DAV Class 7 SST Chapter 11 The Rise of Small Kingdoms in South India Solutions

1. Who was the founder of the Chola dynasty?
(a) Vijayalaya
(b) Rajendra I
(c) Rajendra II
(d) Rajaraja
Answer: (a) Vijayalaya

2. The famous temple built by Rajaraja-I at Tanjore was:
(a) Kailashnath temple
(b) Mahabalipuram temple
(c) Kanchipuram temple
(d) Rajrajeshwara temple
Answer: (d) Rajrajeshwara temple

3. Which kingdom gave a final blow to the Pandyas?
(a) Chalukyas
(b) Pallavas
(c) Vijayanagar
(d) Rashtrakutas
Answer: (c) Vijayanagar

4. The term ‘Mandalam’ stands for:
(a) a village
(b) a sabha
(c) a district
(d) a province
Answer: (d) a province

5. What was the main source of income of the Chola rulers?
(a) trade tax
(b) land tax
(c) religion tax
(d) cattle tax
Answer: (b) land tax

1. During 750 CE, south India saw the rule of Cholas, Pandyas and Cheras.
2. Indian historians believe that Chalukyas were Kshatriyas.
3. Vijayalaya defeated Pallavas.
4. Rajendra Chola succeeded Rajaraja.
5. Temple (or Kanchipuram) was the main centre of education during 700 CE to 1200 CE in South India.

1. The Chola empire was established by Vijayalaya after defeating the Pallavas.
Answer: True

2. Rajendra Chola took the title of Gangaikondai after his victory over Bihar and Bengal.
Answer: True

3. Land revenue under the Chola rulers was fixed at one-half of the total produce.
Answer: False (Land revenue was fixed at one-third of the total produce).

4. Buddhism and Jainism were the most popular religions in medieval south India.
Answer: False (Hinduism was the most popular religion; Buddhism and Jainism had declined).

5. The large rock-cut temples at Mahabalipuram were built in the eighth century.
Answer: True

Question 1: Who was the founder of the Chola kingdom and which territories did it cover?
Answer: Vijayalaya was the founder of the medieval Chola kingdom. His realm extended from Nellore in the north to Pudukottai in the south, and from Mysore in the west to Madras (Chennai) in the east.

Question 2: What title was assumed by Rajendra Chola and why?
Answer: Rajendra Chola assumed the prestigious title of Gangaikondai (the Conqueror of the Ganga) to commemorate his triumphant military expedition across the Ganga basin, where he defeated King Mahipala of Bihar and Bengal.

Question 3: Mention the main source of state income in the Chola empire.
Answer: The primary source of state income was land revenue, which was fixed at one-third of the total agricultural yield after a careful survey of cultivated land.

Question 4: Name two famous literary works written in Tamil during this period.
Answer: Two celebrated Tamil literary epics composed during this era are Silappadikaram and Manimekalai.

Question 5: What was a ‘matha’?
Answer: A matha was a residential educational institution affiliated with a temple, offering students free learning in religion, philosophy, and sciences, along with free boarding and lodging.

Question 1: Describe the military achievements of Rajaraja-I and Rajendra Chola.
Answer:

• Rajaraja I (985-1014 CE):
  • Undertook relentless military campaigns for 14 years, subjugating the Cheras of Kerala, the Pandyas of Madurai, and the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi.
  • Assembled a formidable naval fleet that captured northern Sri Lanka (Ceylon), the Maldives, and Lakshadweep islands.
  • Erected the architectural marvel, the Rajrajeshwara (Brihadeeswarar) Temple at Tanjore.
• Rajendra Chola (1014-1044 CE):
  • Led a daring expedition to northern India, defeated Mahipala of the Pala dynasty, and founded the new capital city named Gangaikondacholapuram.
  • Dispatched a massive maritime fleet across the Bay of Bengal to conquer the Srivijaya Empire in Sumatra, the Malayan Peninsula, and Pegu (Myanmar), securing Indian trade routes across South-East Asia.

Question 2: Explain the administrative structure of south Indian kingdoms during the medieval period.
Answer: The administrative setup was highly organized:

• The King: The monarch was the hereditary head endowed with supreme authority. His primary duty was maintaining law and order, administering justice, and protecting the realm against invasions.
• Council of Ministers: A group of trusted ministers and royal advisors assisted the king in managing various executive branches.
• Provinces (Mandalams): The empire was divided into provinces known as mandalams, administered by royal princes or trusted governors who executed imperial commands.
• Sub-divisions (Valanadus and Nadus): Each mandalam was further divided into districts called valanadus or kottams, which comprised groups of villages (nadus).
• Local Self-Government (Ur and Sabha): The villages enjoyed remarkable autonomy. The general assembly of the village was called Ur, while Sabha was an assembly of Brahmin landowners that managed tanks, temples, justice, and taxation through specialized sub-committees.

Question 3: Describe the socio-economic conditions in south India between 700 CE and 1200 CE.
Answer:

• Economic Conditions:
  • Agriculture was the main economic pillar, heavily boosted by royal canal irrigation projects, lakes, and sluices.
  • Land tax (one-third of output) filled the treasury, supplemented by customs duties and tolls.
  • Guilds of merchants (like the Manigramam and Ayyavole) conducted lucrative overseas commerce in spices, textiles, gems, and incense with Arabia, Persia, and China.
• Social Conditions:
  • Society was divided along caste lines. Brahmins and Kshatriyas enjoyed top social prestige, privileges, and tax exemptions.
  • Peasant farmers (Vellalas) and manual artisans tilled temple and royal estates.
  • Women were treated with dignity, and some royal ladies were educated and held administrative positions, though lower-class women faced economic hardships.

