Detailed explanations in West Bengal Board Class 7 History Book Solutions Chapter 2 Some Aspects of Indian Political History: A.D. 7th Century to 12th Century offer valuable context and analysis.
WBBSE Class 7 History Chapter 2 Question Answer – Some Aspects of Indian Political History: A.D. 7th Century to 12th Century
1. Fill in the blanks : (Full mark-1)
a. The name Vanga was first used in ___________ (Aitareya Aranyak/Ain-i-Akbari/ Arthashastra).
Answer:
Aitareya Aranyak.
b. The territory of ancient Bengal was constructed with the rivers ___________ and ___________ (Bhagirathi, Padma. Meghna/Ganga, Brahmhaputra, Sindhu/Krishna, Kaveri, Godavari).
Answer: Bhagirathi, Padma, Meghna.
c. The title Sakalottorapathanatha taken by is ___________
Answer: Harshabardhan. (Sasanka/Harshabardhan/Dharmapal).
d. One of the leaders of the Kaivarta revolt was is ___________
Answer: Bhima. (Bhima/Rampala/Mahipala).
e. During the reign of ___________ invasion occured in Bengal. (Bijaysena/Ballalsena/Laksmansena) the Turkish
Answer: Lakshmansena.
f. A historian in the Sultanate period was ___________ Muhammad Bukhtiyar Khalji) (Muhammad Ghori/Minhaj-i-siraj/
Answer: Minhaj-i-Siraj.
2. Match column A with B : (Full mark-1)
| A | B |
| Bajrabhumi | Buddhist Bihar |
| Lo-to-mo-chih | Modern Chiţagong |
| Gangaikondachola | Bakpatiraj |
| Gourbaha | Northern Radha |
| Harikel | Al-Befuni |
| Kitab-al-Hind | Rajendra |
Answer:
| A | B |
| Bajrabliumi | Northern Radh |
| Lo-to-mo-chih | Buddist Bihar |
| Gangaikondochola | Rajendra |
| Gourbaha | Bakpatiraj |
| Harikel | Modern Chattogram |
| Kitab-al-Hind | Ai-Beruni |
3. Answer in brief (within 30 – 50 words) : (Full mark-3)
a. Look at a recent map of West Bengal. Which rivers of the early medieval Bengal do you see in it?
Answer:
We can find Bhagirathi, Damodar, Meyurakshi, Subarnarekha, Mahananda, Tista, Rupnarayan, Kansai, Padma and Meghna.
b. Write the economic condition of Bengal during the reign of Sasanka.
Answer:
The use of gold coins during the reign of Sasanka was common. But its decreased gradually. Artificial gold coins were also available. There was no silver coin. A depression was noticed in the field of trade and commerce. Economy became agriculture-based. The importance of towns diminished because of recession in commerce.
Gradually, the growing importance of agriculture led to society becoming more rural based. The importance of mahattara or village headman increased. Shreshtis or traders gradually lost their power or importance in the society. In that period the village chief or local leaders became as much powerful as the Shresthis.
c. What is Matsyanyay?
Answer:
Matsyanyay suggests anarchism or the lack of permanent monarchy. The powerful people tortures the weaker people as the giant fishes eat up the smaller ones. From the middle of 7 th century up to the middle of 8 th century A.D. after the death of Sasanka, this period ranging about one hundred years is considerd as a period of transition.
In this phase every Kshatriya, aristrocrat, Brahmin and merchant ruled their respective area according to their own discretion. There was no central administration in Bengal. After many years of continued anarchism the influencial people selected one named Gopal in the mid 8th century. From then the Pala rule began.
d. How did the regional states develop in 7th and 8th century A. D.?
Answer:
Sasanka failed to set up a stable dynacty. After his death the power of Gauda declined. During 7 th and 8 th century A. D. the dynasties accepted the presence of local influential people. Big land holders or warrior chiefs were given various titles like samanta, mahasamanta. or mahamandaleswar etc.
