New Empires And Kingdoms

Class 6 Social Science History Chapter 10 - New kingdoms and empires talk about great legends of India, like Samudragupta, Harshavardhana, and South Indian kingdoms along with their conquests and achievements. 

Class 6 Our Past - I NCERT History textbook Chapter 10: New Empires And Kingdoms solutions to 8 questions are available in PDF format. We have provided concise answers to all the questions.

Answers that you will find here are created after an in-depth analysis of the latest CBSE syllabus and exam pattern. Also, the answers are in simple language so you can retain them during exam time with ease. Going through the exercises provided on our website will smooth your preparation level. You can also download New Empires And Kingdoms pdf from our website anytime at your convenience.

Now, let us go through New Empires And Kingdoms notes to further solve the NCERT textbook questions.

What Does Chapter 10 Talk About?

Here, in this chapter, we will learn about the following topics:

• Prashastis and what they tell us

• Samudragupta’s Prashasti

• Genealogies

• Harshavardhana and Harshacharita

• Pallavas, Chalukyas, and Pulakeshin’s Prashasti

• How were these kingdoms administered

• A new kind of army

• Assemblies in the Southern Kingdoms

• Ordinary people in the Kingdoms

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Now, let us go through New Empires And Kingdoms notes.

CBSE Class 6 Chapter 10 New Empires And Kingdoms Notes

• Prashastis and what they tell us?

We all know about Samudragupta, a well-known ruler of a dynasty referred to as the Guptas from an extended inscription, inscribed on the Ashokan pillar at Allahabad. Harishena, a poet and minister composed a Kavya for Samudragupta at his court. This inscription is of a unique kind known as a Prashasti, a Sanskrit word, meaning ‘in praise of’.

• Samudragupta’s Prashasti

In Samudragupta’s Prashasti, the poet praised the king in sparkling terms including a warrior, a king who won victories in battle, who was learned, and the great of poets. He is likewise defined as identical to the gods. The Prashasti was composed in lengthy sentences.

• Definition of Harishena On Four Kinds of Rulers

Harishena defines four unique types of rules and tells us about Samudragupta’s policies towards them.

The rulers of Aryavarta, where 9 rulers were uprooted, and their kingdoms have formed a part of Samudragupta’s empire.

12 rulers of Dakshinapatha were surrendered to Samudragupta after losing the battle and later he permitted them to rule again.

The core of neighboring states, including the following:

• Assam, 

• Coastal Bengal, 

• Nepal, and various Gana sanghas in the northwest. Additionally, they paid tribute, followed his orders, and also attended his court.

The rulers of the outlying areas, possibly the descendants of the Kushanas and Shakas, and the ruler of Sri Lanka submitted to him and offered daughters in marriage.

• Genealogies

Samudragupta’s Prashastis mentioned the ancestors’ names including Samudragupta’s great grandfather, grandfather, father, and mother. His mother, Kumara Devi, belonged to the Lichchhavi gana, while his father, Chandragupta, was the first ruler of the Gupta dynasty who adopted the grand title of maharaj-adhiraja, an identity that Samudragupta also used.

King Samudragupta was enlisted as later rulers of the dynasty in the genealogies, incorporating his son, Chandragupta II. He embarked on journeys to western India, where he overcame the last of the Shakas. As per later belief, his court was filled with knowledgeable people, including Kalidasa the poet, and Aryabhata the astronomer.

• Harshavardhana and the Harshacharita

Harshavardhana, who dominated almost 1400 years ago, and his biography was written by his court poet, Banabhatta in Sanskrit. Though Harshavardhana was not the eldest son of his father, he became king of Thanesar after both his father and elder brother died. His brother-in-law dominated Kanauj who was killed by the ruler of Bengal. Harsha took control over Kanauj and initiated an army against the ruler of Bengal.

Harsha got success in the east and won over both Magadha and Bengal. He tried to cross the Narmada to reach the Deccan however was restricted by a Chakulya dynasty ruler, Pulakeshin II.

• The Pallavas, Chalukyas, and Pulakeshin’s Prashasti

During this period, the Pallavas and Chalukyas were the most important ruling dynasties in south India. The kingdom of the Pallavas spread from the place around their capital, Kanchipuram, to the Kaveri delta, while that of the Chalukyas was targeted across the Raichur Doab, between the rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra.

Aihole, the capital of the Chalukyas, was a crucial trading center. It evolved as a nonsecular center, with some temples. Pulakeshin II was the well-known Chalukya ruler. His Prashasti was composed by his court poet Ravikirti, which talks about his ancestors, who're traced back via 4 generations from father to son.

According to Ravikirti, he initiated various journeys across both the west and the east coasts. Besides, he checked the advance of Harsha. There is a thrilling play of words in the poem. Harsha means happiness. The poet says that after this loss, Harsha was now no longer Harsha!

• How were these Kingdoms Administered?

