NCERT Textbook: Kings & Kingdoms | Old & New NCERTs for IAS Preparation (Must Read) - UPSC PDF Download

 Page 1


16
M
any new dynasties emerged after the  
 seventh century. Map 1 shows the major ruling 
dynasties in different parts of the subcontinent 
between the seventh and twelfth centuries. 
2
KINGS AND 
KINGDOMS
Map 1 
Major kingdoms, 
seventh-twelfth 
centuries  
Locate the 
Gurjara-Pratiharas, 
Rashtrakutas, 
Palas, Cholas 
and Chahamanas 
(Chauhans). 
Can you identify 
the present-day 
states over which 
they exercised 
control? 
?
Page 2


16
M
any new dynasties emerged after the  
 seventh century. Map 1 shows the major ruling 
dynasties in different parts of the subcontinent 
between the seventh and twelfth centuries. 
2
KINGS AND 
KINGDOMS
Map 1 
Major kingdoms, 
seventh-twelfth 
centuries  
Locate the 
Gurjara-Pratiharas, 
Rashtrakutas, 
Palas, Cholas 
and Chahamanas 
(Chauhans). 
Can you identify 
the present-day 
states over which 
they exercised 
control? 
?
17
KINGS AND KINGDOMS
?
The Emergence of New Dynasties
By the seventh century, there were big landlords or 
warrior chiefs in different regions of the subcontinent. 
Existing kings often acknowledged them as their 
subordinates or  They 
were expected to bring gifts for their 
kings or overlords, be present at 
their courts and provide them with 
military support. As  gained 
power and wealth, they declared 
themselves to be , 
 (the great 
lord of a “circle” or region) and so 
independence from their overlords. 
One such instance was that of 
the Rashtrakutas in the Deccan. 
Initially they were subordinate to 
the Chalukyas of Karnataka. In the 
mid-eighth century, Dantidurga, a 
Rashtrakuta chief, overthrew his Chalukya overlord and 
performed a ritual called  (literally, the 
golden womb). When this ritual was performed with 
the help of Brahmanas, it was thought to lead to the 
not one by birth.   
In other cases, men from enterprising families 
used their military skills to carve out kingdoms. For 
instance, the Kadamba Mayurasharman and the 
Gurjara-Pratihara Harichandra were Brahmanas who 
gave up their traditional professions and took to arms, 
successfully establishing kingdoms in Karnataka and 
Rajasthan respectively.  
Administration in the Kingdoms
Many of these new kings adopted high-sounding 
titles such as  (great king, overlord 
of kings),  (lord of the three 
worlds) and so on. However, in spite of such claims, 
Do you think 
being born as 
a Kshatriya was 
important in 
order to become 
a ruler during this 
period? 
Fig. 1
Wall relief from Cave 
15, Ellora, showing 
Vishnu as Narasimha, 
the man-lion. 
It is a work of the 
Rashtrakuta period.
Page 3


16
M
any new dynasties emerged after the  
 seventh century. Map 1 shows the major ruling 
dynasties in different parts of the subcontinent 
between the seventh and twelfth centuries. 
2
KINGS AND 
KINGDOMS
Map 1 
Major kingdoms, 
seventh-twelfth 
centuries  
Locate the 
Gurjara-Pratiharas, 
Rashtrakutas, 
Palas, Cholas 
and Chahamanas 
(Chauhans). 
Can you identify 
the present-day 
states over which 
they exercised 
control? 
?
17
KINGS AND KINGDOMS
?
The Emergence of New Dynasties
By the seventh century, there were big landlords or 
warrior chiefs in different regions of the subcontinent. 
Existing kings often acknowledged them as their 
subordinates or  They 
were expected to bring gifts for their 
kings or overlords, be present at 
their courts and provide them with 
military support. As  gained 
power and wealth, they declared 
themselves to be , 
 (the great 
lord of a “circle” or region) and so 
independence from their overlords. 
One such instance was that of 
the Rashtrakutas in the Deccan. 
Initially they were subordinate to 
the Chalukyas of Karnataka. In the 
mid-eighth century, Dantidurga, a 
Rashtrakuta chief, overthrew his Chalukya overlord and 
performed a ritual called  (literally, the 
golden womb). When this ritual was performed with 
the help of Brahmanas, it was thought to lead to the 
not one by birth.   
In other cases, men from enterprising families 
used their military skills to carve out kingdoms. For 
instance, the Kadamba Mayurasharman and the 
Gurjara-Pratihara Harichandra were Brahmanas who 
gave up their traditional professions and took to arms, 
successfully establishing kingdoms in Karnataka and 
Rajasthan respectively.  
Administration in the Kingdoms
Many of these new kings adopted high-sounding 
titles such as  (great king, overlord 
of kings),  (lord of the three 
worlds) and so on. However, in spite of such claims, 
Do you think 
being born as 
a Kshatriya was 
important in 
order to become 
a ruler during this 
period? 
Fig. 1
Wall relief from Cave 
15, Ellora, showing 
Vishnu as Narasimha, 
the man-lion. 
It is a work of the 
Rashtrakuta period.
18
?
they often shared power with their  as well as 
with associations of peasants, traders and Brahmanas.
In each of these states, resources were obtained 
from the producers – that is, peasants, cattle-keepers, 
artisans – who were often persuaded or compelled to 
these were claimed as “rent” due to a lord who asserted 
that he owned the land. Revenue was also collected 
from traders. 
Four hundred taxes!
The inscriptions of the Cholas who ruled in Tamil 
Nadu refer to more than 400 terms for different kinds 
of taxes. The most frequently mentioned tax is vetti, 
taken not in cash but in the form of forced labour, and 
kadamai, or land revenue. There were also taxes on 
thatching the house, the use of a ladder to climb palm 
trees, a cess on succession to family property, etc.  
Are any such taxes collected today?  
establishment, as well as for the construction of temples 
 