Instead of that they would provide taxes and gifts to the king or the higher authority. Even they would take part in the battle field when king needs them. Again sometimes some of them in the scope of the king’s weakness became the independent ruler in their own region.
e. Where from did the Sena kings originate? How did they established their rule in Bengal?
Answer:
The Senas hailed from Karnata region in the South India, that is areas around mysore and its surroundings. They were hereditarily Brahmins but later became Kshatriya. Samanta Sen belonging to the sena lineage left karnata for Radh, a part of Bengal line on the western bank of the Ganges.
He came at a time round the eleventh century. The Kaivarta upraining at the end of the Pala rule paved the way for the foundation of the Sena kingdom. The Sena dynasty crame to an end after the Turkish invasion in 1204 – 05 A.D.
f. How did Sultan Mahmud utilise the wealth plundered from India?
Answer:
Sultan Mahmud plundered immenes wealth from India, but he used these wealth for noble work in his kingdom. He beautifully decorated Ghazni and other cities. He set up palaces. mosques, library, gardens, tanks, canals and also a dam over river Amudaria. He also founded a university where teachers were paid and students were given scholarships.
4. Answer the question in detail within (100 – 200 words) : (Full mark-5)
a. Give the geographical location of Radha-Suhneha and Gouda region of ancient Bengal.
Answer:
Ancient Radha of Ladha was divided into two areas. Northern and Southern Radha. According to join tradition Northern Radha was called Bajjyabhumi (Bajrabhumi) and Southern Radha was known as Surbhabhumi (Suhmabhumi). River Ajoy was the mid border of both North an South Radha.
Western part of present Murshidabad district, Birbhum district, some area of santhal parganas and Northern part of Katwa sub-division of Burdwan district were the part of North Radha. Southern Radha comprises Howrah.
Hooghly and other part of Burdwan district and the area between the river Ajoy and Damodar. Southern Radha was the nearest area of Bay of Bengal. Story of Maharashtra and poetic works of Kalidas evidently showed that the area between Bhagirathi and Kansai (Kangsabati) upto sea was within this area.
Gouda : In ancient and medieval period Gouda was the important territory of Bengal. Gouda was also known as the group of people according to the writings Barahamihir (sixth century B.C.) Murshidabad, Birbhum and western part of Burdwan district covered the area of the then Gouda.
From the seventh century of onwards during the reign of Sasanka the boundary of Gouda was extended. The capital of Sasanka was Karnasubarna. The main area of Gouda located in the western bank of Bhagirathi, Murshidabad in present district.
During the reign of Sasanka, the area from Pundravardhan (North Bengal) to the coastal area of Orissa was within the territory Gouda. During eighteen-ninteenth century A.D. Gouda referred to the whole of the Pala empire.
b. How was the relation of Sasanka with the Buddhists? Give your own opinion.
Answer:
By religious faith Sasanka was Saiva or the worshipper of Shiva. In the Buddhist literature Arya manjushreemulakalpa and writings of Hiten Tsang he was entitled as a malicious of Buddhism. The allegation against Sasanka was that he murdered some Buddhist saints and ruined some holly remains of Buddhism. Sasanka was condemned in Harshacharita of Banabhatta.
On the other hand Hiuen Tsang noticed the advancement of Raktamrittika Budhist Vihara near the city of Karnasubarna, a few years after the reign of Sasanka. Fifty years after the death of Sasanka chinese traveller, I-T sing found the development of Buddhism in Bengal.
It can be possible is Sasanka held hostile attitude to Buddhism deliberately. It can be said that all the writers were free from envious attitude against Sasanka. So it can be said that their opinions are to some extent exaggerated.
c. Among whom did the Tripartite struggle take place? What were the main causes of the struggle?
Answer:
From 8th century the conflict among Palas, Gurjara, Pratihars and Rastrakutas was continued. This is called as Tripartite struggle. During the reign of Harshavardhana Kanauj became important for its geographical position in Uttarapath. It was clear that who would control Kanauj could be able to capture the Ganga valley.
