CBSE Class 6 History Chapter 10 Notes - New Empires and Kingdom

The chapter begins with the description of the Gupta Dynasty that ruled a major part of India after the downfall of the Maurya Dynasty. We come to know about the famous ruler Samudragupta from the inscriptions on the pillar of the Ashokan Era discovered in Allahabad. The inscriptions were composed by Harishena, a minister and a poet present in the court of Samudragupta.

These inscriptions are known as ‘Prashasti’. They were written to praise the contemporary rulers and can be found in the pillars, temples, and other artifacts of that era. Samudragupta has been depicted as similar to gods. His glory days have been explained in long sentences. His victories over enemies are clearly explained in the ‘prashastis’. Harishena mentioned 4 steps of Samudragupta’s victory.

• The first step is the defeat of the nine rulers of Aryavarta and the inclusion of their kingdoms into his empire.

• The 12 kings of Dakshinapatha were either defeated or surrendered to Samudragupta and were allowed to rule under him.

• The neighbouring areas in Assam, Nepal, Gana Sanghas of the north-west, and coastal regions of Bengal were a part of the emperor’s court. They also paid tribute to the emperor.

• The kingdoms lying outside the Indian coastal regions such as Sri Lanka offered their tribute to the emperor. Their daughters were married to the royal descendants.

By studying this part, you will clearly understand what the difference between kingdom and empire is.

Genealogies During Gupta Empire

The prashastis describing the might of Samudragupta also mentioned the names of his ancestors. His mother, father, grandfather, and great grandfather’s names are mentioned. The prashastis mentioned that the first emperor of the Gupta Dynasty was Chandragupta, his father. Her mother was Kumara Devi. She was the royal daughter of Licchavi Gana. Chandragupta was the first emperor to adopt the title ‘Maharaj-Adhiraj’. The same title was also used by Samudragupta.

The genealogies also depicted the journey of the descendants after Samudragupta. Chandragupta II, the son of Samudragupta, expedited to the western portion of India and conquered the remaining Shakas. Chandragupta II was a patron of art and knowledge. His court was full of intelligent people from all over the country. Aryabhata, the astronomer, and Kalidasa, the famous poet, were the gems from his court.

Harshavardhana: His Life Depiction in Harshacharita

He ruled the northern part of India 14 centuries ago. His biography ‘Harshacharita’ was written by the famous poet of his court ‘Banabhatta’. It was written in Sanskrit. Due to the demise of his father and the eldest brother, he took over the throne of Thanesar. The ruler of Kanauj was his brother-in-law. He was killed by the contemporary ruler of Bengal. He took his revenge and took over Bengal. He then led his army to the east and captured Magadha. His conquering streak was stopped by Pulakeshi II, the contemporary Chalukya Dynasty when he tried to cross the Narmada River and enter the Deccan region.

What Do the Prashastis of Chalukyas, Pallavas, and Pulakeshin Say?

The rule of Pallavas is very significant in the history of India. By studying this chapter, you will understand how empires are different from kingdoms. Chalukyas existed in the region between the Krishna River and Tungabhadra River. Pallavas, on the other hand, spread their reign from the Kaveri Delta and Kanchipuram.

Chalukyas operated their capital in Aihole. It was an important business centre in South India. It had temples and was also considered a religious center for the citizens. Pulakeshin II is considered to be the best among the Chalukya rulers. His poet Ravikirti composed the prashastis. These prashastis described four generations of this ruler. Ravikirti was a humorous poet. He mentioned that Harsha means happiness but Pulakeshin II made him unhappy as he stopped his advance to the Deccan region.

What Do You Learn From This Chapter?

After studying this chapter, you will learn how are empires different from kingdoms. The historical description of the kingdoms and empires after the fall of the Mauryan Empire tells us a lot about the contemporary landscape of India. Download and use the New Empires and Kingdoms Class 6 notes to understand more about these emperors and kings.