Maharashtra Board Class 11 History Chapter 11 Kingdoms in South India Solutions

1A. Choose the Correct Alternative and Write Complete Sentences.

Question 1. The name of the well-known king of Vakatak dynasty was ______________
(a) Sarvasena
(b) Pravarasena
(c) Jaising
Answer: (b) Pravarasena
In simple words: Pravarasena was a powerful and famous ruler of the Vakataka dynasty who expanded his empire significantly.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that Pravarasena I was the only Vakataka ruler to perform the Ashvamedha sacrifice and take the title of Samrat.

Question 1.
(d) Chandragupta
Answer: (b) Pravarasena
In simple words: Pravarasena is the correct option for this question.

🎯 Exam Tip: Memorize the key rulers of ancient dynasties to easily answer multiple-choice questions about their names.

Question 2. After the conquest in South, Pulakeshin II took up the title of ______________
(a) Parameshwara
(b) Vishayapati
(c) Deshadhipati
(d) Satyajay
Answer: (a) Parameshwara
In simple words: After winning battles in the south, King Pulakeshin II took the grand title of 'Parameshwara', which means the supreme lord.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember that 'Parameshwara' was a common title adopted by powerful kings after major military victories in ancient India.

Question 3. Kalidasa composed ______________ at Ramtek in Vidarbha.
(a) Shakuntal
(b) Meghdoot
(c) Malavikagnimitra
(d) Harivijay
Answer: (b) Meghdoot
In simple words: The famous poet Kalidasa wrote the beautiful poem 'Meghdoot' while staying at Ramtek.

🎯 Exam Tip: Associate the literary work 'Meghdoot' directly with the location 'Ramtek' to quickly recall this answer in exams.

Question 4. The world famous Kailasa temple was built during the ______________ period.
(a) Chalukya
(b) Pallava
(c) Cher
(d) Rashtrakuta
Answer: (d) Rashtrakuta
In simple words: The magnificent Kailasa temple at Ellora was carved out of a single rock during the rule of the Rashtrakuta dynasty.

🎯 Exam Tip: The Kailasa temple at Ellora is one of the most famous achievements of the Rashtrakuta dynasty, so this is a highly expected exam question.

1B. Find the Incorrect Pair from Set B and Write the Correct Ones.

Question 1.

🎯 Exam Tip: Carefully compare each pair in Set A and Set B to identify historical mismatches before writing the correct pair.

Question 1. Identify the incorrect pair in the following:

Answer: The incorrect pair is (a) Setubandh – Panini. The correct pair is Ashtadhyayi – Panini. Panini was a great Sanskrit grammarian who formulated the rules of Sanskrit grammar.
In simple words: Out of the given pairs, Setubandh was not written by Panini; Panini actually wrote the famous grammar book called Ashtadhyayi.

🎯 Exam Tip: Always memorize the authors and their respective literary works to easily identify incorrect pairs in history exams.

Explain the Following Statement with Reasons

Question 1. A strong rule of the Chalukyas was created in south India.
Answer:
• The Chalukya dynasty ruled in the south for approximately 200 years.
• Jaising the founder of this dynasty established his capital at Vatapi (Badami).
• Pulakeshin I was an important king of this dynasty who performed the Ashwamedha sacrifice.
• After him, his son Kirtivarman I came to power. During his reign, he conquered the Kadambas of Vanvasi (Karwar) and Mauryas of Aparanta (North Konkan) and expanded his rule.
• The greatest king of the Chalukyas was Pulakeshin II.
• He performed the Digvijaya and strengthened the power of the Chalukyas.
• His achievements are described by Ravikirti, a poet. He defeated Harshavardhan thus, acquiring great fame. This victory over Emperor Harshavardhana prevented the northern empire from expanding into the Deccan region.
In simple words: The Chalukya dynasty became very powerful in South India because of strong kings like Pulakeshin I and Pulakeshin II, who expanded their territory and even defeated the mighty northern king Harshavardhana.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mentioning key rulers like Pulakeshin I and Pulakeshin II along with their specific achievements helps you secure full marks.

Question 2. Yadava period has special importance in the history of Maharashtra.
Answer:
• Yadava dynasty is one of the important dynasties of Medieval Maharashtra.
• During this period there was a notable development in the cultural sphere of Maharashtra. Furthermore, Marathi literature flourished significantly during this era, making it a golden age for the regional language.
• The Mahanubhav and Warkari sects had a beginning in the Yadava period.
• During this period, Patan in Khandesh, Solotagi in Karnataka, and Paithan in Maharashtra became important centers of learning.
In simple words: The Yadava period is very important because it was a time when Maharashtra saw great progress in culture, the rise of popular religious movements like the Warkari sect, and the growth of major learning centers.

🎯 Exam Tip: Don't forget to highlight the rise of the Mahanubhav and Warkari sects, as these are crucial cultural milestones of the Yadava period.

• Sanskrit texts were written on subjects like Dharmashastra, ‘Purva Mimansa’ (philosophical text), Nyaya, and Vedanta.
• Many important texts were composed at this time for eg. the composition of saint poets like Namadeva, Janabai, etc.
• Many temples were built of the Hemadipanti style at this time.
• An important feature of the Hemadipanti temples is that no mortar was used.

