Short Questions
1. Who was Harṣhavardhana?
Answer: Harṣhavardhana was a powerful ruler of the Puṣhyabhūti dynasty who ruled from Kannauj in 606 CE.
2. Who visited India during Harṣha’s rule?
Answer: The Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang visited India during Harṣha’s rule.
3. What was the Tripartite Struggle?
Answer: The Tripartite Struggle was a conflict among the Pālas, Gurjara-Pratīhāras, and Rāṣhṭrakūṭas for control over Kannauj.
4. Who founded the Pāla dynasty?
Answer: Gopāla founded the Pāla dynasty in 750 CE.
5. Name one famous university supported by the Pālas.
Answer: Vikramaśhilā was a famous university supported by the Pālas.
6. Who built the Kailaśhanātha temple at Ellora?
Answer: Krishna I of the Rāṣhṭrakūṭa dynasty built the Kailaśhanātha temple.
7. Who wrote the Rājatarangiṇī?
Answer: Kalhaṇa wrote the Rājatarangiṇī.
8. Who was Pulakeśhin II?
Answer: Pulakeśhin II was a powerful ruler of the Chālukya dynasty.
9. What was the capital of the Pallavas?
Answer: Kānchī (Kanchipuram) was the capital of the Pallavas.
10. Who revived the Chola dynasty in the 9th century?
Answer: Vijayālaya revived the Chola dynasty in the 9th century.
Long Questions
1. Describe the rule of Harṣhavardhana.
Answer: Harṣhavardhana ruled from Kannauj and expanded his kingdom over much of northern India. He was a patron of scholars and respected different religions. He also organised assemblies at Prayāga where he donated wealth to the poor and religious groups.
2. Explain the Tripartite Struggle.
Answer: After Harṣha’s death, Kannauj became the centre of conflict among the Pālas, Gurjara-Pratīhāras, and Rāṣhṭrakūṭas. These three dynasties fought for control over northern India. The struggle continued for many years without any permanent winner.
3. Write about the achievements of the Rāṣhṭrakūṭas.
Answer: The Rāṣhṭrakūṭas were powerful rulers of the Deccan with their capital at Mānyakheṭa. They built the famous Kailaśhanātha temple at Ellora and supported Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain religions. They also encouraged literature in Sanskrit and Kannada.
4. Describe the contributions of the Pallavas.
Answer: The Pallavas ruled from Kānchī and were great patrons of art and architecture. They built rock-cut temples at Māmallapuram and promoted trade with Southeast Asia. They also supported Sanskrit and Tamil literature.
5. Explain the administrative system during this period.
Answer: Kings ruled directly over core areas and indirectly through sāmantas in other regions. The empire was divided into provinces, districts, and villages for administration. Village assemblies played an important role in local self-government.
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