Unit Test (Solutions): Empires and Kingdoms: 6th to 10th Centuries

M.M: 30
Attempt all questions.

• Question numbers 1 to 5 carry 1 mark each.
• Question numbers 6 to 8 carry 2 marks each.
• Question numbers 9 to 11 carry 3 marks each.
• Question numbers 12 & 13 carry 5 marks each.

Q1. In which year did Harṣhavardhana become king at Kannauj? (1 Mark)
Ans: 606 CE

Q2. What was the name of the Chinese pilgrim who visited India between 630-644 CE? (1 Mark)
 (i) Al-Masūdī
 (ii) Xuanzang
 (iii) Kalhaṇa
 (iv) Bāṇabhaṭṭa
Ans: (ii)
Explanation: Xuanzang was the Chinese pilgrim who travelled in India between 630-644 CE to visit Buddhist sites and learn from Indian teachers.

Q3. Fill in the blank:
 The Pāla dynasty was founded by __________ in 750 CE. (1 Mark)
Ans: Gopāla

Q4. True or False:
 Kailaśhanātha temple at Ellora was built by Krishna I of the Rāṣhṭrakūṭa dynasty. (1 Mark)
Ans: True

Q5. What does the term 'Mahārājādhirāja' mean? (1 Mark)
Ans: Great King of Kings

Q6. Why was Kannauj strategically important during the Tripartite Struggle? (2 Marks)
Ans: Kannauj was strategically important because of its location on the Ganga River. It also controlled important trade routes, which made it valuable to the three dynasties fighting for control.

Q7. What were the main subjects studied at Vikramaśhilā University? (2 Marks)
Ans: Nearly 3,000 scholars studied at Vikramaśhilā University. The main subjects included grammar, logic, and philosophy. Students were tested by dvārapaṇḍita or 'scholar gatekeepers' before admission.

Q8. Who was Amoghavarṣha I, and what were his achievements? (2 Marks)
Ans: Amoghavarṣha I was also called 'Nṛipatunga', meaning 'peak of kings'. He ruled for 64 years and ensured peace and prosperity. He was strongly drawn to Jainism but also patronised Hindu temples and was a fine poet in Sanskrit and Kannada.

Q9. Describe the contributions of Brahmagupta to mathematics and astronomy. (3 Marks)
Ans: Brahmagupta made important contributions to both mathematics and astronomy. In his work Brahmasphutasiddhānta, he explained operations with zero, negative numbers, and fractions. He laid the foundations of algebra by developing new methods to solve equations. His works were translated into Persian and Latin, which influenced the Arab world and Europe.

Q10. What role did temples play in the cultural life during this period? (3 Marks)
Ans: Temples became the centre of religious life during this period. Religion is increasingly centred on temples, maṭhas, pilgrimage, and bhakti. Temples played a major role in urban economic life along with ports. Rulers built grand temples and patronised Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions, which mostly coexisted peacefully.

Q11. Explain how the Bhakti Movement cut across social divisions. (3 Marks)
Ans: From the 6th century, the Bhakti Movement spread across India. The Ālvārs, who were devotees of Viṣhṇu, and the Nāyanārs, who were devotees of Śhiva led the movement in the South. Bhakti cut across social divisions, including caste and gender, bringing people together through devotion.

Q12. Describe the political and cultural achievements of the Pallava dynasty. (5 Marks)
Ans: The Pallava dynasty reached its peak period in the 7th century with Kānchī as its capital. They reached their peak under Mahendravarman I and his son Narasimhavarman I, who defeated Pulakeśhin II and captured Badami. The Pallavas built rock-cut and monolithic temples at Māmallapuram depicting deities and Mahābhārata scenes. They patronised Jain, Vaishnavite, and Shaivite traditions. They promoted Sanskrit and Tamil literature, with poets like Daṇḍin flourishing under them. Kanchipuram was an important cultural centre and economic hub, with trade in spices, textiles, ivory, and luxury goods through the seaport at Māmallapuram.

Q13. Explain the changes in polity, administration, and society during the 6th to 10th centuries in India. (5 Marks)
Ans: Large empires broke into smaller, decentralised kingdoms during this period. Kings ruled core areas directly and outer regions through sāmantas or vassals who managed local administration and armies. Territories were divided into provinces, districts, and villages, with villages largely self-governed by local officials and committees. Indian society became more complex, with jātis increasing in number based on occupation or region. Most communities practised endogamy, and some tribes and occupational groups were absorbed into the varṇa-jāti system. The system varied by region and was flexible, not rigid. Despite social divisions, different jātis depended on one another economically, and rulers patronised Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions that mostly coexisted peacefully.