DAV Class 7 SST Chapter 10 The Rise of Small Kingdoms in North India Solutions

1. Who was the author of Kaviragamarga?
(a) Dantidurga
(b) Govind III
(c) Amoghavarsha
(d) Gopala
Answer: (c) Amoghavarsha

2. Vikramsheel Vihar, a centre for Buddhist education was established by:
(a) Gopala
(b) Dharampala
(c) Mihir Bhoj
(d) Devapala
Answer: (b) Dharampala

3. The Sun temple, known for its fine architecture, is situated at:
(a) Puri
(b) Bhubneswar
(c) Khajuraho
(d) Konark
Answer: (d) Konark

4. Who among the following kings was elected by the people?
(a) Dantidurga
(b) Mihir Bhoj
(c) Gopala
(d) Govinda III
Answer: (c) Gopala

5. Which one of the following temples was NOT constructed by the Paratiharas?
(a) Thanjavur
(b) Khajuraho
(c) Konark
(d) Mahabalipuram
Answer: (d) Mahabalipuram

1. Regional languages developed very fast under the rule of Mihir Bhoj, a Pratihara king.
2. Dantidurga was the real founder of Rashtrakuta empire.
3. The gift of land to the Brahmins was known as Brahmadeya or Agrahara.
4. The Bhakti saints opposed superstitions and narrow-mindedness.
5. The examples of the paintings of north India can be found in the form of murals.

1. The kingdoms of Pratiharas and Palas rose in north India.
Answer: True

2. Govinda III was a Rashtrakuta ruler.
Answer: True

3. The Tripartite struggle involved the Rashtrakuta, the Pratihara and the Pala.
Answer: True

4. The four main clans of Rajputs are known as Agnikulas.
Answer: True

5. Mohammad Ghori came from Iran.
Answer: False (Mohammad Ghori came from Ghor in Afghanistan).

Question 1: Name the four main clans of the Rajputs.
Answer: The four main clans of Rajputs believed to have originated from sacrificial fire altars (Agnikulas) are:

1. Paramaras (Malwa region)
2. Pratiharas (Rajasthan and Gujarat)
3. Chauhans (Ajmer and Delhi)
4. Chalukyas / Solankis (Gujarat)

Question 2: Mention the titles taken by Rashtrakuta rulers.
Answer: The Rashtrakuta rulers assumed grand, imperial titles such as Chakravarti, Maharajadhiraj, and Param Bhattarak to emphasize their supreme sovereign authority.

Question 3: Who was Chand Bardai?
Answer: Chand Bardai was a renowned court poet, close friend, and scholar in the court of the legendary Rajput ruler Prithviraj Chauhan. He authored the epic biographical poem Prithviraj Raso, detailing the life, bravery, and chivalric deeds of Prithviraj Chauhan.

Question 4: List the temples built by Pratihara rulers.
Answer: The Pratihara rulers were great patrons of temple architecture. Magnificent temples associated with their artistic period include those constructed at Khajuraho, Kanchipuram, Thanjavur, Bhubaneswar, Puri, and Konark.

Question 5: Give reasons for the decline of feudal system in north India.
Answer: The decline was caused by:

• Continuous internal warfare and bitter rivalries among feudal lords and Rajput clans.
• Lack of a centralized administrative authority and exhaustion of regional economic resources.
• The military rise of foreign Turkish invaders who systematically exploited these internal divisions.

Question 1: Why is the period after Harshavardhan’s death called a period of political instability?
Answer: The period following Harshavardhan’s death in 647 CE witnessed widespread political instability due to several reasons:

• Disintegration of the Empire: In the absence of a strong paramount sovereign, Harsha’s vast empire fractured into numerous small, independent feudal principalities.
• Weak Successors: The successors lacked administrative vision and military strength to unite the subcontinent.
• Deteriorating Economy: Trade routes became unsafe, leading to economic decline across northern India.
• The Tripartite Struggle: Three powerful regional dynasties (the Gurjara-Pratiharas, the Palas, and the Rashtrakutas) engaged in continuous warfare lasting over a century to capture Kanauj, the symbol of imperial sovereignty. This continuous strife severely weakened northern India, leaving it vulnerable to foreign invasions.

Question 2: Mention any five important features of the Rashtrakuta empire.
Answer: Five key features of the Rashtrakuta empire are:

1. Foundation and Territorial Reach: Founded by King Dantidurga in 753 CE, the empire spanned modern Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat, and parts of Madhya Pradesh.
2. Military Might: Great monarchs like Govinda III and Amoghavarsha maintained large armies, successfully checking Arab advances and contending in northern India.
3. Religious Tolerance: Though the kings personally adhered to Jainism, they patronized Hinduism, Buddhism, and allowed Arab Muslims to build mosques and practice their faith peacefully.
4. Literary Excellence: King Amoghavarsha was an accomplished scholar who authored Kaviragamarga, the earliest available work on poetics in Kannada.
5. Architectural Masterpieces: They were magnificent builders, best exemplified by the world-famous rock-cut Kailasanatha temple at Ellora.

Question 3: What is the contribution of the Pala dynasty in various fields?
Answer: The contributions of the Pala dynasty in Bengal and Bihar include:

• Democratic Beginning: Gopala was elected king by local chieftains around 750 CE to end political anarchy, establishing a dynasty that ruled for nearly 400 years.
• Educational Patronage: King Dharampala founded the world-renowned Buddhist educational centre, Vikramsheel Vihar (Vikramshila University), and generously revived Nalanda University.
• Religious Spread: Being devout Buddhists, Pala kings sent Buddhist scholars and teachers to Tibet, Nepal, and Southeast Asia to spread Buddhism. They also donated tax-free lands to Brahmins.
• Art and Architecture: They pioneered the distinctive Pala school of sculptural art and miniature palm-leaf paintings, which strongly influenced Southeast Asian art.