The river based trade and minerals were attractive in this region. Last of all who will be able to hold this power at Kanauj, a struggle started among Palas, Gurjara-Pratihars and Rastrakutas was continued. Near about two hundred years of the struggle, the power of the three dynasties became weak.
d. Observe the chart 2.1 carefuly. Now Compare between the Pala and Sena reign briefly.
Answer:
The Pala dynasty continued form 750 – 1200 A.D. The founder of Pala dynasty was Gopal. Name of the some eminent rulers of Pala dynasty were Gopal, Dharma Pal, Dev Pal, MohiPal-I, and RamPal. The Pala rulers took part in the Tripartite struggle for this the power of the Pala kings decreased and the Sena dynasty was established in Bengal.
The Pala kings patronised Buddhism, they helped to spread of education, art and architecture. The Kaivarta upraising at the end of the Pala rule paved the way for the foundation of the Sena kingdom. The Sena dynasty began in the eleventh century A.D. and it went out during the first few years of the thirteenth century. The Sena came to Bengal from Karnata region of the South India.
Samanta Sen was the founder of Sena dynasty in Bengal. Ballal Sena and Lakshman Sena were the eminent rulers of Sena dynasty. Ballal Sen took steps to reform the society and established a conservative and orthodox brahmanical rituals and practices. At the time of Lakshman Sena the Sena dynasty crumbled due to Turkish invasion in 1204-05 A.D.
e. Explain the background of the rise of Chola dynasty in South India. which regioes belonged to the Chola dynasty?
Answer:
Cholas established their kingdom enriching the islands of Kavery and its tributories. There Vijoyalay displaced king Muttaliya and established Chola dynasty. A new city named Thanjavur or Tanjore was built as their capital.
The Pandya region of South and Pallava region of the North came under the Chola dynasty. In 985 A.D. Rajaraja-I became able to established Chola supremacy on present Kerala, Tamilnadu and on the vast area of Karnataka.
His son Rajendra-I defeated the Chalukya power of Kalyani. He took the title Gangaikonda Chola after defeating the Pala king in an expedition against the’Pala dynasty. Both Rajaraja-I and Rajendra Cholas built up skilled Navy.
f. Give a brief description of Arabia before the rise of Islam. What were the changes brought about by Islam there?
Answer:
Beyond the Arabian sea in the western side of India. lies the Arabian Sea. A major part of Arabian Peninsula is either desert or dry grassland. Mecca and Medina were the two important cities of Arabian Peninsula. The nomadic tribes of the region were known as Bedouins, They used to rear camels.
The people used to call themselves as ‘Arab’. In beginnir’s of the 6th century A.D. some Arabs took up trade as their means of livelihood. Mecca was situated at the intersection of two trade routes. Hence classes between different tribes for the possession of Meca was a regular affair. Hazrat Muhammad was also a merchant.
Hazrat Muhammed introduced a single faith to curb differences among the various Arabian tribes. So harmony gradually developed among the tribes. Muhammad’s beliefs differed from the pagan practices of the traditional residents of Mecca. In A.D. 622, Muhammed along with his followers, went to Medina. Within ten years Muhammed conquered vast areas of the Arabian land. His influence also extended to Mecca.
Class 7 History Chapter 2 Question Answer West Bengal Board – Some Aspects of Indian Political History: A.D. 7th Century to 12th Century
Multiple Choice Questions & Answers : (1 mark for each question)
Question 1.
‘Suba’ means a _______
i. village
ii. small area
iii. district
iv. province
Answer:
iv. province
Question 2.
‘Arthashastra’ was written by _________
i. Kalidasa
ii. Kautilya
iii. Abul Fazal
iv. Minhaj-i-Siraj
Answer:
ii. Kautilya
Question 3.
