New Kings and Kingdoms: The Chola Dynasty and the Administrations Inside the Kingdom
What are your views on kings and kingdoms? As citizens of modern India, we have rarely seen real kings wearing crowns. However, many such kings and kingdoms may be found in our history. A kingdom is basically just a piece of land that is ruled by a king or queen. There were numerous new kings and kingdoms in ancient India.
Shiva has many different forms such as Rudra - in a fierce or angry mood, Linga (Lingam in Sanskrit) - the proof or evidence that god and gods still do exist. Nataraja - The type of dance, and more. Let us know about the new kings and kingdoms and avail the new kings and kingdoms notes, which is much helpful for the students.
Appearance of New Dynasties
Let us discuss the new dynasties and its appearances here. New Kings and Kingdoms made their appearances. By the 7th century, there were large landlords and warrior chiefs in several parts of the Indian subcontinent. They were mostly Samantas or king's subordinates. As a result, all of the existing rulers frequently acknowledged them. They showered their gifts on the kings. They also provided military support to the kings.
Administrations inside the Kingdom
At the top of the system, the king accepted and held titles such as Maharaj-Adhiraj. These powerful kings shared their power with their Samantas and a group of peasants. Many producers were persuaded to give up their rights. The resources were mainly extracted from the products they made. They then used these resources to financially support the king as well as construct temples and forts. As a result, these resources were essential.
Warfare for Wealth
Gujara–Pratihara, Rashtrakutas, and Pala dynasties fought for control of the Kanuj for Eras. Three sides were involved in the conflict. As a result, it is referred to as a tripartite struggle. It had been a lengthy battle. Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni ravaged the subcontinent almost every year, looting the temple as well.
They looted temples such as Somanath, Gujarat, and Mahmud. Other kings, such as Chauhan, were also battling. They ruled the area between Delhi and Ajmer. The Chalukyas of Gujarat and the Gahadavalas of western Uttar Pradesh were at odds with the Chauhans. Prithviraj 3 was a well-liked Chauhan king. He defeated Afghan ruler Gohri in 1191. He did, however, lose to him in 1192.
The Chola Dynasty
The Chola Dynasty ruled from the late ninth century to the beginning of the 1300s. Vijayawada's successors are the Cholas. They conquered the surrounding areas. They came from a little Uraiyur family. The kingdom expanded in size and power.
Rajaraja was the Chola ruler with the most power. He gained control of the majority of the areas. Rajendra, his son, conquered Sri Lanka and the Southeast Asian kingdoms. By raiding the Ganga Valley, they continued to vastly extend the kingdom. The bronze statues and temples of the Chola kingdom are testimonies to its art and architecture.
Early Documentation of the Chola Kingdom
The Chola Dynasty's beginnings are lost to history. However, the kingdom is mentioned in early Tamil literature and on one of Ashoka's Pillars (273 - 232 BCE). It also appears in Ptolemy's Geography and the Greco-Roman Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (c. 40-60 CE) (c. 150 CE). The ruling family was of Tamil descent.
Around 300 CE, the Pallava and Pandya Kingdoms established their control over most of southern India's Tamil heartlands, and the Cholas began to wane. Their daughters regularly married into the Pallava and Pandya families, suggesting that they likely acted as sub-rulers under the new powers.
Beginning of the Medieval Chola Period
When the Pallava and Pandya kingdoms went to war in around 850 CE, the Cholas seized the opportunity. King Vijayalaya renounced his Pallava overlord and reestablished himself as the ruler of Thanjavur (Tanjore). This was the beginning of the Medieval Chola period, as well as the peak of Chola power.
In 885 and 897 CE, Aditya I, Vijayalaya's son, destroyed the Pandyan Kingdom and the Pallava Kingdom. His son invaded Sri Lanka in 925, and by 985, the Chola Dynasty had established control over the Tamil-speaking parts of southern India. Rajaraja Chola I (r. 985 - 1014 CE) and Rajendra Chola I (r. 1012 - 1044 CE) were the next two rulers to expand the empire.
Expansion of Chola Territory
Rajaraja Chola's reign saw the Chola Empire grow into a multi-ethnic trading colossus. He extended the empire's northern border out of Tamil territories to Kalinga in northeast India, and sent his navy to take the Maldives and the lucrative Malabar Coast on the subcontinent's southwestern coast. These areas were crucial along the Indian Ocean trading routes.
By 1044, Rajendra Chola had conquered the rulers of Bihar and Bengal, as well as coastal Myanmar (Burma), the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and strategic ports throughout the Indonesian archipelago and the Malay Peninsula. It was the world's first true maritime empire, with its headquarters in India. Rajendra's Chola Empire demanded tribute from Siam (Thailand) and Cambodia. Indochina and the Indian mainland shared cultural and artistic influences in both directions.
The Cholas, on the other hand, had one major thorn in their side during the mediaeval period. In the western Deccan Plateau, the Chalukya Empire came up on a regular basis and attempted to take control from the Cholas. The Chalukya kingdom fell apart in 1190 after decades of sporadic conflict. The Chola Empire, on the other hand, did not last long after its gadfly.
Collapse of the Chola Empire
It was an ancient rival who eventually did the Cholas for good. Between 1150 to 1279, the Pandya family collected their armies and attempted to gain independence in their traditional lands. In 1279, the Cholas, led by Rajendra III, were defeated by the Pandyan Empire and ceased to exist.
