Class 6 Social Science History Ch 10 CBSE

New Empires and Kingdoms - Class 6 History

Chapter Summary

• Samudragupta's Prashasti: We learn about Samudragupta, a famous ruler of the Gupta dynasty, from a prashasti (meaning "in praise of") inscribed on the Ashokan pillar at Allahabad. It was composed by his court poet, Harishena, in Sanskrit.
• Harishena's Description: The prashasti describes Samudragupta as a great warrior, a poet, and equal to the gods. It details his military campaigns and achievements.
• Samudragupta's Campaigns:
  • Aryavarta: He uprooted nine rulers of Aryavarta (northern India) and made their kingdoms part of his empire.
  • Dakshinapatha: He conquered twelve rulers of Dakshinapatha (southern India) who surrendered to him after being defeated, and he allowed them to rule again.
  • Inner Circle of Neighbours: Rulers of neighbouring states (e.g., Assam, Bengal, Nepal, and several Gana Sanghas) brought tribute, followed his orders, and attended his court.
  • Outlying Areas: Rulers from distant lands, including the descendants of the Kushanas and Shakas, and the ruler of Sri Lanka, offered daughters in marriage and submitted to him.
• Gupta Genealogy: Samudragupta's great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were mentioned. His father, Chandragupta I, was the first Gupta ruler to adopt the grand title of maharaja-adhiraja (king of kings). His mother, Kumaradevi, belonged to the Lichchhavi gana. Another important ruler of this dynasty was Chandragupta II, who extended the empire further west and is known for his victory over the Shakas.
• Harshavardhana and the Harshacharita: Nearly 1400 years ago, Harshavardhana was a powerful ruler. His court poet, Banabhatta, wrote his biography, the Harshacharita, in Sanskrit, which gives us a detailed account of Harsha's reign.
• Xuan Zang's Account: The Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuan Zang (Hiuen Tsang) also spent a lot of time at Harsha's court and left a detailed account of what he saw.
• Harsha's Rule: Harsha became king of Thanesar after his father and elder brother died. He united the kingdoms of Thanesar and Kanauj. He tried to cross the Narmada River to march into the Deccan but was stopped by Pulakeshin II, the Chalukya ruler.
• The Pallavas and Chalukyas: These were important ruling dynasties in South India.
  • Pallavas: Ruled from their capital Kanchipuram, extending up to the Kaveri delta.
  • Chalukyas: Ruled from the Raichur Doab (between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers), with their capital at Aihole.
• Pulakeshin II's Prashasti: The most famous Chalukya ruler was Pulakeshin II. We know about him from a prashasti composed by his court poet, Ravikirti. It describes his campaigns along both the western and eastern coasts and his victory over Harsha.
• Decline of Kingdoms: Both the Pallava and Chalukya kingdoms eventually gave way to new ruling dynasties like the Rashtrakutas and Cholas.
• Administration:
  • Kings adopted impressive titles such as maharaja-adhiraja (king of kings), rajadhiraja (king of kings), and paramabhattaraka (supreme lord).
  • Important administrative posts were often hereditary (passed down from father to son).
  • Sometimes, one person held many offices, e.g., Harishena was a maha-danda-nayaka (chief judicial officer), a kumaramatya (important minister), and a sandhi-vigrahika (minister of war and peace).
  • Important local men, such as the nagarashreshthi (chief banker or merchant), sarthavaha (leader of the merchant caravans), prathama-kulika (chief craftsman), and the head of the kayasthas (scribes), had a say in local administration.
• Army Organisation: Kings maintained a well-organised army, including elephants, chariots, cavalry, and foot soldiers. They also relied on military leaders called samantas. Samantas provided troops to the king when needed and were not paid regular salaries. Instead, they collected revenue from lands and used it to maintain soldiers and horses, and provide equipment. When the ruler was weak, samantas often tried to become independent.
• Assemblies in Southern Kingdoms: Pallava inscriptions mention several local assemblies:
  • Sabha: An assembly of brahmin landowners. It functioned through sub-committees.
  • Ur: A village assembly found in areas where the landowners were not brahmins.
  • Nagaram: An organisation of merchants.
  These assemblies controlled irrigation, roads, local temples, etc.

Questions and Answers

1. State whether true or false:

1. (a) Harishena composed a prashasti in praise of Gautami-putra Shri Satakarni.
2. (b) The rulers of Aryavarta brought tribute for Samudragupta.
3. (c) There were twelve rulers in Dakshinapatha.
4. (d) Taxila and Madurai were important centres of trade.
5. (e) Aihole was the capital of the Pallavas.
6. (f) Local assemblies functioned for several centuries in south India.

Answer:

1. (a) False (Harishena composed a prashasti in praise of Samudragupta.)
2. (b) False (The rulers of Aryavarta were uprooted by Samudragupta, not brought tribute.)
3. (c) True
4. (d) True
5. (e) False (Aihole was the capital of the Chalukyas; Kanchipuram was the capital of the Pallavas.)
6. (f) True

2. Mention three main rulers of the Gupta dynasty.

Answer: Three main rulers of the Gupta dynasty were:

• Chandragupta I (Samudragupta's father, who adopted the title maharaja-adhiraja)
• Samudragupta (known for his extensive military campaigns and prashasti)
• Chandragupta II (known for extending the empire and victory over the Shakas)

3. What do you think was the advantage of the king being Samanta?

Answer: The question likely means, what was the advantage of having 'samantas' for the king?