turn expected to lead to the acquisition of wealth in the 
form of plunder, and access to land as well as trade routes.
The functionaries for collecting revenue were 
generally recruited from influential families, and 
positions were often hereditary. This was true about 
the army as well. In many cases, close relatives of the 
king held these positions.
P r a s ha s t i s and Land Grants 
contain details that may not be literally 
true. But they tell us how rulers wanted to depict 
themselves – as valiant, victorious warriors, for 
example. These were composed by learned Brahmanas, 
who occasionally helped in the administration.  
?
In what ways 
was this form of 
administration 
different from 
the present-day 
system?
Page 4


16
M
any new dynasties emerged after the  
 seventh century. Map 1 shows the major ruling 
dynasties in different parts of the subcontinent 
between the seventh and twelfth centuries. 
2
KINGS AND 
KINGDOMS
Map 1 
Major kingdoms, 
seventh-twelfth 
centuries  
Locate the 
Gurjara-Pratiharas, 
Rashtrakutas, 
Palas, Cholas 
and Chahamanas 
(Chauhans). 
Can you identify 
the present-day 
states over which 
they exercised 
control? 
?
17
KINGS AND KINGDOMS
?
The Emergence of New Dynasties
By the seventh century, there were big landlords or 
warrior chiefs in different regions of the subcontinent. 
Existing kings often acknowledged them as their 
subordinates or  They 
were expected to bring gifts for their 
kings or overlords, be present at 
their courts and provide them with 
military support. As  gained 
power and wealth, they declared 
themselves to be , 
 (the great 
lord of a “circle” or region) and so 
independence from their overlords. 
One such instance was that of 
the Rashtrakutas in the Deccan. 
Initially they were subordinate to 
the Chalukyas of Karnataka. In the 
mid-eighth century, Dantidurga, a 
Rashtrakuta chief, overthrew his Chalukya overlord and 
performed a ritual called  (literally, the 
golden womb). When this ritual was performed with 
the help of Brahmanas, it was thought to lead to the 
not one by birth.   
In other cases, men from enterprising families 
used their military skills to carve out kingdoms. For 
instance, the Kadamba Mayurasharman and the 
Gurjara-Pratihara Harichandra were Brahmanas who 
gave up their traditional professions and took to arms, 
successfully establishing kingdoms in Karnataka and 
Rajasthan respectively.  
Administration in the Kingdoms
Many of these new kings adopted high-sounding 
titles such as  (great king, overlord 
of kings),  (lord of the three 
worlds) and so on. However, in spite of such claims, 
Do you think 
being born as 
a Kshatriya was 
important in 
order to become 
a ruler during this 
period? 
Fig. 1
Wall relief from Cave 
15, Ellora, showing 
Vishnu as Narasimha, 
the man-lion. 
It is a work of the 
Rashtrakuta period.
18
?
they often shared power with their  as well as 
with associations of peasants, traders and Brahmanas.
In each of these states, resources were obtained 
from the producers – that is, peasants, cattle-keepers, 
artisans – who were often persuaded or compelled to 
these were claimed as “rent” due to a lord who asserted 
that he owned the land. Revenue was also collected 
from traders. 
Four hundred taxes!
The inscriptions of the Cholas who ruled in Tamil 
Nadu refer to more than 400 terms for different kinds 
of taxes. The most frequently mentioned tax is vetti, 
taken not in cash but in the form of forced labour, and 
kadamai, or land revenue. There were also taxes on 
thatching the house, the use of a ladder to climb palm 
trees, a cess on succession to family property, etc.  
Are any such taxes collected today?  
establishment, as well as for the construction of temples 
 
