DAYANAND ANGLO VEDIC PUBLIC SCHOOL, AIROLI

SOCIAL SCIENCE (2020 – 2021) (Notes)

TOPIC: The Rise of Small Kingdoms in South India
CLASS: VII

Kindly note: Solve the textual questions in history note book:

Prepared by: Mrs. Suba Edward (9773030401)
A) Tick the correct option:
1) Who was the founder of the Chola dynasty?
Ans: Vijayalaya.
2) The famous temple built by Rajaraja-I at Tanjore was-
Ans: Rajarajeshwara temple.
3) Which kingdom gave a final blow to the Pandyas?
Ans: Vijayanagar.
4) The term ‘Mandalam’ stands for-
Ans: a province.
5) What was the main source of income of the Chola rulers?
Ans: land tax.

B) Fill in the blanks:

1) During 750 CE, south India saw the rule of Cheras, Cholas and
Pandyas.
2) Indian historians believe that Chalukyas were foreign tribes.
3) Cholas defeated Pallavas.
4) Rajendra Chola succeeded Rajaraja.
5) Matha was the main centre of education during 700 CE to 1200 CE in
South India.
C) Sort the names of the kings as per their dynasties and arrange them
according to their period:
Maruvarman Avani Sulamani, Prantaka-I, Vijayalaya,
Kandungori, Rajaraja, Jalavarman Sundara.

CHOLAS AS PER PERIODS PANDYAS AS PER

PERIODS
Vijayalaya Kandungori
Prantaka-I Maruvarman Avani Sulamani
Rajaraja Jalavarman Sundara
 D) Answer the following questions in brief:-
1) Name the powerful kingdom that emerged in south India in the eighth
century.
Ans: Pandyas emerged as a powerful kingdom in south India in the 8th century.
2) Name three kingdoms that were mentioned in Ashoka’s edicts.
Ans: Cheras, Cholas and Pandyas.
3) Which languages flourished during Cholas and Pandyas period?
Ans: Sanskrit continued as the language of scholars. Tamil, Kannada and
Telugu progressed.
4) Name the areas that formed the part of the Pandya kingdom.
Ans: Madurai, Tirunelveli and parts of Travancore.
5) Where were the rock-cut temples built?
Ans: The rock-cut temples were built at Mahabalipuram and Kailashnath.
E) Answer the following questions:-
Q 1) Mention the main achievements of Rajaraja, the great.
Ans: a) Rajaraja the great pursued a policy of conquest for 14 years and
conquered the Chalukya kingdom of Vengi and captured Kerala and Madurai.
b) He built the famous temple Rajrajeshwara at Tanjore. The walls of the temple
depict his conquests.
Q 2) Describe the Socio- economic condition of the people in the southern
states?.
Ans: a) The society of south India was caste-ridden.
b) The Brahmins and Kshatriyas dominated the lower castes.
c) Land revenue was the main source of income.
d) It was fixed at 1/3rd of the produce by the Chola rulers.
e) The economic condition of the people was good. Agriculture, trade and
weaving were the chief occupations of the people.
f) Agricultural yield increased due to the irrigational facilities.
g) The Chola rulers spent a major part of the income on public welfare.
 Q 3) What were the religious beliefs of the people in the southern states
during the medieval period?
Ans : a) Hinduism was the most popular religion.
b) Vedic sacrifices were quite common.
c) The cult of Lord Vishnu and Shiva became important.
d) Kanchipuram was considered a centre of pilgrimage for Hindu devotees.
Q 4) Describe the development of art and architecture under the southern
rulers.
Ans:The rulers of the South India were great patrons of art and architecture.
They built a number of important temples. The large rock-cut temples at
Mahabalipuram and Kailashnath were built in the eighth century. The Shiva
temple of Tanjore and the bronze statue of Nataraja are fine examples of Chola
art.
Q 5) Write about the kingdoms of North and South on the basis of the
following aspects.
a) Administration
b) Society
c) Economy
d) Religion
e) Education
f) Art and Architecture
North India:-

a) Administration:-
1) The king was all-powerful in north India.
2) He was assisted by his officials.
3) The empire was divided into provinces.
4) He was the head of the military as well as judiciary.

b) Society:-
1) The rigid caste system led to the division of Indian society.
2) The king, the feudal lords and the Brahmins in high positions enjoyed
a life of luxury.
3) Land was cultivated mainly by shudras who were burdened by taxes
and also suffered from social discrimination.
4) The evil practices of sati, child-marriage, and polygamy contributed to
the decline in the status of women.
C) Economy:-
1) The royal family, high officials and the traders were prosperous.
2) The people living in villages were poor.
3) Feudal system was prevalent.
4) The feudal system led to the decline of many empires as the feudal
lords gave only a small part of revenue to the king.
5) The kings granted land to Thakurs or Rais they had to pay land revenue
to the king and provide military.
d) Religion:-
The Rajputs mainly worshipped Vishnu and Shiva. They also worshipped
goddess Kali, Laxmi and Durga. Hinduism became more popular than
Buddhism.
e) Education:-
Superstition and narrow-mindedness were a great hurdle of education.
The elementary education was limited to temples and monastries. The
universities of Nalanda and Vikramshila became more important centres of
higher education. The study of philosophy and religion was encouraged but
subjects like mathematics and science were ignored. Sanskrit enjoyed a place of
prominence.
f) Art and Architecture
The examples of the paintings of north India can be found in the form of
murals in palaces, caves and temples. The jain monks and painters of Bengal
developed the art of miniature paintings. The lingaraj and mukteshwara temples
at Bhubaneshwar and the sun temple at Konark are the fine examples of the
architecture of the period from 8th to 12th century.

South India:-
a) Administration:-
a) The king was the head of the state and his office was hereditary.
b) The rights of the king were unlimited.
c) The king ran the administration with the help of the ministers.
d) The province was under the control of an official who worked according
to the instructions of the king.
 b) Society:-
1) The society of south India was caste ridden.
2) The Brahmins and Kshatriyas dominated the lower class.
3) The peasants tilled the land which belonged to the rulers or the temples.
4) Religion played an important part in the life of people.
5) Vedic sacrifices were quite common.
c) Economy:-
1) Land revenue was the main source of income.
2) It was fixed at 1/3rd of the produce by the Chola rulers.
3) The economic condition of the people was good. Agriculture, trade and
weaving were the chief occupations of the people.
4) Agricultural yield increased due to the irrigational facilities.
5) The Chola rulers spent a major part of the income on public welfare.
d) Religion:-
1) Hinduism was the most popular religion.
2) Vedic sacrifices were quite common.
3) The cult of Lord Vishnu and Shiva became important.
4) Kanchipuram was considered a centre of pilgrimage for Hindu devotees.

e) Education:-
1) The temples of south India were the important places for education.
2) Each temple had an attached matha, which provided free education, boarding
and lodging to the students.
3) Though Sanskrit was the language for scholars, but Tamil, Kannada and
Telugu also progressed.
f) Art and Architecture:-
1) The rulers of the Southern kingdoms were not only great warriors but also
great patrons of art and architecture.
2) They built a number of important temples.
3) The large rock-cut temples at Mahabalipuram and Kailashnath were built in
the eighth century.
4) The Shiva temple of Tanjore and the bronze statue of Nataraja are fine
examples of Chola art.