter 4, Turning Tides: 11th and 12th Centuries, explores a pivotal era of Indian history—the Ghaznavid and Ghurid invasions in the north, Al-Biruni and Bhaskaracharya’s scholarship, and the zenith of the Imperial Cholas, Hoysalas, Kakatiyas, Paramaras and Eastern Gangas.
What Class 7 Social Science Chapter 4 Covers
The Ghaznavid Invasions, Al-Biruni & Bhaskaracharya examines the resistance of the Hindu Shahis (Jayapala and Anandapala), Mahmud of Ghazni’s raids, Al-Biruni’s Kitab-ul-Hind, and the great mathematician Bhaskaracharya (Lilavati and Siddhanta Shiromani).
Eastern & Southern Powers: Eastern Gangas, Kakatiyas, Hoysalas & Cholas covers the Eastern Gangas of Kalinga (Jagannath Puri), the Kakatiyas of Warangal (Queen Rudrama Devi, Thousand Pillar Temple), the Hoysalas of Belur and Halebidu, and the Imperial Cholas (Rajaraja I, Rajendra I, Brihadishvara temple, naval expeditions and Uttaramerur local self-government).
Paramaras, the Ghurids & Cultural Life traces Raja Bhoja of the Paramaras at Dhara, Prithviraj Chauhan and the Battles of Tarain (1191 and 1192) against Muhammad Ghuri, the destruction of Nalanda, and Ramanujacharya and Basavanna.
Exercises in Chapter 4
- Before we move on… chapter takeaways and Questions and activities for revision and project work.
Read Class 7 Social Science Chapter 4 Online
More Chapters
- Previous: Chapter 3: Empires and Kingdoms: 6th to 10th Centuries
- Next: Chapter 5: India, a Home to Many
- All Social Science chapters and the other Class 7 books: Class 7 NCERT books 2026-27
- All Class 1 to 12 NCERT Textbooks: NCERT Books PDF (Class 1–12)
FAQ
Why are Rajaraja Chola I and Rajendra Chola I famous in Indian history?
Rajaraja I built the grand Brihadishvara Temple at Thanjavur and expanded Chola maritime power, while his son Rajendra I led victorious campaigns up to the Ganga (founding Gangaikondacholapuram) and sent naval expeditions across the Bay of Bengal to Southeast Asia.
What happened in the First and Second Battles of Tarain?
In the First Battle of Tarain (1191), Prithviraj Chauhan defeated Muhammad Ghuri; in the Second Battle of Tarain (1192), Muhammad Ghuri returned and defeated Prithviraj Chauhan, paving the way for the Delhi Sultanate.