Class 7 Chapter 2 History

Class 7

Chapter 2 (History)

New Kings and Kingdoms

Worksheet

Q1. Fill in the blanks:-

1.      _____ was the tax taken not in cash but in the form of labour. (vetti)

2.      Kadamai was a form of_____. (land revenue)

3.      The prashastis were composed by the _____.

4.      Large temples demonstrated the ____ and _____ of the kings. (power, resources)

5.      ____ was written by Al-Biruni. (kitab-i-Hind)

6.      Prithviraja III was a well-known _____ ruler. (Chahamana)

7.      Muhammad Ghori was defeated by ____ in 1191. (Prithviraja III)

8.      _____ was the most powerful Chola ruler.(Rajaraja I)

9.      Kanchipuram was dominated by the _____ kings. (Pallava)

Q2. Multiple Choice Questions:-

1.      Hiranyagarbha meant ______ (a)

a.      Golden womb   b. Great king    c. Lord of three words   d. region

2.      Revenue collectors belonged to the ____. (c)

a.      Peasant class   b. Traders   c. Influential families   d. Scholars

3.      Somnath was plundered by _____. (c)

a.      Muhammad Ghori    b. Prithviraja III   c. Mahmud Ghazni    d. Rajaraja

Q3. Match the Column ‘A’ with the Column ‘B’:-

                        A                                 B

            1. Gujara-Pratiharas               Western Deccan                     [2]

              2. Rashtrakuta                        Bengal                                     [3]

             3. Palas                                   Gujarat and Rajasthan            [1]

             4. Cholas                                 Tamil Nadu                              [4]

Q4. Answer the following questions in brief (in 1 or 2 lines):-

1.      What were the prashastis?

Ans: Prashastis means ‘in praise of’. Prashastis contain details that may not be literally true. But they tell us how rulers wanted to depict themselves- as valiant, victorious worriors. These were composed by learned Brahmanas, who occasionally helped in the administration.

2.      Why were temples the main targets of attack?

Ans: Rulers tried to demonstrate their power and resources by building large temples. So when they attacked one another kingdoms, they often chose to target temples, which were sometimes extremely rich.

3.      What kind of irrigation works developed in the Tamil region?

Ans: Kind of irrigation works developed in the Tamil region:

·         Water from the channels of river Kaveri provide the necessary moisture for agriculture.

·         Some area wells were dug and in some places huge tanks were constructed to collect rainwater.

·         Embankments were built to prevent flooding.

·         Canals were constructed to carry water to the fields.

·         Sluice-gate were built to regulate the overflow of water from a tank into that channels that irrigated the fields.

4.      Who were the parties involved in the tripartite struggle?

Ans: The parties involved in the “tripartite struggle” were:

·         Gurjara-Pratihara

·         Rashtrakutas

·         palas

5.      In prashasties rulers made tall claims about their victories. Why do you think they made these claims?

Ans: They did so to demonstrate their power and resources. They also wanted to show themselves as valiant and victorious worriors.

6.      What was the purpose behind performing Hiranyagarbha ritual?

Ans: When this ritual was performed with the help of Brahamnas, it was thought to lead to the “rebirth”of the sacrifice as a kshtriya, even he was not one by birth. That was why this ritual was performed.

7.      What were the two major cities under the control of the Chahamanas?

Ans: Delhi and Ajmer were the two major cities under the control of the Chahamanas.

Q6. Answer the following questions in detail (in 70 to 80 words):-

1.      Write a short note on Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni?

Ans: Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni was a ruler of Afganistan. He ruled from 997 to 1030 and extended control over parts of central asia, Iran and North Western part of the sub-continent. He raided the sub-continent almost every year and his targets were wealthy temples. He used the looted wealth to creat a splendid capital city at Ghazni.

2.      How did River Kaveri bring prosperity to the Chola kingdom?

Ans: River Kaveri has several branches which overflow frequently and deposite fertile soil on their banks. Water from the channels also provide necessary moisture for agriculture, particularly the cultivation of rice. Thus in the past the river Kaveri brought prosperity to the Chola kingdom.

3.      How was the administration of Chola Empire?

Ans: Settlements of the peasants were known as ‘ur’, became prosperous with spread of irrigation and agriculture.

Group of such villages formed larger units called ‘nadu’. The village council and the ‘nadu’had the several administrative functions including dispensing justice and collecting taxes.

Rich peasants of the Vellala caste exercise considerable control over the affairs of ‘nadu’ under the supervision of cental Chola Government.

Muvendavelan and Araiyar were entrusted them with important offices of the state at the centre.

The brahmadeya looked after by an assembly or sabha.

Association of traders were known as nagrams. They also performed administrative functions in towns.

4.      Who were Rashtrakuta? How did they become powerful?

Ans: Rashtrakutas were the subordinate to the Chalukyas of Karnatka. Rise of power of Rashtrakuta:

·         Rashtrakutas were initially subordinate to the chalukyas of Karnatka.

·         In the mid 8^thcentury, chief of Rashtrakuta Dantidurga overthrew his Chalukya overlord and oerformed a ritual called hiranya-garbha which gave him the title of kshatriya even if he was not one by birth.

·         When they gained power and wealth, they declared themselves independent from their overlords.

·         They fought with Gurjara-Pratihara and Pala dynasties fought for control over Kanauj to demonstrate their power. This is how they rose to power.

5.      What did the new dynasties do to gain acceptance?

Ans: The new dynasties were based in specific regions and existing kings often acknowledged them as their subordinates or samantas.

They gained power and wealth to declare themselves maha-samanta, maha-mandaleshvara and so on.

They asserted their independence from their overlords.

They performed rituals to declare themselves to be kshtriya with the help of Brahmanas.

They fought war with neighbouring regions to gain power and also built temple to acknowledge it.

6.      What were the activities associated with Chola temple?

Ans: Activities associated with Chola temples:

·         Temple were centres of craft production and were also endowed with land by rulers as well as by others.

·         They were not only places of worship but also were the hub of economic, social and cultural life as well.

·         Priests, garlandmakers, cooks, sweepers, musicians, dancers etc. live near the temple and many activities were performed in the temples.

·         Temples were also accosiated with the making of bronze images which are considered amongest in the world.

7.      What were the qualification necessary to become a member of a committee of tha sabha in the Chola empire?

Ans: Qualification necessary to become a member of a committee of the sabha in the Chola Empire:

·         Member of the sabha should be owner of land from which land revenue is collected.

·         They should have their own homes.

·         They should be between 35 to 70 years of age.

·         They should have knowledge of the vedas.

·         They should be well versed in administrative matters and honest.

·         They should not have been the member of any committee in the last three years.

·         They should submit his accounts as well as of relatives to contest election.