Class 6 Social Science History Ch 11 Notes | CBSE

Chapter 11: New Empires and Kingdoms

Social Science (History) - CBSE Class 6

Chapter Summary

• Prashastis: These are special kinds of inscriptions, essentially poems in praise of a ruler, often composed by court poets. They list the achievements of the ruler.
• Samudragupta's Prashasti: Harishena, a court poet of Samudragupta (a powerful ruler of the Gupta dynasty), composed a prashasti in Sanskrit about 1700 years ago. This inscription is found on the Ashokan pillar at Allahabad.
• Description of Samudragupta: Harishena describes Samudragupta as a great warrior, a king whose body was covered with the beauty of a hundred scars received from battle-axes, arrows, spears, pikes, barbed arrows, swords, iron clubs, javelins, barbed arrows, and many other weapons. He was also praised for his scholarship and musical abilities, being compared to the gods.
• Samudragupta's Conquests:
  • Nine Rulers of Aryavarta: Samudragupta uprooted them and incorporated their kingdoms into his empire.
  • Twelve Rulers of Dakshinapatha: He defeated them, but allowed them to rule again after they submitted to him and brought tributes.
  • Inner Circle of Neighbouring States (Assam, Coastal Bengal, Nepal, Gana sanghas): They brought tribute, followed his orders, and attended his court.
  • Outer Circle of Rulers (Descendants of Kushanas, Shakas, and Sri Lanka): They offered daughters in marriage, submitted to him, and sent gifts.
• Gupta Genealogy: The prashasti also provides a genealogy (list of ancestors) for Samudragupta. He was the son of Chandragupta I, who was the first ruler of the Gupta dynasty to adopt the title of 'Maharaj-adhiraja' (king of kings). His mother, Kumaradevi, belonged to the Lichchhavi gana (a non-monarchical state).
• Harshavardhana and the Harshacharita: Harshavardhana ruled nearly 1400 years ago. His court poet, Banabhatta, wrote his biography, the 'Harshacharita', in Sanskrit. This provides an excellent source of information about his reign.
• Harsha's Reign: Harsha became ruler of Thanesar and later took control of Kannauj. He tried to cross the Narmada River to march into the Deccan but was stopped by Pulakeshin II, the best-known Chalukya ruler.
• Pallavas, Chalukyas, and Pulakeshin II:
  • The Pallavas and Chalukyas were important ruling dynasties in south India during this period.
  • The kingdom of the Pallavas spread from the region around Kanchipuram (their capital) to the Kaveri delta.
  • The Chalukyas ruled from the Raichur Doab, between the rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra. Aihole was the capital of the Chalukyas, an important trading centre and a religious hub with many temples.
  • Pulakeshin II's prashasti was composed by his court poet Ravikirti. It describes his ancestors and his military expeditions, including his victory over Harsha.
  • Both the Pallavas and Chalukyas frequently raided each other's lands, especially targeting capital cities.
• Administration in Kingdoms:
  • Kings often adopted high-sounding titles like 'Maharaj-adhiraja' (great king, over-lord of kings) or 'Tribhuvanadhipati' (lord of the three worlds).
  • They performed elaborate rituals to assert their power.
  • Important administrative posts were often hereditary (e.g., Harishena was a 'maha-danda-nayaka' or chief judicial officer, like his father).
  • Sometimes one person held several offices (e.g., Harishena was maha-danda-nayaka, kumaramatya, and sandhi-vigrahika).
  • Local administration was run by influential men, including the 'nagarashreshthi' (chief banker or merchant), 'sarthavaha' (leader of the merchant caravans), and 'prathama-kulika' (chief craftsman).
• Local Assemblies in South India:
  • Sabha: An assembly of brahmin landowners. This assembly functioned through sub-committees for irrigation, agricultural operations, roads, etc.
  • Ur: Village assembly found in areas where the landowners were not brahmins.
  • Nagaram: An organization of merchants.
  These assemblies were controlled by rich and powerful landowners and merchants.
• Army Organisation: Kings maintained well-organised armies with elephants, chariots, cavalry, and foot soldiers. There were also military leaders called 'samantas', who provided troops to the king whenever he needed them. Samantas were not paid regular salaries but received grants of land, from which they collected revenue to maintain their soldiers and horses.
• Ordinary People's Lives: Chinese pilgrim Fa Xian observed the plight of 'untouchables' who had to live on the outskirts of the city and make noise to announce their presence. Banabhatta's account describes the hardships faced by the army on the march, including villagers bringing gifts and officials being forced to provide supplies.

Questions and Answers

1. State whether true or false:

1. (a) Harishena composed a prashasti in praise of Gautamiputra 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 under the control of the Guptas.
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 the prashasti for Samudragupta)
2. (b) False (The rulers of Aryavarta were uprooted by Samudragupta, not brought tribute)
3. (c) True
4. (d) False (These were not primary Gupta centres, though they might have been within influence)
5. (e) False (Aihole was the capital of the Chalukyas)
6. (f) True

2. What was special about prashastis?

Answer: Prashastis were special because they were poems composed by court poets in praise of rulers. Unlike ordinary inscriptions, prashastis provided detailed accounts of the ruler's achievements, military victories, qualities, and genealogy, often exaggerated to present the king as an ideal warrior, scholar, and benevolent ruler. They served as a form of royal propaganda and valuable historical records.

