Class 7 Kings and Kingdoms - Q and A

Kings and Kingdoms – Very Important Questions & Answers

1. Who were the new rulers that emerged after the seventh century in India?
   The new rulers that emerged after the seventh century were called Gurjara-Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas, Palas, Cholas, and Chahamanas (Chauhans).
2. Over which present-day states did these dynasties exercise control?
   • Gurjara-Pratiharas ruled much of Rajasthan and nearby areas.
   • Rashtrakutas controlled parts of Karnataka and the Deccan region.
   • Palas ruled over Bengal and Bihar.
   • Cholas ruled in Tamil Nadu and parts of South India.
   • Chahamanas (Chauhans) ruled parts of Rajasthan.
3. What was the role of big landlords or warrior chiefs by the seventh century?
   Big landlords or warrior chiefs were powerful local leaders who often obeyed the kings but sometimes declared their independence. They brought gifts, provided military support, and were present at the king’s court.
4. How did the Rashtrakutas become independent from the Chalukyas?
   The Rashtrakuta chief Dantidurga overthrew the Chalukyas in the mid-eighth century and performed a special ritual called "hiranyagarbha" (golden womb) to declare himself a Kshatriya and a ruler.
5. What is the meaning of the ritual "hiranyagarbha"?
   It means "golden womb." When performed with Brahmanas' help, it was believed to rebirth a person as a Kshatriya (warrior class) even if he was not born one.
6. Did being born a Kshatriya matter for becoming a ruler during this period?
   No, being born a Kshatriya was not always necessary. Some rulers, like the Rashtrakutas, performed rituals to become Kshatriyas. Others from different backgrounds used military power to become kings.
7. How was the administration during these kingdoms different from present-day systems?
   • Kings shared power with local chiefs, peasants, traders, and Brahmanas.
   • Taxes were collected in goods, labor, or cash.
   • Many government jobs were hereditary (passed in families).
   • Close relatives of kings held important military and administrative posts.
   • Present-day systems are more democratic and have official rules rather than hereditary appointments.
8. What kinds of taxes were collected during Chola rule?

   Cholas collected more than 400 different taxes. Some common ones were:

   • Vetti: forced labor instead of money.
   • Kadamai: land revenue.
   • Taxes on thatching a house, using ladders on palm trees, and inheritance (property succession).
9. Are any such taxes collected today?
   No, such taxes on labor and small daily activities like thatching a house or climbing trees are not collected today. Taxes now are mostly on income, property, sales, and goods.
10. What resources did kings use to run their kingdoms?
    Kings got resources from peasants, cattle-keepers, artisans, and traders through taxes or forced contributions.
11. What titles did kings adopt, and what did they mean?
    Kings used grand titles like "maha-raja" (great king) and "maha-mandaleshwar" (lord of a big region) to show their power.
12. What is shown in the wall relief from Cave 15, Ellora?
    The wall relief shows Vishnu as Narasimha, the man-lion, from the Rashtrakuta period.
13. Can you explain why some men from non-warrior families became kings?
    Some men from Brahmana or other families gave up their traditional roles and used their military skills to create kingdoms, like the Kadamba Mayurasharman and Gurjara-Pratihara Harichandra.
14. What are Prashastis?
    Prashastis are special inscriptions written by learned Brahmanas, usually in praise of kings. They may not be completely true but show how rulers wanted to present themselves.
15. Who wrote the Prashastis and what role did they play?
    Prashastis were written by learned Brahmanas. They sometimes also helped in the administration of the kingdom.
16. What image did rulers want to show in Prashastis?
    Rulers often wanted to show themselves as brave, strong, victorious warriors, and protectors of their people.
17. How were Brahmanas rewarded by kings?
    Kings often rewarded Brahmanas with grants of land.
18. How were land grants recorded and given?
    Land grants were recorded on copper plates and given to the persons who received the land.
19. Who was Kalhana and what was unusual about him?
    Kalhana was a 12th-century author who wrote a long Sanskrit poem about the history of Kashmir’s kings. He used inscriptions, documents, eyewitness accounts, and earlier histories. Unlike other writers of prashastis, he was often critical of rulers and their policies.
Rajtarangini is a famous historical chronicle of Kashmir, written in Sanskrit by Kalhana, a 12th-century Kashmiri historian and poet. The word Rajtarangini literally means “River of Kings” (Raja = king, Tarangini = river or waves), because it presents the history of Kashmir’s rulers as a continuous flow, like the waves of a river.
20. Who was Nagabhata according to the Gwalior Prashasti?
    Nagabhata was a Pratihara king described in a Sanskrit prashasti from Gwalior as a victorious ruler who defeated many kings from different regions of India.
21. Why did kings make such claims in Prashastis?
    Kings made such claims to show their power, increase their prestige, and make people believe in their strength and greatness, even if not all the claims were true.
22. List all possible sources of irrigation mentioned in the inscription.
    Possible sources of irrigation mentioned are: - Wells - Deep lakes - Canals - Rivers - Tanks
23. How they might have been used:
    - Wells : to draw water for drinking and farming. - Deep lakes : to store rainwater for later use. - Canals : to bring water from rivers to fields. - Rivers : for watering crops directly or filling canals. - Tanks : to store water for agricultural use in dry seasons.
24. Which city was the main focus of many rulers’ attention, and why?
    The city of Kanauj in the Ganga valley was a main focus because it was a rich and important center of trade, power, and culture.
25. Which three dynasties fought for Kanauj?
    The Gurjara-Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas, and Palas fought for control of Kanauj.
26. What is the “tripartite struggle”?
    The tripartite struggle was the long conflict between the Gurjara-Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas, and Palas for control over Kanauj.
27. Why did rulers attack temples during wars?
    Rulers attacked temples because they were very rich and held valuable gifts, jewelry, and gold. Temples also showed a ruler’s power.
28. Who was Mahmud of Ghazni and what did he do?
    Mahmud of Ghazni was a ruler from Afghanistan who raided the Indian subcontinent 17 times between 1000 and 1025.
29. What were Mahmud of Ghazni’s targets?
    His main targets were wealthy temples, including the famous Somnath temple in Gujarat.
30. What did Mahmud do with the wealth he took from India?
    He used the wealth to make his capital city, Ghazni, very beautiful and splendid.
31. Who were the Chahamanas and where did they rule?
    The Chahamanas, later known as the Chauhans, ruled over the region around Delhi and Ajmer.
32. Who opposed the Chahamanas in their expansion?
    They were opposed by the Chalukyas of Gujarat in the west and the Gahadavalas of western Uttar Pradesh in the east.
33. Who was the famous Chahamana ruler during this time?
    Prithviraja III was the famous Chahamana ruler.
34. What happened between Prithviraja III and Sultan Muhammad Ghori?
    - In 1191, Prithviraja III defeated Sultan Muhammad Ghori. - In 1192, Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithviraja III.
35. Who were the Muttaraiyar and where did they rule?
    The Muttaraiyar were a minor chiefly family who ruled the Kaveri delta. They were subordinate to the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram.
36. Who was Vijayalaya and how did he rise to power?
    Vijayalaya belonged to the ancient chiefly family of the Cholas from Uraiyur. In the middle of the ninth century, he captured the Kaveri delta from the Muttaraiyar and became powerful.
37. What did Vijayalaya do after capturing power?
    He built the town of Thanjavur and a temple for goddess Nishumbhasudini there.
38. How did the successors of Vijayalaya expand the Chola kingdom?
    The successors conquered neighbouring regions, including the Pandyan territories in the south and Pallava territories in the north, making the kingdom larger and stronger.
39. Who was Rajaraja I and what were his achievements?
    Rajaraja I was the most powerful Chola ruler. He became king in 985, expanded control over most areas, and reorganised the empire’s administration.
40. What were the main achievements of Rajendra I?
    Rajaraja’s son Rajendra I continued his policies, conquered the Ganga valley, Sri Lanka, and parts of Southeast Asia. He developed a strong navy for these expeditions.
41. What role did temples play in Chola society?
    Temples were not only places of worship but also centres of economic, social, and cultural life. Settlements grew around them, and they supported many workers like priests, cooks, musicians, dancers, and craftsmen.
42. Name one distinctive craft associated with Chola temples.
    The making of bronze images was a distinctive craft. The Chola bronze statues are among the finest in the world.
43. Were all bronze images made for gods?
    No, while most were of deities, some were made of devotees as well.
44. Why was the Kaveri delta good for farming?
    The river Kaveri branched into small channels before entering the Bay of Bengal. These channels overflowed, leaving fertile soil and providing water for crops, especially rice.
45. What methods were used for irrigation?
    Methods used for irrigation were: - Digging wells - Constructing huge tanks to collect rainwater - Using river channels and canals
46. Why do you think irrigation works required careful planning?
    Irrigation works required careful planning because they involved organising labour, collecting resources, maintaining the structures, and deciding fairly how the water should be shared.
47. What were settlements of peasants called?
    The settlement of peasants were called ur.
48. What was a nadu?
    A larger unit formed by a group of villages.
49. Who were muvendavelan and araiyar?
    They were respected rich landowners given special titles for their services to the Chola state.
50. What was a brahmadeya?
    It was the land gifted to Brahmanas.
51. Who looked after a brahmadeya?
    It was managed by a sabha (assembly) of prominent Brahmana landholders.
52. How were members of committees in sabhas chosen?
    Names of those eligible to be members of these committees were written on small tickets of palm leaf; these tickets were put into an earthenware pot, from which a young boy was asked to take out the tickets, one by one for each committee.(This was a type of lottery.)
53. Which inscription provide details of the way in which the sabha was organised?
    Inscriptions from Uttaramerur in Chingleput district, Tamil Nadu, provide details of the way in which the sabha was organised.
54. What is a nagaram?
    An association of traders that sometimes performed administrative functions.
55. Do you think women participated in these assemblies?
    Historical evidence suggests that only men participated in these assemblies, as rules mentioned male eligibility.
56. In your view are lotteries useful in choosing members of committees?
    Yes, lotteries can be useful for fairness and avoiding bias, but they may not always ensure the most qualified members are chosen.