turn expected to lead to the acquisition of wealth in the 
form of plunder, and access to land as well as trade routes.
The functionaries for collecting revenue were 
generally recruited from influential families, and 
positions were often hereditary. This was true about 
the army as well. In many cases, close relatives of the 
king held these positions.
P r a s ha s t i s and Land Grants 
contain details that may not be literally 
true. But they tell us how rulers wanted to depict 
themselves – as valiant, victorious warriors, for 
example. These were composed by learned Brahmanas, 
who occasionally helped in the administration.  
?
In what ways 
was this form of 
administration 
different from 
the present-day 
system?
19
KINGS AND KINGDOMS
Fig. 2
This is a set of copper 
plates recording a 
grant of land made 
by a ruler in the ninth 
century, written partly 
in Sanskrit and partly 
in Tamil. The ring 
holding the plates 
together is secured 
with the royal seal, to 
indicate that this is an 
authentic document. 
Also, see if you 
can find some 
of the areas 
mentioned in the 
inscription on 
Map 1. 
Other rulers made 
similar claims as 
well. Why do you 
think they made 
these claims?  
?
The “achievements” of Nagabhata
Many rulers described their achievements in prashastis 
(you read about the prashasti of the Gupta ruler 
Samudragupta last year). 
One prashasti, written in Sanskrit and found in 
Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, describes the exploits of 
Nagabhata, a Pratihara king, as follows:
The kings of Andhra, Saindhava (Sind), Vidarbha (part of 
Maharashtra) and Kalinga (part of Orissa) fell before him 
even as he was a prince …
He won a victory over Chakrayudha (the ruler of Kanauj) …
He defeated the king of Vanga (part of Bengal), Anarta (part 
of Gujarat), Malava (part of Madhya Pradesh), Kirata (forest 
peoples), Turushka (Turks), Vatsa, Matsya (both kingdoms 
in north India) …
Kings often rewarded Brahmanas by grants of land. 
These were recorded on copper plates, which were given 
to those who received the land.
Page 5


16
M
any new dynasties emerged after the  
 seventh century. Map 1 shows the major ruling 
dynasties in different parts of the subcontinent 
between the seventh and twelfth centuries. 
2
KINGS AND 
KINGDOMS
Map 1 
Major kingdoms, 
seventh-twelfth 
centuries  
Locate the 
Gurjara-Pratiharas, 
Rashtrakutas, 
Palas, Cholas 
and Chahamanas 
(Chauhans). 
Can you identify 
the present-day 
states over which 
they exercised 
control? 
?
17
KINGS AND KINGDOMS
?
The Emergence of New Dynasties
By the seventh century, there were big landlords or 
warrior chiefs in different regions of the subcontinent. 
Existing kings often acknowledged them as their 
subordinates or  They 
were expected to bring gifts for their 
kings or overlords, be present at 
their courts and provide them with 
military support. As  gained 
power and wealth, they declared 
themselves to be , 
 (the great 
lord of a “circle” or region) and so 
independence from their overlords. 
One such instance was that of 
the Rashtrakutas in the Deccan. 
Initially they were subordinate to 
the Chalukyas of Karnataka. In the 
mid-eighth century, Dantidurga, a 
Rashtrakuta chief, overthrew his Chalukya overlord and 
performed a ritual called  (literally, the 
golden womb). When this ritual was performed with 
the help of Brahmanas, it was thought to lead to the 
not one by birth.   
In other cases, men from enterprising families 
used their military skills to carve out kingdoms. For 
instance, the Kadamba Mayurasharman and the 
Gurjara-Pratihara Harichandra were Brahmanas who 
gave up their traditional professions and took to arms, 
successfully establishing kingdoms in Karnataka and 
Rajasthan respectively.  
Administration in the Kingdoms
Many of these new kings adopted high-sounding 
titles such as  (great king, overlord 
of kings),  (lord of the three 
worlds) and so on. However, in spite of such claims, 
Do you think 
being born as 
a Kshatriya was 
important in 
order to become 
a ruler during this 
period? 
Fig. 1
Wall relief from Cave 
15, Ellora, showing 
Vishnu as Narasimha, 
the man-lion. 
It is a work of the 
Rashtrakuta period.
18
?
they often shared power with their  as well as 
with associations of peasants, traders and Brahmanas.
In each of these states, resources were obtained 
from the producers – that is, peasants, cattle-keepers, 
artisans – who were often persuaded or compelled to 
these were claimed as “rent” due to a lord who asserted 
that he owned the land. Revenue was also collected 
from traders. 
Four hundred taxes!
The inscriptions of the Cholas who ruled in Tamil 
Nadu refer to more than 400 terms for different kinds 
of taxes. The most frequently mentioned tax is vetti, 
taken not in cash but in the form of forced labour, and 
kadamai, or land revenue. There were also taxes on 
thatching the house, the use of a ladder to climb palm 
trees, a cess on succession to family property, etc.  
Are any such taxes collected today?  
establishment, as well as for the construction of temples 
 