The triangular shaped deltaic region between the two rivers Bhagirathi and Padma was known as _____
i. Vanga
ii. Varendra
iii. Vangala
iv. Pundravardhana
Answer:
i. Vanga
Question 4.
Karnasuvarna was an important centre for _________
i. commerce
ii. administration
iii. commerce and administration
Answer:
iii. commerce and administration
Question 5.
Sasanka was condemned by _________
i. I-Tsing
ii. Xuanzang
iii. Banbhatta
Answer:
iii. Banbhatta
Question 6.
After the death of Ramapala, the Pal dynasty came to an end _________
i. within fifty years
ii. within thirty years
iii. after twenty years
iv. after fifty years
Answer:
i. within fifty years
Question 7.
The Kaiverta revolt took place during the reign of _________
i. Senas
ii. Palas
iii. Sasanka
iii. Harsabardhana
Answer:
ii. Palas
Question 8.
The capital of Lakshmanasena was _________
i. Prayag
ii. Lakshnavati
iii. Benaras
iv. Bikrampur
Answer:
iv. Bikrampur
Question 9.
Minhaj-i-Siraj was a- _________
i. scientist
ii. historian
iii. ruler
iv. invader
Answer:
ii. historian
Question 10.
Al Beruni wae a scholar in-_________
i. History and Literature
ii. History and Philosophy
iii. Philosophy and Mathematics
iv. Astrology and Mathematics
Answer:
iii. Philosophy and Mathematics
Question 11.
Mohammed Ghori wanted to- _________
i. rule India
ii. travel India,
iii. invade India
Answer:
i. rule India
Question 12.
Bakhtiyar Khalji died in -_________
i. 1126
ii. 1212
iii. 1210
iv. 1206
Answer:
iv. 1206
Question 13.
Delhi Sultanate was established by _________
i. Mohammad Ghori
ii. Qutbuddin Aibak
iii. Sultan Mahmud
iv. Muhammad Qasim
Answer:
ii. Qutbuddin Aibak
Question 14.
Second battle of Tarain was held in _________
i. A.D. 1192
ii. A.D. 1092
iii. A.D. 1190
iv. A.D. 1182
Answer:
i. A.D. 1192
Question 15.
Gurjara-Pratiharas ruled over vast areas of _________
i. Assam and Rajasthan
ii. Assam and Bengal
iii. Rajasthan and Gujrat
Answer:
iii. Rajasthan and Gujrat
Fill in the blanks : ( 1 mark for each question)
1. The word Vanga appears first in the ______
Answer:
Aitareya Aranyaka.
2. ______ was a historian of the Mughal age.
Answer:
Abul Fajal.
3. Southern Radh was called ______
Answer:
Subarnabhumi
4. Samatata was located on the eastern side of the river ______
Answer:
Meghna
5. During anarchy the ______ exploit the weak.
Answer:
mighty
6. After the death of Sasanka Karnasubarna was occupied by ______
Answer:
Bhaskarvarma
7. Use of gold coin was common during the time of is ______
Answer:
Sasanka
8. The founder of the Pala dynasty was
Answer:
Gopala
9. Originally the Senas were ______
Answer:
Brahmins
10. During the reign of Palas the ______ revolt took place.
Answer:
Kaivarta
11. Hazrat Muhammed was called the ______ of Allah or God.
Answer:
prophet
12. In A.D. 622, Muhammed along with his followers, went to ______.
Answer:
Medina
13. After the Arabs, another Muslim power, the —— invaded India.
Answer:
Turks
14. Bakhtiyar Khalji attacked Tibet but he was ______
Answer:
unsuccessful
State whether True or False: (1 mark for each question)
1. The name of Vanga is mentioned in the Arthashastra of kautilya.
Answer:
True
2. Pundravardhana was the largest among the territories of ancient bengal.
Answer:
True
3. Samatata was located in the western side of the river meghna.
Answer:
False
4. Karnasubarna was the capital of Gauda kingdom.
Answer:
True
5. The Pala dynasty came to an enf after the death of Ramapala.
Answer:
False
6. The Kaivarta king Bhima was a popular ruler.
Answer:
True
7. The kings of the Sen dynasty started to rule in Bengal in the 10th century.
Answer:
False
8. King Bhoja was a very weak ruler.
Answer:
False.
