Social Science 7th STD

History

Which new dynasties emerged after the 7th century in subcontinent?

 Guijara-Pratiharas
 Rashtrakutas
 Palas
 Cholas
 Chahamanas or Chauhan

2. Who were samantas? What service did they provide to the existing kings?

 Samantas were big landlords or warrior-chiefs in different regions of the

subcontinent.
 Existing kings considered them as their subordinates.
 Services Provided by the Samantas:
 Samantas brought gifts for their kings or overlords.
 They remained present at their courts or functions organized by them.
 They provided them with military support.

3. What titles did the new kings adopt?

 Many of the new kings adopted high-sounding titles.

 These titles were Maharaja-adhiraja meaning great king, Overlord of kings,
Tribhuvana-chakravartin meaning lord of the three worlds and so on.
 However, in spite of such claims, they often shared power with their
samantas as well as with associations of peasants, traders and Brahmanas.

4. What do inscriptions of the Cholas refer to as four hundred taxes?

 The inscriptions of the Cholas who ruled in Tamil Nadu refer to more than
400 terrhs 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.
 Other taxes were also charged.
 Taxes on thatching the houses.
 The use of a ladder to climb palm trees.
  A cess on succession to family property, etc.

5. What were prashastis?

 Prashastis were the certificates which contained details that might not be
literally true.
 They told how rulers wanted to depict themselves—as valiant, victorious
warriors.
 These were composed by learned Brahmanas, who occasionally helped in
the administration.

6. How were Brahmanas rewarded?

Kings often rewarded Brahmanas with grants of land.

 These were recorded on copper plates.

 The plates were given to those who received the land.

7. What was unusual about Kalhana’s writing?

 Unusual thing for the twelfth century was a long Sanskrit poem.
 It contained the history of kings who ruled over Kashmir.
 It was composed by an author named Kalhana.
 He used a variety of sources. They included the following:
1. Inscriptions
2. Documents
3. Eyewitness accounts
4. Earlier histories.
 Unlike the writers of prashastis, he was often critical about rulers and their
policies.

8. How did the Cholas rise to power?

 A minor chiefly family known as the Muttaraiyar held power in the Kaveri
delta.
 The family was subordinate to the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram.
 Vijayalaya belonged to the ancient chiefly family of the Cholas from Uraiyur.
  He captured the Kaveri delta from the Muttaraiyar in the middle of the ninth
century.
 He built the town of Thanjavur and a temple for goddess Nishumbhasudini
there.
 The successors of Vijayalaya conquered neighbouring regions.
 Thus the kingdom grew in size and power.
 They won the Pandyan and the Pallava territories to the south and north and
made these areas part of this kingdom.
 Rajaraja I was considered the most powerful Chola ruler.
 He became king in 985 A.D. and expanded control over most of these areas.
 He also reorganised the administration of the empire.

9. Give an account of agriculture of the Cholas.

Many of the achievements of the Cholas were made possible through new
developments in agriculture.
The river Kaveri branches off into several small channels before falling into the
Bay of Bengal.

 These channels overflew frequently.

 They deposited fertile soil on their banks. ‘
 Water from the channels provide the necessary moisture for agriculture,
particularly in the cultivation of rice.

Although agriculture had developed earlier in other parts of Tamil Nadu, it was
only from the fifth or sixth century that this area was opened up for large-scale
cultivation.

 Forests had to be cleared in some regions.

 Land was levelled in the other areas.
 In the Kaveri delta region embankments were built to prevent flooding.
 Canals were constructed to carry water to the fields.

10. Describe the variety of irrigation methods used in the Tamil region.

arge scale cultivation was developed in Tamil Nadu and in many cases artificial
irrigation became necessary. A variety of methods were used:
Wells were dug

Huge tanks were constructed to collect rain water

Canals were constructed

All this work required planning, organising labour and resources. Decisions were
taken collectively on the usage of water. New rulers and people took active
interest in these activities.

11. Give an account of the administration of the Chola Empire.

 Settlements of peasants, known as ur, became prosperous with the spread

of irrigation and agriculture.
 Groups of villages formed larger units called nadu.
 The village council and the nadu had several administrative functions
including dispensing justice and collecting taxes.

12. What types of land are described in the inscriptions?

1. Vellanvagai
Land of non-Brahmana peasant proprietors.
2. Brahmadeya
Land gifted to Brahmanas.
3. Shalabhoga
Land for the maintenance of a school.
4. Devadana, tirunamattukkani
Land gifted to temples.
5. Pallichchhandam
Land donated to Jaina institutions.

13. How did the Sabha work?

 All those who wish to become members of the sabha should be owners of
land from which land, revenue is collected.
 They should have their own homes.
 They should be between 35 and 70 years of age.
 They should have knowledge of the Vedas.
  They should be well-versed in administrative matters and honest in all
dealings.
 If anyone has been a member of any committee in the last three years, he
cannot become a member of another committee.
 Anyone who has not submitted his accounts, as well as those of his relatives,
cannot contest the elections.

VSA/ SA

1. Which new dynasty developed in eastern part of the country? Palas

2. What was the other name of the great lord of a ‘circle’ or region?
Maha-mandaleshvara
3. Who were expected to bring gifts for their kings in 17th century?
Samantas
4. What is the literal meaning of hiranya-garbha? Golden womb
5. What is Vetti? Tax
6. What was the use of money collected from taxes? To finance the
kings’ establishment, Construction of temples and forts, To fight wars
7. Who was Nagabhata? Pratihara king
8. Brahmanas were rewarded by grants of land recorded on? copper
plate
9. Who invaded the Somnath temple in Gujarat? Mahmud Ghazni
10. Who ruled in Tamil Nadu? Cholas
11. Muttaraiyar held power in this delta region: Kaveri
12. Who defeated Md. Ghori? Prithviraja III
13. Who wrote Kitab al-Hind? Al- Biruni
14. Who fought the tripartite struggle? Gurjara-Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas,
Palas
15. Temple at Thanjavur was for goddess? Nishumbhasudini
16. Group of village formed larger units called? Nadu
17. Tribhuvana chakravarthi- Lord of Three words
18. Al- Burani- Arabic scholar
19. Ur- Settlement of Peasants
 20. Muvendavalen- Peasant serving three kings
21. Vellanvagai- Land of Non brahamanas
22. Maha- Mandaleshwara- Great lord of a region

Geography

1. Define the term ‘Biosphere’.

2. What forms the ecosystem? Give some examples of ecosystems.
3. Define barter system.
4. Hydrosphere is a part of? Biosphere
5. Two main constituents of environment are natural, man-made
6. Components of Environment?
7. Domains of the environment?
8. The domain of water is referred to? Hydrosphere
9. What do plant and animal kingdom make together? Biosphere
10. When the World Environment Day is celebrated every year? 5th June
11. Interior of the Earth.
12. Types of Rocks.
13. Rock Cycle
14. What is Minerals? And its Uses