Class 7 History Chapter 2 Question Answers - New Kings and Kingdoms

Q1: Where did the Cholas rule?
Ans: The Cholas ruled in Tamil Nadu.

Q2: Who were mah-samantas?
Ans: The samantas who gained power and wealth were also called ‘maha-samantas’.

Q3: How did samantas become ‘maha-mandaleshvara’?
Ans: As samantas gained power and wealth, they declared themselves to be maha-mandaleshvara.

Q4: Who was Pratihara Harichandra?
Ans: The Gurjara Pratihara Harichandra was a Brahmana who gave up traditional professions and took to arms, successfully establishing kingdoms in Rajasthan.

Q5: Who built Thanjavur and a temple for the goddess Nishumbhasudini?
Ans: Vijayalaya Chola built the town named Thanjavur.

Q6: Who was acknowledged as the ‘samantas’?
Ans: In the 7th century, there were big landlords or warrior chiefs in different regions. They were acknowledged as subordinates or samantas of kings.

Q7: What was referred to in Prashasti found in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh?
Ans: One Prashasti written in Sanskrit and found in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, describes the exploits of Nagabhata, a Pratihara King.

Q8: Who was Kadamba Mayurasharman?
Ans: The Kadamba Mayurasharman was a Brahmana who gave up the traditional profession and took to arms, successfully establishing a kingdom in Karnataka.

Q9: Mention the use of copper plates during the period.
Ans: Kings often rewarded Brahmanas with grants of land. These were recorded on copper plates, which were given to those who received the land.

Q10: How many taxes were imposed in the Cholas regime?
Ans: There were more than 400 kinds of taxes in the Cholas regime.

Q11: What do you understand by the word ‘kadamai?
Ans: ‘Kadamai’ was a tax of the Cholas regime imposed for land revenue.

Q12: What was the use of collected taxes?
Ans: The collected taxes were used for the construction of temples and forts, to fight wars, and for access to land and trade routes.

Q13: Who built temples of Thanjavur and Gangaikonda Cholapuram?
Ans: The temples of Thanjavur and Gangaikonda Cholapuram were built by Rajaraja and Rajendra.

Q14: What do you understand about ‘hiranya-garbha’?
Ans: The Rashtrakutas in the Deccan were initially subordinate to the Chalukyas of Karnataka but later overthrew them and performed a ritual called ‘hiranya-garbha’. This ritual leads to the “rebirth” of the sacrificer as a Kshatriya, even if he is not one by birth.

Q15: Who captured the delta from the Muttaraiyar?
Ans: Vijayalaya, who belonged to the ancient chief family of the Cholas from Uraiyur, captured the delta of the Muttaraiyar in the middle of the ninth century.

Q16: Where did the Chauhans rule?
Ans: The Chauhans ruled over the region around Delhi and Ajmer.

Q17: Who conquered the Pandyan and the Pallava territories?
Ans: Vijayalaya conquered the Pandyan and the Pallava territories.

Q18: Why is the time span between the 7th and 12th centuries?
Ans: The time span between the 7th and 12th centuries is important because many new dynasties emerged in different parts of the subcontinent.

Q19: What was the target of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni?
Ans: He raided the subcontinent almost every year. His targets were wealthy temples, including that of Somnath, Gujarat.

Q20: What was expected by the kings from samantas?
Ans: Samantas were expected to bring gifts and provide them with military support.

Q21: What do you understand about ‘vetti’?
Ans: In the Cholas regime, the most frequently mentioned tax is ‘vetti’ taken not in cash but in the form of forced labor.

Q22: How many sabhas were formed by the Cholas for the regulation of various works?
Ans: Inscriptions received from Tamil Nadu provide the details of various sabhas, such as irrigation works, gardens, temples, etc., with certain criteria of eligibility.

Q23: Who wrote ‘Kitab-al-Hind’?
Ans: Al-Biruni wrote it.