Political Developments Chapter Notes | Footprints Class 6: Book Solutions, Notes & Worksheets PDF Download

Introduction

In ancient India, there were fascinating tales of kings, dynasties, and kingdoms that shaped the rich history of our land. Let's embark on a journey to discover some remarkable stories!

Charita Kavyas and Prashastis

Imagine books filled with stories about kings and their heroic deeds. These special books, known as "charita kavyas," were written by court poets. They sang praises of the kings and their achievements. Sometimes, these stories were carved on stones and called "prashastis." One such prashasti described the adventures of King Kharavela in the Hathigumpha Cave. These were like ancient biographies, a bit exaggerated, but still important for learning about our history.

The Gupta Legacy and the Emergence of New Kingdoms

As the Gupta empire declined, new kingdoms emerged. Kumaragupta succeeded Chandragupta II, and during his reign, the Hunas, a nomadic tribe, invaded India. Skandagupta, his successor, defeated them, but later Gupta kings faced challenges, leading to the collapse of the political structure built by Samudragupta.

Chandragupta I (320—335 CE)

• Chandragupta I ascended the throne in 320 CE as the first important ruler of the Gupta dynasty.
• He received Magadha as a part of his dowry when he married Kumaradevi, a Lichchhavi princess.
• His empire extended from Magadha to Prayaga.
• Chandragupta I ruled for 15 years and assumed the title of Maharajadhiraja or 'king of kings'.
• Chandragupta I is said to have issued coins with the image of his queen Kumaradevi on them.

Samudragupta (335—380 CE)

• Samudragupta, the son of Chandragupta I, became emperor in 335 CE.
• He was a great conqueror, defeating and subjugating a number of other kings from India and outside.
• British historian Vincent Smith called Samudragupta the Indian Napoleon because of his military exploits and expansionist policies.
• The most authentic source of information about Samudragupta is the Allahabad Pillar inscription (Prayaga prashasti), composed by his court poet, Harisena.
• Harisena's inscription states that Samudragupta conquered the 'whole world'. He names several kings who were defeated by Samudragupta in the north (Aryavarta).
• Samudragupta also captured and then 'granted freedom' to several kings in the southern part of India.
• Harisena's inscription also includes personal information about Samudragupta, noting his sharp intellect, his association with learned men, and his talents as a musician and poet.
• Some of his coins show him playing the veena.
• Samudragupta called himself 'Lichchhavi Dauhitra' or the 'grandson of the Lichchhavis'.

Chandragupta II (380—412 CE)

• Samudragupta was succeeded by his son Chandragupta II, also known as Vikramaditya, in 380 CE.
• He continued Samudragupta's policy of expansion.
• His greatest achievement was the destruction of the power of the Sakas of Malwa, Gujarat, and Saurashtra.
• Chandragupta II also established control over the Deccan through the marriage of his daughter, Prabhavati Devi, with the Vakataka prince, Rudrasena II.
• Kalidasa and Aryabhata were among the nine jewels or navratnas in the court of Chandragupta II.
• The Chinese pilgrim, Faxian (also Fa-hsien), visited India during his reign and described him as a wise, just, and benevolent ruler.

The Successors

• Chandragupta II was succeeded by Kumaragupta.
• During Kumaragupta's reign, the Hunas, a martial nomadic tribe of Central Asia, invaded India.
• They were defeated by Skandagupta, the successor of Kumaragupta.
• The later Gupta kings, however, were not very competent.
• Slowly, the provinces became independent, and ultimately, the political structure built by Samudragupta collapsed.

Administering Empires

• Theoretically, the king was the most powerful person and the center of administration.
• A council of ministers, or mantri parishad, assisted the king in administrative matters.
• There were many other administrative officials at the provincial level and at the district level.
• A province was called a bhukti and was further divided into districts called vishayas.
• Each bhukti was placed under the charge of an uparika. Kumaramatyas were important officials appointed by the king in provinces and were usually paid in cash. The revenue collected from the land became their income. Some posts were made hereditary.
• Besides administrative officials, other categories of people began to enjoy a greater say in local or city administration. For example, the nagara shresthi (the chief merchant or the chief banker or the leader of the most powerful guild), the sarthavaha (the leader of the caravans), the prathama kulika (the chief artisan or craftsman), and the chief kayastha (the most important scribe) were people who had a say in city administration.

New Developments in Administration

• The Gupta administration was thus decentralized in comparison to that of the Mauryan administration.
• The local chiefs or provincial officials who received land grants became powerful and often helped the king by providing soldiers in times of need. Such men came to be called samantas. 
• As the Gupta empire declined, the samantas became more and more powerful.

Emergence of New Kingdoms

This period also saw the emergence of new kingdoms. Let us learn more about them.

Harshavardhana (606—647 CE)

A famous charita kavya is the Harshacharita written by Banabhatta. It was about his king, Harshavardhana of Kannauj, written in Sanskrit.

• Banabhatta tells us about Harsha's early life and how he became the king in 606 CE. He became the ruler of Kannauj after the death of his brother-in-law, Grihavarman.
• After ascending the throne, Harsha shifted his capital from Thanesar to Kannauj.
• Harsha ruled for more than 40 years. Although he was not able to extend his power to the east and Deccan, Harsha did bring parts of Punjab, Kashmir, Nepal, and Gujarat under his control.

The Kingdoms of South India

Some powerful kingdoms emerged in South India such as the Chalukyas of Vatapi or Badami and the Pallavas of Kanchipuram.

The Pallavas and the Chalukyas

• The Chalukyas' territory stretched between the Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers. Their capital city was Aihole, later moving to Badami.
• The most famous ruler of the Chalukyas was Pulakesin II, who achieved fame after defeating the Pallavas.
• Pulakesin II is known from a prashasti composed by his court poet Ravikirti. The Aihole inscription provides valuable information about the Chalukyan dynasty.
• Besides the Pallavas, the Chalukyas faced numerous other enemies, such as the Rashtrakutas. After the death of Pulakesin II, Chalukyan power declined.
• Among the Pallava rulers, Mahendravarman and his son, Narasimhavarman I, were the most prominent. Narasimhavarman I defeated Pulakesin II and captured Vatapi (Badami), adopting the title of Vatapikonda or the 'conqueror of Vatapi'.

Local Governance: The Role of Assemblies in South India

1. Assembly of Brahmana Landowners:

   • This assembly comprised Brahmana landowners and operated through various committees.
   • Committees focused on irrigation, agriculture, maintenance of roads, and other local matters.

2. Assembly of Rich Merchants:

   • This assembly primarily functioned in towns and cities.
   • It dealt with a wide range of urban and administrative issues.

3. Village Assembly:

   • Another assembly at the village level consisted of non-Brahmana members.
   • It played a significant role in local governance, addressing various village affairs and concerns.