Page 12 - SST Class 07

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New Kings and Kingdoms

What do you know about kings and kingdoms? 2. The Second Phase (1000 AD – 1200 AD)
As citizens of modern India, we hardly have The First Phase (750 AD – 1000 AD)
witnessed any real king who wore crowns. The first phase was marked by the growth of
However, our past is glorified with many such three important political powers in India – Palas
kings and kingdoms. A kingdom is actually a in eastern India, Gurjara Pratiharas in northern
piece of land only which is ruled by either a king India, and Rashtrakutas in southern India. These
or a queen. In ancient India, there were many three powers were constantly fighting among
new kings and kingdoms. Let’s find out more themselves with an aim to set up their control on
about ‘New Kings and Kingdoms’.
Gangetic region in northern India. This armed
The period between 750 AD and 1200 AD is conflict among these three powers is known as
referred to as early medieval period of Indian Tripartite Struggle.
history. Some historians treated this
period as a ‘Dark Phase’ because
KABUL
during this time, the whole country GHAZNI KASHMIR
was divided into numerous regional
SHAHIS
states which were busy in fighting LAHORE
GHAZANVIDE TARAIN
with one another. But, recent studies EMPIRE
MULTAN TOMARAS
have indicated that though politically DELHI
MATHURA H I M A L A Y A S
divided into numerous regional THANESHWAR
CHAUHANS
states, India witnessed a growth of AJMER KAMARUPA
new and rich cultural activities in the GURJARA-PRATIHARAS KASI MUDGERI
KALANJAR
KHAJURAHO
fields of art, literature and language. MT. ABU UJJAYINI CHANDELLAS NALANDA
DHAR
In fact, some best specimens of SOLANKIS PARAMARAS
SOMNATH MANDU KALACHURIS PALAS
temple architecture and Indian
BHUBANESHWAR KONARK
literature belong to this period. Thus, PURI
far from being ‘dark’ it may be RASHTRAKUTAS
B A Y O F B E N G A L
treated as a bright and vibrant phase A R A B I A N
of Indian history. S E A
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT
REFERENCE
The political development of this NEW KINGDOM
CAPITAL ANDAMAN
period can be better understood if we ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS (INDIA) SEA
LAKSHADWEEP SEA
divide this period into two phases : (INDIA)
LAKSHADWEEP
1. The First Phase (750 AD —
I N D I A N O C E A N
1000 AD)
Map of India (750-1000 AD)
Social Science-7 12