In Tamil country, the Chola Empire left a rich legacy. It saw amazing architectural achievements like the Thanjavur Temple, incredible artwork, especially exquisite bronze sculpture, and a golden period of Tamil literature and poetry. From Cambodia to Java, all of these cultural traits found their way into the Southeast Asian artistic lexicon, influencing religious art and literature.
Did You Know?
Rajaraja the Great was one of the Chola Dynasty's most powerful rulers:
The eastern child of Wenga's chaos, Madurai's pandya, and my soul's Ganges, was defeated.
After him, the Tanjore temple, also known as Raja Rajeshvari, was built.
After his death, his song was renamed Ganga Kondal, which means Victor Ganga.
The Cholas' Golden Age was during his reign.
Conclusion
This is the clear information about new kings and kingdoms and the chola dynasty. Students can also get and read these new kings and kingdoms notes for their further preparation. In this article we covered the emergence of new kings and kingdoms as well as about the Chola dynasty in detail.
FAQs on New Kings and Kingdoms
1. What does the term 'New Kings and Kingdoms' signify in the context of Class 7 History?
In the context of Class 7 History, 'New Kings and Kingdoms' refers to a specific period in early medieval India, roughly between the 7th and 12th centuries. This era was marked by the emergence of several new dynasties and regional powers after the decline of large empires like the Guptas. These new rulers often started as subordinates or samantas and gradually established their own independent kingdoms. You can learn more about this historical period in the overview of New Kings and Kingdoms.
2. How did new dynasties emerge during this period?
New dynasties typically emerged when powerful warriors or chieftains, known as samantas, gained significant wealth and influence. Initially, they served as subordinates to existing kings. As they grew more powerful, they would adopt grand titles like maha-samanta or maha-mandaleshvara (the great lord of a circle or region) and eventually assert their independence. A key example is the Rashtrakuta dynasty, whose founder, Dantidurga, overthrew his Chalukya overlord.
3. What were 'prashastis' and who composed them?
Prashastis were special inscriptions, usually composed in Sanskrit, that contained details praising the ruling king. They were written by learned Brahmanas who often depicted the ruler as valiant, victorious, and heroic. While these inscriptions are valuable sources of information about a dynasty's genealogy and achievements, they may not always be literally true as they were created to glorify the king. More details can be found in our Class 7 History Chapter 2 notes.
4. What was the 'tripartite struggle' and why was it fought?
The 'tripartite struggle' was a long-drawn conflict among three major dynasties—the Gurjara-Pratiharas, the Rashtrakutas, and the Palas—for control over the city of Kanauj. Kanauj was a symbol of power and was strategically located in the fertile Gangetic valley, making it a highly prized centre for trade and resources. The struggle for its control lasted for centuries and weakened all three dynasties involved.
5. What was the significance of the 'nadu' in the Chola administration?
In the Chola empire, a 'nadu' was a grouping of several villages, forming a significant administrative unit. The council of the nadu was responsible for various administrative functions, including dispensing justice and collecting taxes. The affairs of the nadu were largely managed by rich peasants of the influential Vellala caste, as detailed in the NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science Chapter 2.
6. What were the main types of land grants mentioned in Chola inscriptions?
Chola inscriptions describe several categories of land grants. The main types include:
- Vellanvagai: Land belonging to non-Brahmana peasant proprietors.
- Brahmadeya: Land that was gifted to Brahmanas, which was often exempt from tax.
- Shalabhoga: Land designated for the maintenance of a school.
- Devadana/Tirunamattukkani: Land that was gifted to temples.
- Pallichchhandam: Land donated to Jaina institutions.
7. Why did kings of this period target temples during warfare?
Kings in this era built extremely large and magnificent temples to demonstrate their power, devotion, and wealth. These temples were often incredibly rich, endowed with land and donations. Consequently, when kingdoms fought, they frequently targeted each other's temples to plunder their wealth and, more importantly, to strike a symbolic blow against the rival king's power and prestige. This is a key theme discussed in Rulers and Buildings.
8. How did Chola rulers promote agriculture and irrigation?
The Cholas made significant advancements in agriculture, especially in the fertile Kaveri delta. They promoted large-scale cultivation by clearing forests and levelling land. To manage water resources, they built embankments to prevent floods and constructed canals to channel river water to the fields. In areas without rivers, they dug wells and huge tanks to store rainwater, creating a sophisticated irrigation network that boosted agricultural productivity.
9. Why are Chola temples considered more than just places of worship?
Chola temples were the nucleus of settlements and served multiple purposes beyond worship. They were bustling centres of economic, social, and cultural life. These temples were major landowners, managed agricultural activities, acted as banks, and were patrons of craft production. Priests, garland makers, cooks, musicians, dancers, and artisans were all associated with the temple, making it a cornerstone of the community's economy and administration.
10. What makes Chola bronze sculptures unique in the history of art?
Chola bronze sculptures, particularly the images of deities, are considered among the finest in the world. They were crafted using the intricate 'lost-wax' technique, which allowed for remarkable detail and precision. These sculptures are celebrated for their elegance, grace, and the powerful emotions they convey. The iconic image of Shiva as Nataraja (the Lord of Dance) is a prime example of the artistic excellence achieved during the Chola period.
