NCERT 7th Class CBSE SST: New Kings and Kingdoms

Question: Why the rulers wanted to control Kanauj and the Ganga valley?

Answer: Kannauj (near modern Kanpur) was rich fertile plain between the Ganges and Yamuna rivers. Kannauj was already established business hub. It had been capital city and a political center. These were the reasons rulers wanted to control Kannauj and the Ganga valley.

Question: What were the two major cities under the control of the Chahamanas?

Answer: Delhi and Ajmer

Question: How did the Rashtrakutas become powerful?

Answer:Initially the Rashtrakutas were subordinates to the Chalukyas of Karnataka. In the mid 8th century, Dantidurga, a Rashtrakuta chief, overthrew his Chalukya overlord and performed a ritual called Hiranya Garbha and became ruler.

Question: What is meant by Hiranya-garbha? Or What was the purpose behind performing Hiranya-garbha ritual?

Answer: Hiranyagarbha (literally, the golden womb) war a ritual performed by the non-kshatriyas to become a Kshatriya and a ruler. It was thought to lead to the rebirth of the sacrificer as a Kshatriya even if he is not one by birth.

Question: Why were temples often raided when kingdoms were attacked?

Answer: The rulers tried to demonstrate their power and resources by building large temples. Temples had become rich and had been a hub of social, cultural and economic activities. Therefore, when kingdoms were attacked, temples were raided to plunder money and rich valuables.

Question: What term was used for land grants given to Brahmanas in Chola period? How these land grants were recorded?

Answer: Land grants received by Brahmanas were called Brahmadeya. These were recorded on copper plates It was written partly in Sanskrit and partly in Tamil. The ring holding the plates together was secured with the royal seal, to indicate that this is an authentic document.

Question: Write a short note on Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni.

Answer: Sultan Mahmud was ruler of Ghazni. He ruled from 997 to 1030 AD. He extended control over parts of Central Asia, Iran and the north-western part of the subcontinent. He attacked Indian subcontinent seventeen times and plundered wealth from rich temple including Somnath, Gujarat. Much of the wealth Mahmud carried away was used to create a splendid capital city at Ghazni. He was also interested in finding about the people he conquered. He brought his scholar Al-Biruni, to study about India. Al-Biruni wrote a book about India called Kitab-al Hind.