Types of Lands: According to Chola Inscriptions

Name	Description
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

Short Answer Questions

57. Why were copper plates used for recording land grants?
    Copper plates last for a long time and cannot be easily destroyed, so they kept records safe.
58. How was Kalhana different from other writers of history in that period?
    Kalhana was more factual and often critical of rulers, unlike other writers who only praised kings.
59. How many times did Mahmud of Ghazni raid India?
    He raided India 17 times.
60. Name the important temple attacked by Mahmud of Ghazni.
    The Somnath temple in Gujarat.
61. Who were the opponents of the Chahamanas?
    The Chalukyas of Gujarat and the Gahadavalas of western Uttar Pradesh.
62. Which goddess’s temple did Vijayalaya build?
    He built a temple for goddess Nishumbhasudini.
63. Which Chola ruler developed a strong navy?
    Rajendra I.
64. Name two types of specialists who worked and lived near temples.
    Priests and garland makers.
65. What was the main crop grown in the Kaveri delta?
    Rice.

Dynasty	Founder
Gurjara-Pratihara	Nagabhata I
Rashtrakuta	Dantidurga
Pala	Gopala
Chola	Vijayalaya Chola
Chahamana (Chauhan)	Samantaraja (early known ruler; dynasty founder often linked to legendary Chahamana figure)

