The document discusses the emergence of new dynasties and kingdoms in South Asia during the post-Gupta period, including the Rashtrakutas, Pratiharas, Palas, Cholas and Gurjara-Pratiharas. It describes how former subordinates like the Rashtrakutas overthrew their overlords to establish new kingdoms. The Cholas rose to power by capturing territories from neighboring kingdoms and expanding their influence under rulers like Rajaraja I and Rajendra I. The document also briefly discusses the Ghaznavid invasions from Afghanistan and the defeat of the Chauhan king Prithviraja III by Muhammad Ghori.

1. HISTORY
UNIT-02 NEW KINGS
AND KINGDOMS

2. INTRODUCTION

3. EMERGENCE OF NEW
DYNASTIES:
The big landlords and warriors
chiefs in different regions of
the Sub-continents were
known as Samantas.
Samantas- Maha Samantas or
Maha mandalaeshvara (the
great lord of a “circle” or
region).

4. SAMANTAS
 Rashtrakutas were subordinates
with Chalukyas in the Deccan.
 In the mid 8th century Dantidurga
overthrew his Chalukya overload
and performed a ritual called
Hiranya-Garbha.
◦ This ritual was done by
Brahmanas for the rebirth of the
scarifies as Kshatriyas.

5. Brahmanas to Kshatriyas:
Kadama Mayurasharman
and the Prathihara
Harichandra who were
Brahmans took arms and
successfully established
their kingdoms in Karnataka
and Rajasthan

7. ADMINISTRATION:
Title: Maharaja, Adhiraja
(great kings, overlord of
kings).
Title: Tribhuvana-
Chakravartin (lord of the
three worlds)
They were associated with the
Samantas, Peasants, Traders
and Brahmanas

8. TAXES:
Tax: Vetti- taken not in cash
but in the form of forced labor.
Tax: Kadamai or Land
revenue
This taxes were collected by
the King family members or
relatives.

9. TAXES
Taxes to
◦ Financial
Establishment
◦ Construct temples
◦ Fight wars.

10. PRASHASTIS:
 Prashastis is a special kind of
inscription meaning “in praise of”.
They were composed in praise of the
rulers. This were not true.
 Rulers wanted to show themselves as
great warriors and often described
themselves as equal to god.
 Prashastis contains information such
as how rulers wanted to depict
themselves such as victorious, valiant
etc.

11. LAND GRANTS:
 These were composed by learned
Brahmanas, who occasionally helped
in the administration.
 Kings often rewarded Brahmanas by
grants of land.
 These were recorded on copper
plates, which were given to those who
received the land.

13. WARFARE FOR
WEALTH:
 Rulers belonging to the Gurjara-
Prathiharas, Rashtrakutas and Pala
dynasties fought for control over
Kanauj-Tripartite struggle.
 Rulers also tried to demonstrate their
power and resources by building large
temples.
 So they chosen to target temples,
which were sometimes extremely rich.

15. GHAZNI:
 One of the best known
rulers is Sultan
Mahmud of Ghazni,
Afghanistan.
 From 997C.E
to1030C.E
 He raided the sub-
continent almost every
year-his target were
wealthy temples,
including that of

16. KITAB UL-HIND
 Written by Al-Biruni
 In Arabic Language.
 This description based on the
Sanskritic tradition, and the
conclusion with comparison with
other culture.
 He consulted Sanskrit scholars to
prepare this account.

18. CHAUHANS:
 They ruled over the region around
Delhi and Ajmer.
 They were opposed by Chalukyas
and Gahadavalas.
 Famous ruler- Prithviraja III(1168-
1192C.E).
 He defeated an Afghan ruler named
Sultan Muhammad Ghori in
1191C.E,but lost to him the very next
year, in 1192C.E.

20. CHOLAS

21. FROM URAIYUR TO
THANJAVUR:
 Cholas were subordinates to the
Pallava Kings of Kanchipuram.
 A minor chiefly family known as
the Muttaraiyar held power in the
Kaveri delta.
 Vijayalaya, chieftain from Uraiyur
captured the delta region from
Muttaraiyar Chieftain.

23. CHOLA DYNASTY
 He built the town of Thanjavur
and a temple for goddess
Nishumbhasudhini.
 His successors grew the kingdom
by capturing the Pandyas and
Pallavas territories.
 Rajaraja-1(985C.E) most powerful
Chola ruler.

26. CHOLA DYNASTY
Rajaraja-I expanded control
over most of these areas.
Rajendra I continued his
policies and even raided the
Ganga valley, Sri Lanka and
Countries of Southeast Asia,
Developing a navy for these
expeditions.

28. SPLENDID TEMPLES:

29. SPLENDID TEMPLES:

30. BRONZE SCULPTURE

31. AGRICULTURE AND
IRRIGATION:
 Many of the achievement of the
Cholas were made possible through
new development in Agriculture.
 River Kaveri
 Fertile soil(Rice)
 Forest were cleared
 Prevent Flooding
 Canal constructed-Irrigation
 Tanks- Rainwater collection

34. ADMINISTRATION
Maganam
Mandalam
Nadu
Ur

35. ADMINISTRATION
 Ur- Settlement of Peasants
 Nadu- Group of villages( Justice and
Tax collection)
 Supervised by Vellala caste(Rich
Peasants)
 Rich landowner titles-
Muvendavelan(a Velan or serving
three kings)
 Araiyur-(chief) in respect

36. TYPES OF LAND:
 Vellanvagai – Land of non-Brahmanas
Peasant proprietors
 Brahmadeya- Land gifted to
Brahmanas
 Shalabhoga- Land for the
maintenance of a school
 Devadana, Tirunamattukani –Land
gifted to temples.
 Pallichchhandam- Land donated to
Jain Institution.

37. SABHA:
The Sabha Committees to
look after irrigation works,
Gardens, Temples, etc
Name of those eligible to be
members of these
committees were written on
small tickets of palm leaf.

38. Requirement of member of
Sabha:
Owners of land,
Own house,
35-70 years of age,
Knowledge of Vedas,
Well-versed in
administrative matters and
honest.

39. Requirement of member of
Sabha:
If anyone has been a member
of any committee in the last
three years, he cannot
become a member of another
committee.
Anyone who has not submitted
his account, those of his
relatives, cannot contest the

41. TANG DYNASTY
China –Tang Dynasty(300
years from 7th century to 10th
century)
Capital- Xi’an
Largest cities in the world –
Turks, Iranians, Indians,
Japanese and Koreans.