turn expected to lead to the acquisition of wealth in the 
form of plunder, and access to land as well as trade routes.
The functionaries for collecting revenue were 
generally recruited from influential families, and 
positions were often hereditary. This was true about 
the army as well. In many cases, close relatives of the 
king held these positions.
P r a s ha s t i s and Land Grants 
contain details that may not be literally 
true. But they tell us how rulers wanted to depict 
themselves – as valiant, victorious warriors, for 
example. These were composed by learned Brahmanas, 
who occasionally helped in the administration.  
?
In what ways 
was this form of 
administration 
different from 
the present-day 
system?
19
KINGS AND KINGDOMS
Fig. 2
This is a set of copper 
plates recording a 
grant of land made 
by a ruler in the ninth 
century, written partly 
in Sanskrit and partly 
in Tamil. The ring 
holding the plates 
together is secured 
with the royal seal, to 
indicate that this is an 
authentic document. 
Also, see if you 
can find some 
of the areas 
mentioned in the 
inscription on 
Map 1. 
Other rulers made 
similar claims as 
well. Why do you 
think they made 
these claims?  
?
The “achievements” of Nagabhata
Many rulers described their achievements in prashastis 
(you read about the prashasti of the Gupta ruler 
Samudragupta last year). 
One prashasti, written in Sanskrit and found in 
Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, describes the exploits of 
Nagabhata, a Pratihara king, as follows:
The kings of Andhra, Saindhava (Sind), Vidarbha (part of 
Maharashtra) and Kalinga (part of Orissa) fell before him 
even as he was a prince …
He won a victory over Chakrayudha (the ruler of Kanauj) …
He defeated the king of Vanga (part of Bengal), Anarta (part 
of Gujarat), Malava (part of Madhya Pradesh), Kirata (forest 
peoples), Turushka (Turks), Vatsa, Matsya (both kingdoms 
in north India) …
Kings often rewarded Brahmanas by grants of land. 
These were recorded on copper plates, which were given 
to those who received the land.
20
?
What was given with the land
This is a part of the Tamil section of a land grant given 
by the Cholas: 
We have demarcated the boundaries of the land by making 
earthen embankments, as well as by planting thorny bushes. 
This is what the land contains: fruit-bearing trees, water, 
land, gardens and orchards, trees, wells, open spaces, 
pasture-land, a village, anthills, platforms, canals, ditches, 
and deep lakes. 
He who receives the land can collect taxes from it. He can 
on betel-leaves, that on woven cloth, as well as on vehicles. 
He can build large rooms, with upper stories made of baked 
bricks, he can get large and small wells dug, he can plant trees 
and thorny bushes, if necessary, he can get canals constructed 
for irrigation. He should ensure that water is not wasted, and 
that embankments are built. 
List all the possible sources of irrigation mentioned 
in the inscription, and discuss how these might 
have been used.  
 
poem containing the history of kings who ruled over 
Kashmir. It was composed by an author named 
Kalhana. He used a variety of sources, including 
inscriptions, documents, eyewitness accounts and 
earlier histories, to write his account. Unlike the 
writers of , he was often critical about rulers 
and their policies.
Warfare for Wealth 
You may have noticed that each of these ruling 
time, they tried to control other areas. One particularly