3. What did Samudragupta do to become an all-powerful ruler?

Answer: Samudragupta undertook several measures to become an all-powerful ruler:

• He defeated and uprooted nine rulers of Aryavarta, incorporating their kingdoms into his empire.
• He defeated twelve rulers of Dakshinapatha, allowing them to rule again only after they submitted to him and paid tribute.
• He maintained a strong influence over the inner circle of neighbouring states (Assam, Coastal Bengal, Nepal, and several Gana sanghas) who brought him tribute, followed his orders, and attended his court.
• He received gifts and offers of marriage from the descendants of Kushanas and Shakas, and rulers of Sri Lanka, indicating his wide-ranging influence.
• He had his court poet, Harishena, compose a prashasti glorifying his military and personal achievements, projecting him as a powerful and divine figure.

4. What do you think ordinary people ate, what clothes they wore, and what kind of houses they lived in? (Hint: See the books of Fa Xian and Banabhatta).

Answer: Based on accounts like those of Fa Xian and Banabhatta, we can infer some aspects of ordinary people's lives:

• Food: Ordinary people likely ate staple grains like rice, wheat, and barley, along with locally grown vegetables, fruits, and pulses. Meat consumption would have varied based on region and social status.
• Clothes: They probably wore simple, unstitched garments made of cotton, such as dhotis for men and sarees for women. More elaborate or finer clothes would have been reserved for special occasions or the wealthy.
• Houses: Their houses would have been modest, typically made of local materials like mud, thatch, wood, and bamboo. Villages would consist of closely packed huts, while cities might have had more structured, but still basic, dwellings for common folk. Fa Xian's accounts also mention "untouchables" who lived outside the main settlements, indicating social stratification.

5. List the similarities and differences between the administration of the Guptas and that of the rulers of south India.

Answer: Similarities:

• Both relied on land revenue as a major source of income.
• Both had well-organised armies with elephants, chariots, cavalry, and foot soldiers.
• Both saw the emergence of hereditary positions for important administrative posts.
• Both often used grand titles for their rulers to signify their power.
• Both had military leaders (samantas/feudatories) who provided troops to the king.

Differences:

• Local Assemblies: South Indian kingdoms (Pallavas, Chalukyas) had more distinct local assemblies like the sabha (assembly of Brahmin landowners), ur (village assembly of non-Brahmin landowners), and nagaram (organisation of merchants), which played a significant role in local administration. While the Guptas also involved influential local figures, their administrative structure laid more emphasis on centrally appointed officials and hereditary positions.
• Number of Offices: Under the Guptas, it was common for one person to hold several key administrative offices, such as a chief judicial officer also being a minister and an officer for peace and war. This "many offices for one person" system might have been less prevalent or documented in the same way in the south Indian kingdoms.
• Titles: While both used grand titles, the specific regional variations and emphasis on titles like 'Tribhuvanadhipati' (lord of the three worlds) were more pronounced in the south.

6. Do you think ordinary people would have known about the prashastis? Give reasons for your answer.

Answer: It is unlikely that ordinary people would have known much about the prashastis, for several reasons:

• Language: Prashastis were typically composed in Sanskrit, a language primarily understood by educated brahmins and court scholars, not by the common populace.
• Location: These inscriptions were often carved on pillars, temples, or copper plates, which might not have been easily accessible or regularly read by everyone.
• Purpose: Prashastis served primarily to glorify the king among the elite, within his court, and to communicate his legitimacy and power to other rulers and powerful subjects. They were not mass communication tools.
• Literacy: A large portion of the ordinary population would have been illiterate, making it impossible for them to read the inscriptions even if they encountered them.

Therefore, the information contained in prashastis would mostly have been confined to the literate elite and members of the royal court, not the common people.

7. If you had to make a genealogy for yourself, who are the people you would include in it? How many generations would you like to show? What is the main characteristic that you would like to show about your family?

Answer: (This is a personal question, an example answer is provided.)

• People to include: I would include myself, my parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents. Perhaps some notable aunts/uncles or cousins who have made significant contributions.
• Number of generations: I would like to show at least four generations, going back to my great-grandparents, to provide a good historical depth to my family.
• Main characteristic: The main characteristic I would like to show about my family is their dedication to education and hard work, and how these values have been passed down through generations, enabling members to achieve their goals and contribute positively to society.

8. Find out more about the administrative divisions mentioned in this chapter. The Guptas divided their empire into units called desh, pradeshas, and bhuktis. How were these units governed? (Consult an atlas and find out the modern states that correspond to each of the divisions mentioned.)

Answer: Administrative Divisions under the Guptas: The Gupta Empire had a well-organised administrative system. The empire was divided into:

• Desh (Empire): The largest unit, directly under the emperor.
• Bhuktis (Provinces): The empire was divided into several bhuktis, governed by officers known as Uparikas or Vishayapatis, who were often royal princes or high officials. They were responsible for maintaining law and order, collecting revenue, and managing resources within their province.
• Vishayas (Districts): Each bhukti was further divided into vishayas, which were administered by Vishayapatis. These officials were assisted by local assemblies or councils, including the Nagarashreshthi (chief banker), Sarthavaha (leader of traders), and Prathama Kulika (chief artisan).
• Gramas (Villages): The smallest unit was the village, headed by a Gramika or Gramadhyaksha, who managed village affairs, often with the help of a village assembly.

Modern states corresponding to these divisions (approximate, as boundaries changed significantly): The core of the Gupta Empire primarily covered northern India.

• Magadha (Pataliputra was the capital): Roughly corresponds to parts of modern-day Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
• Prayag (Allahabad): Now in Uttar Pradesh.
• Ujjain: Now in Madhya Pradesh.
• The empire stretched across a large part of the Indian subcontinent, encompassing areas that would today include:
  • Northern India: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, parts of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab.
  • Eastern India: Parts of Assam, Odisha.

The exact "desh" or "pradesha" boundaries are not precisely mapped to modern states, but the Gupta influence covered a vast area of the Indo-Gangetic plain and beyond.