Question 4: Discuss the development of art and architecture under the Cholas and other south Indian rulers.
Answer: The medieval South Indian dynasties, especially the Pallavas and Cholas, made extraordinary contributions to art and architecture:

• Rock-cut and Structural Temples: The monolithic Rathas and Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram, alongside the Kailasanatha Temple at Kanchipuram, marked the glorious peak of Pallava stone craftsmanship.
• Chola Temple Grandeur: The Cholas perfected the Dravidian style characterized by soaring multi-storeyed pyramidal spires (Vimanas), ornate entrance towers (Gopurams), and massive pillared halls (Mandapas).
• Brihadeeswarar Temple: The Rajrajeshwara Temple at Tanjore, built by Rajaraja I, stands with a massive 66-meter Vimana crowned by an 80-ton single granite stone cap.
• Exquisite Bronze Sculptures: Chola craftsmen mastered the lost-wax casting technique, sculpting world-renowned bronze figures, most famously the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva as Nataraja.

Question 5: Explain the importance of temples in the cultural, social, and educational life of south India.
Answer: In medieval South India, temples were far more than places of worship:

• Centres of Learning: Every major temple maintained an attached educational monastery (matha) that provided free education, boarding, and lodging to students, teaching Sanskrit, philosophy, astronomy, and grammar.
• Economic Powerhouses: Temples owned vast tracts of fertile land, collected revenue, provided employment to stone carvers, weavers, garland makers, cooks, musicians, and dancers, and acted as banks lending capital to traders.
• Cultural Hubs: Temple courtyards were the venues for community festivals, classical Bharatanatyam performances, religious debates, and dramatic plays.
• Civic and Social Gatherings: Village assemblies (Sabhas) met in temple mandapas to resolve civic disputes, plan irrigation works, and organize emergency flood relief.

Question 1: How did the strong naval force of the Cholas help in spreading Indian culture and expanding trade in foreign lands?
Answer: The Chola navy was one of the strongest maritime forces in Asia during the 11th century. By establishing maritime control across the Bay of Bengal, the Cholas cleared sea routes of pirates, ensuring secure passage for Indian trade fleets to Sumatra, Java, Malaya, and China. In the wake of these merchants, Indian scholars, Buddhist and Hindu monks, and architects travelled across South-East Asia. This led to the spread of Sanskrit epics (Ramayana and Mahabharata), Vedic philosophy, and Indian temple architectural concepts across Cambodia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Question 2: Why were temples called the hub of socio-economic and cultural life in medieval South India?
Answer: Unlike modern shrines that function solely for worship, medieval South Indian temples were comprehensive civic institutions. They were the largest landowners, financiers, and employers in the kingdom, sustaining whole towns of craftsmen and farmers. They acted as schools through attached mathas, as town halls for village councils (Sabhas), and as stages for community artistic expression. Thus, life in every village revolved around the local temple complex.

“One of our Fundamental Duties is ‘To value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture’.”

Question: As a citizen of India, how can we preserve our rich heritage? (Explain five practical measures):
Answer:

1. Protect Historical Monuments: Strictly avoid defacing, scribbling graffiti on, or causing physical harm to historical structures and archaeological monuments.
2. Maintain Cleanliness and Civility: Keep historical and heritage sites spotless by avoiding littering, properly disposing of plastic waste, and following heritage guidelines.
3. Celebrate Composite Traditions: Take active pride in our shared pluralistic heritage, honouring diverse regional languages, folk arts, festivals, and monuments as common treasures of Mother India.
4. Active Participation in Educational Awareness: Participate enthusiastically in school heritage clubs, heritage walks, and public awareness campaigns that educate communities about ancient art and architecture.
5. Support Government Conservation Efforts: Cooperate fully with civic bodies and the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) by reporting vandalism and supporting conservation projects.

Map Skill: Mark the territories of the following kingdoms on an outline map of India:
Answer:

• (a) Cholas: Along the Coromandel coast in Tamil Nadu, extending from the Cauvery delta, Thanjavur, and Chennai down to Pudukottai.
• (b) Pandyas: Located at the southern tip of the Indian peninsula, covering Madurai, Ramanathapuram, and Tirunelveli districts.

Comparative Analysis: North Indian (Nagara) vs South Indian (Dravida) Temple Architecture:

Architectural Feature	North Indian Style (Nagara)	South Indian Style (Dravida)
Tower / Spire	Curvilinear bee-hive shaped tower called Shikhara.	Stepped pyramidal tower called Vimana.
Gateway	Simple, modest entrance without towering gates.	Magnificent, towering sculpted entrance gate called Gopuram.
Enclosure Boundary	Generally open without high surrounding walls.	Surrounded by high, fortified compound walls.
Temple Water Tank	Water reservoir usually absent within the main compound.	Large stepped water tank (Kalyani) strictly situated inside the complex.
Classical Examples	Kandariya Mahadeva (Khajuraho), Sun Temple (Konark).	Brihadeeswarar Temple (Tanjore), Shore Temple (Mahabalipuram).