Write Short Notes

Question 1. The administrative system in South India
Answer:
• There were officials like ‘Mahadandanayaka’, ‘Rashtrika’, ‘Deshadhikruta’, ‘Amatya’, ‘Ayukta’, etc.
• The council of officers in the Chola kingdom was called ‘Udankuttam’.
• The kingdom was divided into many provinces. These provinces were known as ‘Mandalam’.
• A member of the royal family was the chief of the Mandalam.
• There were many officers under him such as ‘Vishayapati’, ‘Deshadhipati’, ‘Deshadhikrut’, ‘Rashtrika’, etc.
• The administration of the Southern kingdoms was very efficient. Village autonomy was an important feature.
• The ‘Gramasabha’ (village council) looked after the village administration.
• The head of the Gramasabha was known by different names such as ‘Gramabhojaka’, ‘Gramakuta’ etc.
• Land revenue was the main source of income for the state.
• Apart from it the excise tax, professional tax, pilgrimage tax were the sources of income. This structured administration ensured peace and prosperity across the region.
In simple words: The kingdoms in South India had a well-organized government with many officers, divided provinces, and independent village councils that managed local affairs.

🎯 Exam Tip: Mention key administrative terms like 'Mandalam' and 'Gramasabha' to show a precise understanding of the South Indian administrative structure.

Question 2. Coins in South Indian dynasties.
Answer: The Maurya coins were in circulation in South India. These coins were often made of silver or copper and featured distinct punch marks.
In simple words: People in South India used coins from the Maurya Empire for trade and daily business.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly state the types of coins used and mention their role in trade to secure full marks.

• After the decline of Mauryas, the Pandyas issued their own punch-marked coins.
• The images like sun, horse, stupa, tree, fish were carved on it.
• On the Chera coins, there used to be a bow and arrow on one side and an image of an elephant on the other.
• On the Chola coins, the symbol of the tiger as the royal emblem of Cholas is depicted.
• The Chola coins were made of gold, silver and the legends were inscribed in the Devnagari script.
• The coins belonging to Chalukya king Rajaraja are issued in three metals gold, silver, and copper, with the image of Rajaraja and a tiger.
• Due to the trade with Rome, many Roman coins are found.

Answer the Following Questions in Brief with the Help of the Points Given Below

Question 1. Describe the rule of the Shilahara dynasty
(a) Founder
(b) Shilahara of South Konkan
(c) Shilaharas of North Konkan
(d) Shilaharas of Kolhapur
Answer:
(a) Founder: Jimutvahan is considered to be the founder of all three branches. They ruled for almost three hundred years as the feudatories of Rashtrakutas and later the Chalukyas. This long period of rule contributed significantly to the cultural development of the region.

(b) Shilahara of South Konkan: Sanafulla established the South Konkan branch of Shilaharas. His son, Dhammiyar set up the village of Vallipattana and built a fort there. Later King Adityavarma expanded his kingdom from Thane to Goa. Rattaraj was the last ruler of this dynasty. One of the copper plates found at Kharepatan gives an account of the history of this dynasty.

(c) Shilaharas of North Konkan: Kapardi established the North Konkan branch of Shilaharas. Their capital was at Sthanak (Thane). Aparajita was an important king of this branch. He ruled for around thirty-five years. He was followed by Chittaraj.
In simple words: The Shilahara dynasty had three main branches founded by Jimutvahan. The South Konkan branch was started by Sanafulla and ruled from Thane to Goa, while the North Konkan branch was established by Kapardi with its capital at Thane.

🎯 Exam Tip: Clearly separate your answer into the sub-points (a), (b), and (c) as asked in the question, and mention key rulers like Jimutvahan, Sanafulla, and Kapardi to score full marks.

Question (d) Shilaharas of Kolhapur
Answer: The modern districts of Satara, Sangli, Ratnagiri, and Belgaum were included in this kingdom. Jatiga established the Kolhapur branch of Shilaharas. Bhoj II was an important king of this dynasty. Kolhapur, Valivade, and Panhala were the capitals of this kingdom. ‘Koppeshwar Mahadev’ temple at Khidrapur was the creation of Shilaharas. This dynasty played a significant role in the medieval history of the southern Maharashtra region.
In simple words: The Shilaharas of Kolhapur ruled over areas like Satara and Sangli, with capitals at Kolhapur and Panhala, and built the famous Koppeshwar Mahadev temple.

🎯 Exam Tip: Remember the names of the capitals (Kolhapur, Valivade, Panhala) and the famous temple built by them to score full marks.

Activity

Question. Visit the Kailasa temple at Ellora and prepare a detailed note.
Answer:
• The Kailasa temple is one of the 100 odd rock-cut cave temples and monasteries at Ellora.
• It is carved from a single, gigantic rock.
• Lies around 30 km northwest of Aurangabad in Maharashtra.
• Only 34 are accessible to the public.
• Ellora or Verul to the locals was located on an ancient South Asian trade route. This magnificent structure showcases the extraordinary engineering skills of ancient Indian artisans.
In simple words: The Kailasa temple at Ellora is a massive temple carved out of a single huge rock. It is located near Aurangabad and is famous worldwide for its amazing architecture.

🎯 Exam Tip: Highlight that the temple is carved from a single, single-stone rock (monolithic) as this is its most unique feature.