Long Answer Questions

66. Describe the Tripartite Struggle.
    The Tripartite Struggle was a long conflict for the control of Kanauj.

    1. The three parties involved were the Gurjara-Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas, and Palas.
    2. Kanauj was an important political, cultural, and trade center.
    3. The struggle lasted for many years because each dynasty wanted its wealth and power.
    4. Controlling Kanauj meant greater influence over north India.
67. Write a short note on Prithviraja III’s rule and battles with Muhammad Ghori.
    1. Prithviraja III was a powerful Chahamana ruler.
    2. He ruled over Delhi and Ajmer.
    3. He tried to expand his kingdom to the west and east.
    4. In 1191, he defeated Muhammad Ghori in a battle.
    5. In 1192, Muhammad Ghori defeated him in another battle.
    6. These battles were important in India’s medieval history.
68. Explain the military activities of Mahmud of Ghazni.
    1. Mahmud was a ruler of Ghazni in Afghanistan.
    2. He raided the Indian subcontinent 17 times between 1000 and 1025.
    3. His main targets were rich temples and cities, especially the Somnath temple in Gujarat.
    4. His motive was partly religious and partly to get wealth.
    5. The wealth was used to make Ghazni a splendid capital.
69. Describe the rise of the Cholas in detail.
    1. The Kaveri delta was controlled by the Muttaraiyar, subordinate to the Pallavas.
    2. Vijayalaya of the ancient Chola family from Uraiyur captured the delta in the 9th century.
    3. He built Thanjavur and a temple for goddess Nishumbhasudini.
    4. His successors expanded the kingdom by conquering the Pandyan and Pallava territories.
    5. Rajaraja I strengthened the empire through conquests and good administration.
    6. Rajendra I extended the empire to the Ganga valley, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia, and built a strong navy.
70. Explain the importance of Chola temples.
    1. Temples were centres of worship.
    2. Settlements grew around temples.
    3. They were centres of craft production, especially bronze image making.
    4. They provided work for priests, garland makers, cooks, sweepers, musicians, and dancers.
    5. Temples stimulated the economy by using land grants for maintenance.
    6. They also promoted cultural and social activities.
71. Describe the agricultural and irrigation developments under the Cholas.
    1. The fertile Kaveri delta was ideal for rice cultivation.
    2. Farmers cleared forests, levelled land, built embankments, and dug canals.
    3. Two crops were often grown each year.
    4. Irrigation methods included wells, tanks, canals, and river water.
    5. Large tanks collected rainwater.
    6. Building irrigation works required planning and cooperation among rulers and villagers.
72. What was the importance of Prashastis in the history of kings?
    1. Showed how kings wanted to be remembered (brave, powerful, victorious).
    2. Gave information about kingdoms, battles, and territories.
    3. Reflected the relationship between kings and Brahmanas.
    4. Helped create a great public image for rulers.
    5. Sometimes exaggerated events for political purposes.
73. Describe the main features of a Chola land grant.
    The main features were:

    1. Boundaries marked with earthen embankments and thorny bushes.
    2. Land had trees, gardens, fields, rivers, canals, wells, and ponds.
    3. Included villages, pasture land, and places for farming and fishing.
    4. The receiver could collect taxes and fines.
    5. The receiver could construct irrigation and residential buildings.
    6. Water conservation and embankment-building were encouraged.

HOTS Question (Higher Order Thinking Skill)

74. Why do you think kings needed the support of peasants, traders, and Brahmanas to rule their kingdoms?
    Kings needed support because peasants produced food, traders kept the economy going, and Brahmanas gave religious and social approval. Without their support, the king’s rule would be weak.
75. Why do you think Kalhana’s method of writing history is more useful to historians today?
    Kalhana used multiple sources and was critical of rulers, so his records are closer to reality. This makes them more reliable than exaggerated prashastis.
76. Why do you think temples were a common target during medieval warfare?
    Temples stored wealth, jewelry, and gifts from devotees. They were also symbols of political power, so destroying them weakened the enemy both economically and emotionally.
77. Which do you think was more important for medieval rulers – controlling land or controlling trade routes, and why?
    Both were important, but controlling trade routes often brought faster and continuous wealth, while land was important for food and resources. Having both made a ruler more powerful.
78. Why do you think the Cholas invested so much in building temples?
    Because temples showed their wealth, power, and devotion, attracted trade and craftsmen, and served as centres of administration and culture.
79. How did the Chola navy help them expand their empire?
    The navy allowed them to control sea routes, invade distant lands like Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, and strengthen overseas trade.
80. Why do you think the Cholas encouraged overseas expeditions?
    To control trade routes, expand influence, and gain wealth and prestige.
81. Why is the Uttaramerur inscription important to historians?
    It gives detailed information on village self-government and election methods.
82. How did irrigation contribute to the prosperity of the Cholas?
    It increased agricultural output, allowing two crops a year, which supported a larger population and more revenue for the state.

Value Based Questions

83. What value can we learn from the fact that Chola rulers mentioned water conservation in land grants?
    We learn the value of responsible use of resources, environment protection, and planning for the future by conserving water.
84. What value can we learn from the repeated battles for Kanauj?
    We learn that continuous fighting for power can harm people and resources. It is better to resolve disputes peacefully and focus on the welfare of the people
85. What value can we learn from the Chola practice of building and maintaining irrigation works?
    We learn the importance of teamwork, long-term planning, responsible use of natural resources, and community participation for the common good.
86. What values can be learned from the Chola system of water management?
    Teamwork, careful planning, fairness in distribution, and sustainable use of resources.