9. Mecca and Medina were the two important cities of the Arabian Peninsula.
Answer:
True
10. The migration of Hazarat Muhammad from Mecca to medina is called Hijrat.
Answer:
True
11. Sultan Mahmud wanted to rule India.
Answer:
False
12. Caliph is both the political and the religious leader of the islamic world.
Answer:
True
13. Al beruni came to India and wrote Shahnama.
Answer:
False
14. The Turks conquered Nadia after a great fight.
Answer:
False
15. Bakhtiyar Khalji attacked Tibet but he was unsuccessful.
Answer:
True.
Answer in brief (within 30 – 50 words) : (Full mark-3)
Question 1.
What is Vanga?
Answer:
The word Vanga first appeared in in the Aitareya Aranyaka of the Rig Veda. In ancient bengal, the region which was identified as Vanga was hardly a vast geographical area. Among the Janapadas of ancient Bengal Vanga was only a division.
Question 2.
What were the main regions of ancient Bengal?
Answer:
The main regions of ancient Bengal were Pundravardhana, Varendra, Vanga, Vangla, Radh, Suhma, Gauda, Samatata and Harikel. Usually a region was named after the name of inhabitants. Vanga, Gauda, Pundra etc. were the names of different clans.
Question 3.
Give a short description of Pundravardhana.
Answer:
Pundravardhana was the largest among the territories of ancient Bengal. It was spread over West Bengal as well as in some districts of Present Bangladesh like Dinajpur, Bogra, Rajsahi and Pabna. During the Gupta age Pundravardhana was a territorial division.
Question 4.
Write about the divisions of Radh.
Answer:
Ancienr Radh or Rarh had two divisions : Northern Rarh and Southern Rarh.Northern Rarh included the western part of present Murshidabad, Birbhum, some areas of Santhal Perganas and northern side of Katwa sub-division of Burdwan District. Southern Radh included the areas of present day Howrah, hooghly, the remaining areas of Burdwan district.
Question 5.
Write about the location of Samatata.
Answer:
Ancient Samatata was located on the eastern side of the river Meghna. Based on the plains of Comilla-Noakhali of present Bangladesh the ancient territory of Samatata was formed. The river meghna seperated Eamatata from the rest of bengal.
Question 6.
What was the importance of Karnasuvarna.
Answer:
Karnasuvarna was an important centre for commerve and administration. Essential goods were brought from the neighbouring village for the daily use of tte citizens. Before the reign of Sasanka, trade and commerce existed between this region and South-East Asia.
Question 7.
Was Sasanka hostile to Buddhism?
Answer:
Sasanka was condemned by Banbhatta. But a few years after the reign of Sasanka Xuanzang noticed the prosperity of Rakta-mrittika Buddhist vihara on the outskirt of the Karnasuvarna. Fifty years after the death of Sasanka, Chineese traveller I-Tsing also noticed the development of Buddhism in Bengal. So sasamka was not hostile to Buddhism.
Question 8.
What was Goudatantra?
Answer:
The administration that developed in the reign of Sasanka was called Goudatantra or Gouda system. In this system, the officials or civil servanis set up a proper system of governance. The administration started to interfere in what was earlier the responsibility of the local village community.
Question 9.
What happened to Gauda after the death of Sasanka?
Answer:
After the death of Sasanka the power of Gauda declined. Anarchy became rampat in Bengal. Various parts of bengal were then occupied initially by the king of kamarupa and and later by Jogynaga of the Nagas and the rulers of Tibet.
Question 10.
What is Tripartite struggle?
