Worksheet: Empires and Kingdoms: 6th to 10th Centuries

Multiple Choice Questions

Q1: Who was the Chinese pilgrim who visited India between 630-644 CE and left detailed accounts about politics, culture, and religion?
(a) Faxian
(b) Xuanzang
(c) I-Tsing
(d) Al-Masūdī

Q2: Which dynasty founded the Vikramaśhilā University in Bihar during the late 8th century?
(a) Gurjara-Pratīhāras
(b) Rāṣhṭrakūṭas
(c) Pālas
(d) Chālukyas

Q3: Which Rāṣhṭrakūṭa ruler built the magnificent Kailaśhanātha temple at Ellora?
(a) Dantidurga
(b) Krishna I
(c) Amoghavarṣha I
(d) Govinda III

Q4: What does the title 'Mahārājādhirāja' given to Harṣhavardhana mean?
(a) King of the North
(b) Great King of Kings
(c) Emperor of India
(d) Lord of the Earth

Q5: Which scholar wrote the Rājatarangiṇī, a historical chronicle of Kashmir's dynasties?
(a) Bāṇabhaṭṭa
(b) Kalhaṇa
(c) Abhinavagupta
(d) Ravikīrti

Fill in the Blanks

Q1: After Harṣha's death in 647 CE, three powerful dynasties fought for control of _______ during the 8th and 9th centuries.

Q2: _______ was a scholar who wrote Kādambarī, considered one of the world's first novels, under Harṣha's patronage.

Q3: The Pallava dynasty reached its peak in the 7th century with its capital at _______, also known as modern Kanchipuram.

Q4: _______ was a mathematician who made important contributions to operations with zero, negative numbers, and laid the foundations of algebra.

Q5: The Bhakti Movement in South India was led by the _______ who were devotees of Viṣhṇu and the Nāyanārs who worshipped Śhiva.

True or False

Q1: Harṣhavardhana successfully expanded his empire southward by defeating Pulakeśhin II of the Chālukya dynasty.

Q2: The Pāla dynasty was founded by Gopāla, who was chosen by the people in 750 CE to restore stability in Bengal.

Q3: Muhammad bin Qasim's conquest of Sindh in the early 8th century led to permanent Arab control over most of India.

Q4: The Vikramaśhilā University had dvārapaṇḍitas ('scholar gatekeepers') who tested students before admission.

Q5: The Chola dynasty was completely destroyed by the Pallavas and never revived in South India.

Match the Following

Q1: Match the rulers in Column A with their corresponding achievements or characteristics in Column B.

Ans:

1 - E (Harṣhavardhana was a poet and dramatist who wrote three plays in Sanskrit and patronised scholars like Bāṇabhaṭṭa during his reign.)

2 - C (Dharmapāla of the Pāla dynasty founded Vikramaśhilā University in Bihar, which had nearly 3,000 scholars studying various subjects including grammar and philosophy.)

3 - A (Krishna I of the Rāṣhṭrakūṭa dynasty built the magnificent Kailaśhanātha temple at Ellora, the largest rock-cut temple in India with remarkable architecture.)

4 - B (Narasimhavarman I, also called 'Mamalla', defeated Pulakeśhin II of the Chālukyas and captured Badami, demonstrating Pallava military strength in the 7th century.)

5 - D (Kalhaṇa, a 12th-century scholar-poet, wrote Rājatarangiṇī ('River of Kings'), narrating Kashmir's dynastic history using inscriptions, temple records, and earlier works with objectivity.)

Short Answer Questions

Q1: Describe the significance of the Tripartite Struggle for Kannauj after Harṣha's death.

Q2: Explain the contribution of Brahmagupta to mathematics and astronomy.

Q3: What were the main features of the Vikramaśhilā University established by the Pālas?

Q4: Describe the cultural achievements of the Pallava dynasty in art and architecture.

Q5: How did the Bhakti Movement contribute to social change during this period?