Page 90 - SST Class 06

After shifting the capital, Harsha conquered field, the ascendancy of Brahmanism brought
Punjab, eastern Rajasthan and the whole of the about the decline of Buddhism. Vaishnavism,
Ganga valley, upto Assam. He also launched a Shaivism and Jainism were also practiced.
military campaign against the Chalukyan king, Harsha was considered to be liberal and secular
Pulakeshin II, but was defeated in AD 620. king. The chief source of revenue was the one-
Thereafter, he consolidated his hold over north- sixth produce of land. Few other taxes were
ern India. imposed on ports, ferries, etc. Return from royal

Harsha did not annex all the territories that he lands, mines and tributes from vassals filled royal
conquered. Some of the defeated kings contin- coffers were also the revenue sources.
ued to rule over their kingdoms as subordinate Society
rulers. They accepted Harsha as their overlord Agriculture was the main occupation of the
and paid him a yearly tribute. They also supplied people. In the towns, traders and craftsmen lived.
him with money and soldiers during wars. According to Hiuen Tsang, the people were
Harsha—A Patron of Arts simple, honest and very hospitable. They lived
Harsha was a patron of art and learning. He, peacefully. The rich lived in big, well-decorated
himself, was a good writer. He wrote three plays houses while the poor had simple mud houses.
in Sanskrit—Ratnavali, Priyadarshika and Most people were vegetarians and avoided even
Nagananda. His court had scholars such as onions and garlic.
Banabhatta, Subandhu and Dandin. Despite There was a rigid caste system. People were
being influenced by buddhism, he was extremely divided into numerous castes and sub-castes.
tolerant of all religions. He organised the Fifth The untouchables were treated badly by the
Buddhist Council at Kanauj in AD 641. He also upper castes and had to live outside the city.
gave financial support to the University of Administration
Nalanda. As a result of Harsha’s Patronage,
The revenues of Harsha’s Empire were divided
Nalanda prospered and became a famous center
into four parts. The first part was spent on the
of learning.
king. The second part was spent on scholars.
Hiuen Tsang’s Account The third part was spent on public servants and
A Chinese Buddhist scholar named Hiuen Tsang the fourth part was spent on religious activities.
visited India in AD 630. Out of these, he spent After the death of Harsha, in AD 647, northern
eight years at the court of Harsha. He has given India was again thrown into a state of confusion.
a detailed account of the political, social, eco- Small, regional kingdoms continued to fight with
nomic and cultural conditions of those times. one another. Meanwhile, the Deccan and South

Socio-Economic and Cultural Setup India rose to glory.
According to Hiuen Tsang who visited Harsha’s THE CHALUKYAS
kingdom, there was an existence of caste system Chalukyas ruled from Raichur Doab which was
in Indian society. Also, there was rise of several situated between the rivers of Krishna and
mixed and sub-castes. Hiuen Tsang also men- Tungabhadra. Aihole (city of temples) was the
tions the existence of untouchables and out- first capital of Chalukyas and it was center of
castes. The position of women had also declined trade which was later developed into religious
considerably during this period. Yet women were center having number of temples around. The
not regarded as inferior to men. In the religious capital of Chlukyas was later moved to Badami

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