New Kings and Kingdoms — AP Class 7 History

1. About the Chapter

After the decline of the Gupta Empire (c. 550 CE), India saw the RISE of MANY new kingdoms. 'The age of BIG empires was over — the age of REGIONAL powers had begun.' This chapter examines these new dynasties, their methods of legitimation, and how they ruled.

Key Themes

• Emergence of new dynasties (c. 700–1200 CE)
• Administration and military
• Prashastis (royal praise poems) — propaganda tool
• Land grants — the currency of power
• Temple economies — temples as economic hubs
• AP focus: Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi

2. The Big Three: Rashtrakutas, Palas, Cholas

Rashtrakutas (c. 753–973 CE)

Capital: Manyakheta (Karnataka)

'From a SMALL feudatory family to an ALL-INDIA power.'

Unique: Rashtrakutas were of farming origin but claimed Kshatriya status. 'They wrote their OWN history — prashastis claimed they were equal to the Guptas.'

Palas (c. 750–1161 CE)

Capital: Pataliputra (modern Patna) / Munger (Bengal-Bihar region)

• Ruled Bengal and Bihar
• GREATEST ruler: Dharmapala (c. 770–810 CE)
• Famous for PATRONISING BUDDHISM
• Built the Odantapuri and Vikramashila universities
• 'The Palas were the LAST great Buddhist dynasty in India'

Cholas (c. 850–1279 CE)

Capital: Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu)

Key features: Powerful NAVY, administrative EFFICIENCY, TEMPLE as centre of life

3. Emergence of New Dynasties — How It Happened

From Samantas to Maha-Samantas

• Samanta: A subordinate chief or lord. Gave military service to the king.
• Maha-samanta: A powerful samanta who became almost equal to the king.

'The line between SAMANTA and KING was THIN — if a samanta grew strong enough, he DECLARED himself a king.'

Methods of Becoming King

1. Military conquest — defeat existing ruler
2. Claiming higher varna — perform rituals, rewrite genealogy
3. Through prashastis — poets and Brahmins wrote flattering accounts
4. Marriage alliances — marry into powerful families

Example: Dantidurga

A Rashtrakuta chief. Performed a ritual called Hiranya-garbha ('golden womb') — he was 'reborn' as a Kshatriya. 'A RITUAL could change your CASTE — or so they claimed.'

4. Administration in New Kingdoms

Central Administration

• King: Head of state, military commander, chief judge
• Council of Ministers: Advisors
• Officials: Collect taxes, maintain records

Provincial Administration (Chola Model)

The Chola Sabha (Village Assembly)

The Chola village assembly was INCREDIBLY DETAILED. 'Villages ran their OWN affairs — elections by LOTTERY system.'

• Only ELIGIBLE men could be members
• Committees for: gardens, temples, tanks, roads, justice
• Members chosen by Kuda-olai (pot-ticket) system — like a ballot

AP: Eastern Chalukya Administration

The Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi (624–1189 CE) had a SIMILAR system:

• Vishaya: Province
• Kottam: District
• Gramam: Village
• Officials: Rajju (revenue), Karana (accounts)

5. Prashastis — History as Propaganda

What is a Prashasti?

A prashasti is a 'praise poem' — composed by court poets to glorify the ruler. 'Think of it as the KING'S RESUME — written by HIS poet.'

Example: The Allahabad Pillar Prashasti

Composed by Harisena for Samudragupta (Gupta ruler). Describes him as 'equal to the gods'. Lists the rulers he defeated. 'Historians use this to REBUILD the political map of ancient India — but carefully, because it is BIASED.'

AP Connection

The Eastern Chalukyas also had prashastis. The Koravi copper-plate inscription of Chalukya Vishnuvardhana describes his conquests. In Telugu, such poems were called Shatakam or Charitram.

6. Land Grants — The Currency of Power

Why Kings Gave Land

1. Reward officials and soldiers
2. Win loyalty of powerful families
3. Support Brahmins and temples
4. Extend agriculture to new areas

Types of Land Grants

Land Grants in AP

The Eastern Chalukyas made MANY land grants. The Chebrolu and Pithapuram grants record donations of villages to Brahmins. 'Copper-plate grants are the BEST source for Eastern Chalukya history.'

