Test: Political & Social Conditions (800-1200 A.D)- 2 - UPSC MCQ

• Govind III, a prominent ruler of the Rashtrakuta dynasty, defeated Nagabhatta II of the Pratihara dynasty.
•  The conflict between the Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas was part of the tripartite struggle for control over northern India, including the region around Kannauj.
• Nagabhatta II's defeat was significant because it demonstrated the Rashtrakutas' military prowess and temporarily weakened the Pratiharas.
•  This victory allowed Govind III to assert dominance over the northern territories during his reign.

The Pratihara ruler Vatsaraja defeated the Pala ruler Dharmapala in a battle near Prayag. Vatsaraja was the first ruler of Rajasthan to win victories in distant regions like Kanauj and Bengal. He extended his rule over a large part of North India and made Kannauj his capital.

Correct Answer :- B

Explanation : a) Chandradeva, who belonged to Rathore clan of Rajput warriors, established the Gahadavala dynasty. He was the founder of the Gahadwala dynasty at Kannauj.

b) The Paramara Dynasty was founded by a chief called Upendra (Krishanaraja) at the beginning of the 9th century. The capital of Paramaras initially was Ujjain which later was replaced by Dhara. They were able to rule till 1305 when Malwa was conquered finally by Alauddin Khilji.

c) The Gurjara Pratihara dynasty (or Pratihara Dynasty) was founded by Nagabhata I who was the ruler of the kingdom of Avanti in between 730-760 AD. His capital was Ujjain. He defeated an invasion by the Arabs from Sindh and captured Kathiawar, Malwa, Gujarat and many parts of Rajaputana.

d) The Chandelas initially ruled as feudatories of the Gurjara-Pratiharas of Kanyakubja (Kannauj). The 10th century Chandela ruler Yashovarman became practically independent, although he continued to acknowledge the Pratihara suzerainty. By the time of his successor Dhanga, the Chandelas had become a sovereign power.

A is the correct option.The Arab traveller, al Masudi, visited Kannauj in the early tenth century and wrote that "the king of Kannauj was the natural enemy of the king of the Deccan : that he kept a large army and was surrounded by smaller kings always ready to go to war." 

Rajyapala was one of the last Pratihara ruler who surrendered before Mahmud Gajni and later defeated and killed by Chandela king Vidyadhara .

- The correct answer is B: Nagabhatta II.
- Nagabhatta II was a prominent ruler of the Pratihara dynasty.
- He is known for his military prowess and expansion of the Pratihara empire.
- During his reign, he successfully defeated the Pala king Dharmapala at the battle of Monghyr, establishing Pratihara dominance.
- This victory was crucial as it asserted the Pratihara power in northern India, countering the influence of the Palas from Bengal.

• The Pala Empire, which ruled over Bengal and Bihar from the 8th to the 12th centuries CE, was eventually overthrown by the Sena dynasty.
• Founded by Hemanta Sena, the Sena dynasty rose to prominence under Vijayasena and his son Ballalasena.
• They systematically dismantled Pala power and established their own rule over Bengal.
• Answer: The Sena dynasty—who destroyed the Pala supremacy in Bengal.
• Hence, option B is correct

D is the correct option.Sena Dynasty ruled Bengal for little over a century (c 1097-1225).  Sena rule in Bengal is that the whole of Bengal was brought under a single rule .Senas came to Bengal along with some invaders from the Deccan.

• The poet Rajashekhara, associated with the court of the Gurjara-Pratihara King Mahendrapala and his son Mahipala.

Gangeyadeva was a ruler of the Kalachuri dynasty of Tripuri in central India. His kingdom was centered around the Chedi or Dahala region in present-day Madhya Pradesh. During the early part of his reign, Gangeyadeva seems to have ruled as a vassal, possibly that of the Paramara king Bhoja.