Answer:
Since the 18th century A.D. there was a conflict between the Palas, Gurjar-Pratihars and the Rastrakuts over the control of Kanauj. This is called the Tripartite struggle. The struggle continued for almost two hundred years and destroyed the three dynasties.
Question 11.
Who founded the Chola dynesty?
Answer:
The Cholas set up their kingdom on the deltaic region of Kaveri and its tributaries.Vijayalaya overthrew king Muttabaiya and founded the Chola dynasty. A new town calledTanjore was set up as the capital of the Cholas.
Question 12.
What is Caliph?
Answer:
There was a question, who would lead the Islamic kingdom after Muhammad. Main four disciples were then nominated one by one to be the leader of the Muslim community. They were called Caliph. The word ‘Caliph’ means representative or successor.
Question 13.
Why Sultan Mahmud and Muhammad Ghori attacked India?
Answer:
Sultan Mahmud invaded India because he wanted to accunulate wealth for his empire in Khorasan in central Asia. on the other hand Molammad Ghori invaded to rule India. He, in A.D. 1192, defeated the Rajput king Prithviraj Chauhan III in the second battle of Tarain.
Question 14.
What is Hijrat?
Answer:
Hazrat Muhammad’s beliefs differed from the pagan practices of the traditional residents of Mecca. In A.D. 622, Muhammad along with his followers, went to Medina. This migration from Mecca to Medina is called Hijrat.
Answer the questions in detail within (100 – 200 words) : (Full mark-5)
Question 1.
What do you know about Gauda?
Answer:
Gauda was an important region in the ancient and medieval age. Gauda was also a name of a clan. According to Varahamihira Gauda was formed with the present day Murshidabad, Birbhum and the western part of Burdwan district. In the 7th century, during the reign of Sasanka, the territory of Gouda expanded. he had his capital at Karnasuverna.
In those times the main areas of Gauda was on the western bank of river bhagirathi. During the reign of Sasanka the territoy extended from Pundravardhana to the coastal areas of Odisha. During the 8th-9th century Gauda referred to the whole of the Pala empire.
Question 2.
Write what do you know about Sasanka.
Answer:
Sasanka was a vassal of the Gupta Emperor. He became the lord of Gauda a few years before A.D.606-07. Almost 60-70 yers prior to the reign of sasanka, Gauda had already become the seat of political power. During the time of Sasanka, the importance of Gauda increased. Sasanka ruled as an independent ruler of gauda till his death.
During his reign various regional powers of Morthern India came close to each other through feud or friendship. Sasanka took part in this conflict. He expanded his kingdom to the north-west in Benaras. He occupied the whole of gauda, Megadha-Bodh Gaya and part of Odisha. He was able to enhance the glory of Gauda by engaging in comflicts with the powerful states of Northern India. This was an attribute to his great political achievement.
Additional Questions and answers
Question 1.
Give a short note on Pala Dynasty.
Answer:
The first hundred years of Pala rule was the period of extending their domination. In the later 130 years their influence gradually declined. The founder of the Pala dynasty, Gopala, included almost all of Bengal within his kingdom.
His successor, Dharamapala, took part in the ‘Tripartite Struggle’ for control of northern India. His son, Devapala expanded the frontiers of his empire quite like the other kings of north and south India. During his reign, the empire extended from the foothills of the Himalayas in the north to the Vindhyas in the south and from Kamboja in the north-west to Pragjyotishpur in the east.
The domination of the Palas started to wane after the reign of Devapala. The reason was inner conflict of the Pala rulers. Moreover, in the 9th century the Rashtrakutas of the Deccan, the Pratiharas of the western region and the rulers of Odisha conquered many parts of Bengal and Bihar.
As a result, the existence of the Palas in Bengal was at stake. Their kingdom was restricted to the limits of Magadha. However, during the time of King Mahipala I there had been an attempt to revive the former glory of the Pala reign.
Ramapala became king towards the end of the 11th century. The entire Varendra region went beyond the control of the Palas as a result of the Kaivarta revolt. Ramapala succeeded in recovering it. He was able to restore the domination of the Palas to some extent. However, the Pala dynasty came to end within fifty years after the death of Ramapala.