7. Temple Economies

Temples as Economic Centres

Temples were NOT just religious places. 'The temple was the BANK, the SCHOOL, and the HOSPITAL of the medieval village.'

• Owned land (donated by kings)
• Employed priests, dancers, musicians, accountants
• Stored grain (for loans and famine relief)
• Sponsored festivals, art, architecture

Chola Temples

The Brihadeeswara Temple (Thanjavur) had HUNDREDS of employees. 'A single temple could run an ENTIRE local economy.'

AP Temples

• Thousand Pillar Temple (Hanamkonda) — built by Rudra Deva (Kakatiya). Supported by temple endowments.
• Srisailam Temple — rich with land grants from various dynasties.
• Tirumala Tirupati — the RICHEST temple in India, receiving donations from Vijayanagara rulers.

8. Comparison Table: Three Major Dynasties

9. Key Facts and Dates

• 624 CE: Eastern Chalukyas established by Pulakeshin II's brother
• 753 CE: Rashtrakutas rise to power
• 850 CE: Cholas capture Thanjavur (Vijayalaya)
• 985 CE: Rajaraja I becomes Chola ruler
• 1000 CE: Chola empire at its peak
• 1189 CE: End of Eastern Chalukyas (merged with Later Cholas)

10. Common Mistakes

1. Confusing Rashtrakutas with Chalukyas — They are DIFFERENT. Chalukyas (Badami) preceded Rashtrakutas.
2. Thinking prashastis are objective — They are BIASED praise poems, not neutral history.
3. Believing all Chola rulers were from one lineage — Vijayalaya founded a new line.
4. Mixing Eastern and Western Chalukyas — Eastern Chalukyas ruled Vengi (AP). Western Chalukyas ruled Kalyani (Karnataka).
5. Forgetting the role of temples — Temples were ECONOMIC centres, not just religious.

11. Exam Focus

2 Marks

Q: What is a prashasti? A: A praise poem composed by a court poet to glorify a ruler. Example: Allahabad Pillar prashasti by Harisena.

Q: Who built the Brihadeeswara Temple? A: Rajaraja I (Chola dynasty).

4 Marks

Q: How did samantas become kings in early medieval India? A: Samantas started as subordinate chiefs. Through military conquest, marriage alliances, and claiming higher varna status (via rituals like Hiranya-garbha), they declared themselves independent kings. Dantidurga of the Rashtrakutas is a classic example.

6 Marks

Q: Discuss the role of temples in the economy of medieval India. Use AP examples. A: Temples were economic hubs — they owned land, employed hundreds of people, stored grain, and lent money. Chola temples like Brihadeeswara had elaborate staff. In AP, the Thousand Pillar Temple (Hanamkonda) and Srisailam temple received substantial land grants and supported local economies. Temples also patronised art, music, and dance.

12. Quick Self-Test

1. Who founded the Chola empire? Answer: Vijayalaya (c. 850 CE)

2. What ritual did Dantidurga perform to become a Kshatriya? Answer: Hiranya-garbha (golden womb)

3. What is the capital of the Rashtrakutas? Answer: Manyakheta

4. What was the Chola village assembly called? Answer: Sabha

5. Which dynasty ruled the Vengi region of AP? Answer: Eastern Chalukyas

6. Name the famous Buddha vihara university built by the Palas. Answer: Vikramashila (also Odantapuri)

7. Why did kings make land grants to Brahmins? Answer: To support Vedic learning and win loyalty.

8. What is an 'agraharam'? Answer: A land grant to Brahmins.

13. Conclusion

The age of new kings and kingdoms (c. 700–1200 CE) was a TRANSFORMATIVE period in Indian history. 'The DECLINE of the Guptas did not mean the END of civilisation — it meant the RISE of regions.' Local dynasties like the Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi laid the foundation for regional cultures, languages, and identities that survive today.

Key takeaways:

• New dynasties rose from SAMANTA backgrounds
• Prashastis were used as political propaganda
• Land grants shaped economy and society
• Temples were centres of economic life
• AP's Eastern Chalukyas played a key role in Telugu culture