NCERT Class 7 Social Science Exploring Society India and Beyond Part 1 Chapter 06 The Age of Reorganisation PDF Download

Chapter 6: The Age of Reorganisation

By continuous living tradition and a vital power of rejuvenescence, this land has readjusted itself through unnumbered transformations.

- Jagdish Chandra Bose (1917)

The Big Questions

1. Why is the period that followed the Maurya empire sometimes called the 'Age of Reorganisation'?
2. What were the values or principles that guided emperors of that period?
3. How did foreign invaders assimilate into Indian society and contribute to cultural confluence?

[Figure 6.1.1: A glimpse of the art from the age of reorganisation, See in your textbook]

Bhavisha and Dhruv had recovered from their journey to the Maurya empire and were itching for another adventure. They decide to use Itihasa again and landed in a new historical period. They came across a collection of art pieces, each one quite different from the other. (See Fig. 6.1.1) They wondered - could these artefacts belong to multiple kingdoms rather than just one? They guessed right. In this chapter we will travel over a fairly long period. Here we go...

Very little is known about Ashoka's successors to the throne. It is generally accepted, however, that the last Maurya emperor was assassinated around 185 BCE by his commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shunga. This led to a breakup of the empire - hardly half a century after Ashoka, as we mentioned in the last chapter. Many new kingdoms emerged across the subcontinent, which, often, were earlier tributary kingdoms under the overlordship of the Maurya empire. The northwest region became weak, exposing it to invasions from outside the subcontinent.

This period is also known as the 'age of reorganisation' by some scholars as the existing regions were being reorganised into new kingdoms that were constantly competing to become powerful. The map of India changed significantly in that age, as did people's lives.

Let's Explore

Create a timeline on a sheet of paper marking the period from the first year of the 2nd century BCE and ending in the last year of the 3rd century CE. How many years does this period cover? As we progress through the chapter, mark the key individuals, kingdoms and events on the timeline.

Teacher's Note

The 'age of reorganisation' is called that because multiple new kingdoms emerged and competed with each other after the Maurya empire broke up. When you mark events on your timeline, notice how many different dynasties existed at the same time - this shows why it was an age of reorganisation and competition, not a time of single unified rule.

[Figure 6.1.2:, See in your textbook]

[Figure 6.2: Prominent dynasties of India during the age of reorganisation, See in your textbook]

Let's Remember

While working on the timeline, did you notice the transition from BCE to CE? Remember what you learned in the Grade 6 chapter 'Timeline and Sources of History' about how time is measured in history.

Teacher's Note

When you create your timeline, make sure you calculate the total years correctly. From 100 BCE to 300 CE is 400 years, not 300 - you must count zero as a year when moving from BCE to CE. This is a common mistake, so double-check your calculation before you start marking events.

Key Points

• After Ashoka's death, the Maurya empire broke up around 185 BCE when the last emperor was assassinated by his commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shunga.
• This period is called the 'age of reorganisation' because many new kingdoms emerged from the old Maurya territories and competed with each other to become powerful.
• Several important dynasties existed during this time, including the Shakas, Shungas, Satavahanas, and others across different regions of India.
• The political map of India changed significantly as the northwest region became weak and open to invasions from outside the subcontinent.

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