The advantages of having samantas for a king were:

• Samantas provided the king with military support, including troops, elephants, and equipment, whenever needed, without the king having to maintain a very large standing army directly.
• They helped in administering local areas, collected revenue, and maintained law and order in their assigned regions.
• This system allowed the king to extend his influence and control over a larger territory without direct administrative burden everywhere.
• Samantas served as intermediaries, reducing the direct administrative load on the central ruler.

4. What changes do you find in the army at this time?

Answer: Significant changes in the army during this period included:

• Kings maintained well-organised armies with elephants, chariots, cavalry, and foot soldiers, as in earlier times.
• A new development was the increasing reliance on military leaders called samantas (or maha-samantas). These men were not paid regular salaries.
• Instead of salaries, samantas were given grants of land. They collected revenue from these lands and used it to maintain their soldiers, horses, and equipment.
• When the ruler needed them, samantas would provide the necessary troops. However, when the ruler was weak, they often tried to become independent.

5. What were the new administrative arrangements in this period?

Answer: New administrative arrangements during this period included:

• Impressive Titles: Kings adopted elaborate titles such as maharaja-adhiraja (great king, overlord of kings), rajadhiraja, and paramabhattaraka.
• Hereditary Posts: Many administrative posts became hereditary, meaning sons succeeded fathers in important positions. For example, Harishena's father was also a maha-danda-nayaka (chief judicial officer).
• Multiple Offices: Sometimes, one person held several important offices, combining different roles. For instance, Harishena was a maha-danda-nayaka, a kumaramatya (important minister), and a sandhi-vigrahika (minister of war and peace).
• Influence of Local Notables: Important local men, such as the nagarashreshthi (chief banker/merchant), sarthavaha (leader of merchant caravans), prathama-kulika (chief craftsman), and the head of the kayasthas (scribes), had a significant say in local administration.
• Samantas for Military Support: Kings relied on samantas for military support, who managed their own troops and provided them to the king when needed, financed by land grants.

6. What do you think about the position of the ordinary people in the kingdoms?

Answer: The position of ordinary people in these kingdoms, based on available evidence, appears to be one of constant labour and tax payment to support the elaborate state machinery and military campaigns. Their lives were largely dictated by agricultural cycles and local traditions. While inscriptions and prashastis largely focus on the achievements of kings and elites, we can infer the following about ordinary people:

• Tax Burden: They were primarily responsible for paying various forms of taxes and revenues (like land revenue, which was a major source of income for the state) to the king and his samantas.
• Role in Economy: Most ordinary people were farmers, artisans, or merchants, whose labour and produce sustained the economy.
• Local Administration: In southern kingdoms, local assemblies like the Ur (for non-brahmin landowners) and Nagaram (for merchants) suggest some level of participation or self-governance in their local affairs, possibly addressing issues like irrigation and roads.
• Limited Voice: While local assemblies existed, the power structures were hierarchical, with kings, priests, and military leaders holding the most authority. The voice of the common person might have been limited in larger political decisions.
• Impact of Wars: Ordinary people likely suffered the most during frequent wars and raids between kingdoms, leading to displacement, loss of property, and disruption of daily life.
• Accounts from Travellers: Accounts from travellers like Fa Xian and Xuan Zang, though not always focusing on the very poor, sometimes mentioned the general conditions, presence of untouchables, and strict social hierarchies, implying a varied experience for different segments of the ordinary population.

7. If you had to make a prashasti for a ruler like Samudragupta, what qualities would you emphasise?

Answer: If I had to make a prashasti for a ruler like Samudragupta, I would emphasize the following qualities, drawing inspiration from Harishena's work and the expectations of a powerful ruler of that era:

• Valour and Military Prowess: His unmatched skill as a warrior, conqueror of many lands, and unyielding strength in battle, ensuring the security and expansion of the empire.
• Intellectual and Artistic Virtues: His brilliance as a scholar, a poet, and a patron of arts and learning, depicting him as a man of culture and wisdom.
• Divine Qualities: His attributes that liken him to various gods (e.g., as fierce as Yama, as generous as Kubera, as beautiful as Kama), emphasizing his exceptional and almost superhuman nature.
• Generosity and Benevolence: His kindness towards his subjects, his charitable acts, and his ability to uplift the poor and protect the righteous.
• Upholder of Dharma: His commitment to justice, righteousness, and the established social and moral order, ensuring peace and prosperity within his realm.
• Statesmanship and Diplomacy: His wisdom in managing relations with various kingdoms, whether through conquest, diplomacy, or strategic alliances (like marriage alliances).
• Charisma and Leadership: His ability to inspire loyalty and respect from his army, his ministers, and his people, leading them towards greatness.

8. Find the names of five words used for 'king' in other languages.

Answer: Here are five words used for 'king' in other languages:

• Raja (Sanskrit/Hindi)
• Shah (Persian)
• Malik (Arabic)
• Rex (Latin)
• Kaiser (German, derived from Latin 'Caesar')
• Pharaoh (Ancient Egyptian)
• Monarch (English, of Greek origin)