Question 2.
Write a short note on Kaivarta revolt.
Answer:
During the reign of the Palas the Kaivarta revolt took place. The Kaivartas were probably boatmen or fishermen. In that period the Kaivartas had influence in North Bengal. The account of the revolt can be found in the Ramcharita of Sandhyak ar Nandi. Three leaders of that revolt were Divya (Divvok), Rudok and Bhim. Divya was an official of the Pala empire during the reign of Mahipala II.
Taking advantage of the weakness of the Pala kings, he revolted. Mahipala was killed while suppressing the revolt. Divya captured Varendra and became its ruler. Not much is known about the magnitude of the revolt or the number of people supporting the revolt. Ramapala. the younger brother of Mahipala tried to defeat Divya and recover Varendra but he failed.
The Kaivarta king Bhima was also a popular ruler. At this time the authority of the Palas was limited to North Bihar and North-West of Bengal. Ramapala later defeated and killed Bhima with the help various chieftains (Samanta) of Bengal and Bihar. After that he established Pala rule in Varendra. Kamarupa of Bengal and part of Odisha. This revolt had exposed the weakness of central authority in the later part of Pala rule.
Question 3.
Write about the Sena dynasty.
Answer:
The kings of the Sena dynasty started to rule in Bengal in the 11th century. Their dynasty came to an end towards the beginning of the 13th century. The rulers of the Sena dynasty were originally from the Karnata region of South India. Originally they were Brahmins, but later became Kshatriyas.
Samantasena of the Sena lineage had left Karnata for Radh some time ago. During the rule of Samantasena and his son Hemantasena. the Senas had developed some domination over the Radh region. Vijaysena, the son of Hemantasena. expanded the territory of the Sena dynasty by occupying Radh, Gauda, eastern Bengal and Mithila.
Ballalsena, the next ruler defeated the Pala king Gobindapala. Thus Ballalsena struck the final blow on the Palas. He reformed the society and established orthodox Brahmanical rites and practices. His son and successor Lakshmanasena established his domination over Prayag. Benaras and Puri. His capital was Bikrampur in castern Bengal. Another important town of that period was Lakshmanavati (Gauda). In A.D. 1204/5 the Sena dynasty came to an end with the invasion of the Turks.
Question 4.
Write about the Cholas of South India.
Answer:
The Cholas set up their kingdom on the deltaic region of Kaveri and its tributaries. Vijayalaya overthrew King Muttabaiya, the ruler of the area. and founded the Chola dynasty, A new town called Thanjavur or Tanjore was set up as the capital of the Cholas’. The successors of Vijayalaya expanded their kingdom further. The Pandya region of the south and the Pallava region of the north came under their control. In A.D. 985 Rajaraja I was able to establish the Chola supremacy in present Kerala.
Tamil Nadu and in the vast areas of Karnataka. His son Rajendra. defeated the Chalukya power of Kalyani. He adopted the title Gangaikondachola after defeating the Pala king on the banks of the river Ganges in an expedition against the Pala dynasty. Both Rajaraja I and Rajendra I set up efficient navies. As a result, the Cholas were able to maintain control over commerce between India and the South East Asian countries.
Question 5.
Write a short note on Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni.
Answer:
Sultan Mahmud is known as an invader in the history of India. But he was not just a warrior. Although he plundered immense wealth from India, he used it for noble work in his kingdom, puring his time, his capital Ghazni and other cities were Beautifully decorated. Mahmud set up palaces, mosques, library, gardens, tanks, canals and also a dam over river Amudaria.
He also founded a university where teachers were paid and students were given scholarships. Two notable persons during his time were Al Biruni and Firdausi. Al Biruni came to India as a traveller. His book, Kitab al-Hind, is an important document in the history of India to know about this period. The poet Firdausi wrote the Shahnama.