Question 4: Mention any four famous features of the Pratiharas rule.
Answer: Four notable features of the Gurjara-Pratihara rule are:

1. Shield Against Arab Incursions: The early Pratihara rulers, especially Nagabhatta I, successfully resisted and repelled Arab invasions from Sindh for nearly three centuries.
2. Rule of Mihir Bhoj: Mihir Bhoj was the greatest Pratihara ruler who recaptured Kanauj around 836 CE and built a powerful, well-administered empire.
3. Flourishing of Regional Languages: Their court patronage encouraged the development of regional Indian languages, laying the roots for modern Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, and Bengali.
4. Exquisite Temple Architecture: They patronized splendid North Indian Nagara style temple architecture, influencing shrines across Khajuraho and Rajasthan.

Question 5: Describe the economic and social condition of north India during the medieval period.
Answer:

• Social Conditions:
  • Society was organized into a rigid caste hierarchy. Brahmins held superior status, receiving royal land donations (Brahmadeya or Agrahara).
  • The social position of women suffered a steep decline. Social evils like child marriage, strict purdah, and sati became widespread. Rajput royal women observed Jauhar (collective self-immolation) during wartime defeat to preserve their honour.
  • Deep superstitions and orthodox rituals prevailed, though Bhakti saints began preaching universal equality and denounced caste bigotry.
• Economic Conditions:
  • Agriculture was the backbone of the economy, though peasant cultivators faced heavy tax burdens levied by feudal intermediaries.
  • Textile weaving, metalworking, and handicrafts flourished in regional towns.
  • Internal and maritime commerce was active, bringing vast revenues from the spice and textile trade.

Question: How did the Tripartite Struggle over Kanauj contribute to the eventual fall of the three major empires in North India?
Answer: Kanauj was situated in the fertile central Gangetic plain and was considered the ultimate symbol of imperial sovereignty in early medieval India. For more than a century, the Palas, Pratiharas, and Rashtrakutas engaged in an exhausting three-way war to control it. Because none of the three had a decisive military advantage, victory shifted back and forth. The prolonged conflict drained their treasuries, depleted their standing armies, and alienated regional vassals. Consequently, all three empires fractured into weak, quarreling feudal principalities, leaving northern India completely unprepared to resist the subsequent invasions of Mahmud of Ghazni and Muhammad Ghori.

“The Rashtrakutas followed Jainism but also patronised Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam.”

Question 1: What qualities of Rashtrakutas are depicted in the above mentioned statement?
Answer: The statement illustrates their noble virtues of religious tolerance, open-mindedness, mutual respect, secularism, and peaceful cultural coexistence.

Question 2: How far is it correct to call the Rashtrakutas secular in the light of present day secularism in India?
Answer: It is entirely justified. Modern Indian secularism means the state treats all religions equally without favouring any faith. The Rashtrakuta kings practiced this centuries ago: while adhering to Jainism, they gave equal respect and royal grants to Hindu temples, Buddhist viharas, and even allowed Arab Muslim merchants to build mosques and preach peacefully in their realm.

Question 3: We see Indian secularism advocates respect of all religions. Then why do some people disrespect the religion of others?
Answer: People disrespect other faiths due to lack of moral education, narrow-mindedness, deep-seated prejudices, and manipulation by selfish sectarian elements who exploit religious emotions for political or economic gain.

Question 4: Give two suggestions to make people tolerant towards other religions.
Answer:

1. Value-Based Holistic Education: Schools should impart value-based moral education that teaches students about the common humanitarian principles and universal compassion found in all world religions.
2. Inter-Faith Community Programs: Promote community inter-faith cultural celebrations, open dialogues, and inclusive public festivities that encourage people of different faiths to interact closely with mutual warmth.

Map Skill: On an outline map of India, mark the extent of the Rashtrakuta, Pala, Pratihara and Rajput kingdoms.
Answer:

• Rashtrakuta Empire: Mark the northern and western Deccan, covering Maharashtra, northern Karnataka, and parts of Madhya Pradesh.
• Pala Empire: Mark eastern India covering the provinces of Bengal and Bihar.
• Gurjara-Pratihara Empire: Mark northwestern India covering Gujarat, eastern Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh (including Kanauj).
• Rajput Kingdoms: Mark Rajasthan (Chauhans of Shakambhari/Ajmer, Guhilas of Mewar), Malwa (Paramaras), and Bundelkhand (Chandelas).

Comparative Overview of North Indian Dynasties:

Dynasty	Prominent Rulers	Period	Religion	Literary Achievements	Architecture
Rashtrakutas	Dantidurga, Govinda III, Amoghavarsha	753 CE onwards	Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam	Kaviragamarga by Amoghavarsha	Rock-cut Kailasanatha temple at Ellora
Palas	Gopala, Dharampala, Devapala	c. 750 CE (~400 yrs)	Buddhism	Revival of Nalanda, Vikramsheel Vihar	Miniature paintings of Bengal
Pratiharas	Nagabhatta I, Mihir Bhoj	8th to 10th Century CE	Hinduism	Early Marathi, Gujarati, Bengali works	Temples at Khajuraho and Konark