Land revenue remained crucial and the village remained the primary unit of administration. But, new developments were additionally introduced. Kings followed some of the steps to win the assistance of men who were powerful, both economically, or socially, or due to their political and military strength. For instance:

1. Some crucial administrative posts were hereditary.

2. Sometimes, one person held many offices.

3. Besides, crucial men probably had a say in local administration.

• Assemblies in the Southern Kingdoms

The inscriptions of the Pallavas mentioned a number of neighborhood assemblies, which included the sabha, an assembly of brahmin landowners. This assembly operated via subcommittees, which worked for irrigation, agricultural operations, making roads, local temples, etc. There was a village assembly found in regions where the landowners were not brahmins. And the nagaram turned into an agency of merchants.

Now, let us go through New Empires And Kingdoms Solutions in detail.

Solutions To New Empires And Kingdoms NCERT Questions

Q1: Write true or false for the following statements:

1. Harishena (a 4th-century Sanskrit poet) created a Prashasti, in praise of Gautamiputra Shri Satakarni.

2. The rulers of Aryavarta paid tribute to Samudragupta.

3. Twelve rulers were there in Dakshinapatha.

4. Taxila and Madurai were predominant centres held by the Gupta rulers.

5. The capital of the Pallavas was Aihole.

6. Local assemblies worked for numerous centuries in south India.

Ans:

1. False

2. True

3. True

4. False

5. False

6. True

Q2: State the names of authors who wrote about Harshavardhana.

Ans: The names of three authors who wrote about Harshavardhana are:

• Banabhatta  - A 7th-century Sanskrit prose writer and poet of India wrote a biography on Harshavardhana.

• Xuan Zang (Hien T-Sanga) - A 7th-century Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator. 

• Ravikirti - A court poet of Pulakesin-II ruler 

It was affirmed by some historians that Harshavardhana also wrote some books about himself and the people of his kingdom.  The names of those books are as follows:

• Nagananda

• Ratnavali

• Priyadarshika

Q3: What changes were made in the army during that time?

Ans: The following changes were found in the army at that time:

• A ruler or king kept the permanent army for keeping everything well organized.

• Soldiers used the following kinds of weapons:

1. Battle-axes, 

2. Arrows, 

3. Spikes,

4. Spears, 

5. Barbed Dats, 

6. Swords, 

7. Iron clubs, 

8. Javelins, 

9. Barbed arrows, and

10. Long arrows, etc.

• Additionally, Elephants, Chariots, Cavalry were used along with foot soldiers in the royal palace.

• Military leaders provided the king with troops whenever he required them.  However, they were not paid regular salaries. On the other hand, some of them received grants of land. Further, they collected revenue from the land and used it to maintain soldiers and horses, and provide equipment for warfare. These men were termed Samantas. Whenever the ruler was weak, Samantas attempted to become independent.

Q4: What were the new seven administrative modifications done during this period?

Ans: The new administrative arrangements were formed during this period are as follows:

• Kings adopted various methods to win the support of men who were powerful for either of the following reasons:

1. Economically, 

2. Socially, or 

3. Because of political and military strength.

• Some important administrative posts were also down. This means that sons took control after their fathers to these posts. For instance, the poet Harishena was a maha- danda-Nayaka, or chief judicial officer,  his father.

It was often considered that one person can hold multiple offices simultaneously. For example, besides being a Maha- danda-Nayak Harishena was a Kumar-Amaya (an important minister), and also a Sandhi-Vigrahika (a minister of war and peace).

• Besides, important men possibly had an influence over local administration. These included the  following powers held by important men: 

1. Nagara-Shreshthi also known as a chief banker or merchant of the city,

2. Sarthavaha or leader of the merchant caravans, 

3. Prathama-Kulika or the chief craftsman, and 

4. The head of the Kayasthas or scribes.

Q5: Do you think that wars have affected the lives of ordinary people at present?

Ans: It is true that wars have affected our lives in many ways. The illustrated effects are mentioned below:

• A large number of people were killed.

• Property-houses, shops, etc. were destroyed.

• Wars have created violence and disruptions in our society.

• Development projects and welfare works initiated by the government for the welfare and benefit of the ordinary people are on hold.

• Wastage of economic and other resources because of wars. The government imposed several taxes on the working people.

Did You Know?

• RaviKirti was a court poet of Pulakesin-II. He wrote a eulogy on ruler Pulakeshin-II, where the eulogy describes the ruler’s victories against the Kadambas of Banavasi, Alupas, and Gangas of Mysore. 

• Do you know that the term “Samantas” refers to a title and position used by the army people of kings?

Summary on New Empires And Kingdoms

A new form of the military: Kings maintained a well-organized military, with elephants, chariots, cavalry, and foot soldiers. Military leaders provided kings with troops whenever they wished them however they were now no longer paid regular salaries. Instead of salary, some of them received offers of land. They gathered revenue from the land and used this to hold soldiers and horses, and offer equipment for warfare. These men were known as samantas.