NCERT Class 7 Social Science Exploring Society India and Beyond Part 2 Chapter 03 Empires and Kingdoms 6th to 10th Centuries PDF Download

Chapter 3: Empires and Kingdoms: 6th to 10th Centuries

India never spoke her last word. In all things, she continues, survives and renews herself.

- Louis Renou and Jean Filliozat (French Indologists)

The Big Questions

1. What major changes characterised this period?
2. How did the political, cultural, and religious developments shape India during this period?
3. What was the impact of foreign invasions and interactions on Indian society and polity during this period?

[Figure 3.1: The Shore Temple at Mamallapuram, built during the reign of Narasimhavarman II of the Pallava dynasty, See in your textbook]

This chapter and the next together survey the scene in India from the end of the Gupta era about 600 CE to about 1200 CE. These six centuries together have received several names - 'post-classical', 'late classical' and 'early medieval' among others. We need not use any of those terms here, as long as we keep the broad chronology in mind. In Grade 8, we will explore the next centuries, leading up to the colonial era, dominated by British rule in India, and, ultimately, the struggle for freedom from the colonial rule, culminating in India's independence.

Imagine you are in north India some 1,500 years ago. The mighty Gupta Empire (see the chapter on the 'Gupta Era' in Part 1 of this textbook) has lost its dominance. You are a young traveller setting off on an adventure across the subcontinent. Your first stop is Kannauj, a city by River Ganga where a powerful king hosts poets and scholars. A few weeks later, you reach the Chalukya kingdom in the Deccan, where you see magnificent temples and lively cities. In the far south, the Pallavas are carving entire temples out of rock at Mamallapuram (also known as Mahabalipuram), while in Bengal, the Palas are supporting great universities such as Vikramashila. You don't see large empires in India now, but

[Figure 3.2: Timeline showing major events from the 6th to 9th centuries, See in your textbook]

many strong kingdoms. Some call it a time of political rivalry and disorder, but as you travel, you see something different - a land buzzing with new ideas, art, and culture, different in each region, yet all part of one India.

Is this really the end of an age of powerful empires ... or the dawn of a new era? Let's step back in time and see. As you can see on the map (Fig. 3.3), the Guptas are gone, but the land is still dynamic and vibrant with activity. Several regional powers have emerged.

Teacher's Note

When you read about this period, remember that "no large empires" does not mean "no powerful rulers". Harshavardhana and the regional kingdoms were very influential in their own time. The difference is that power was spread across multiple kingdoms rather than concentrated in one empire. This is important for understanding how India worked politically during this era.

The 'Great King of Kings'

As we look at northern India at this time, we find a remarkable ruler, Harshavardhana, ascending the throne in 606 CE at Kannauj. He belonged to the Pushyabhuti (or Vardhana) dynasty, whose earlier capital was Sthaneshvara (present-day Thanesar in Haryana).

[Figure 3.3: A simplified map of a few dynasties in north and peninsular India from the 7th century onward, See in your textbook]

Teacher's Note

Pay attention to the dates and place names on this map - they will help you understand the political geography of this period. When you see a dynasty's name like "Pushyabhuti", notice where its capital and main territories were located. This geography explains why different kingdoms fought over certain regions like Kannauj, which was a powerful cultural and political centre.

Key Points

• After the fall of the Gupta Empire around 600 CE, India entered a period of many strong regional kingdoms rather than one large empire.
• Important dynasties of this time included the Pushyabhuti, Chalukya, Pallava, Pala, and Rashtrakuta kingdoms spread across different parts of India.
• Although this was a time of political rivalry between kingdoms, it was also a time of great cultural achievement in art, architecture, scholarship, and literature across different regions.
• Harshavardhana, who ruled from Kannauj starting in 606 CE, was one of the most remarkable rulers of the northern regions during this period.

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