Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Medieval India - Coggle Diagram
Medieval India
Imperial Cholas (850 AD- 1297 AD)
Administration
All lands were carefully surveyed
for assessment of revenue
Kulottunga I had abolished all tolls
- title of
Sungam Tavirtta Cholan
Rich peasants (Vellalar)
- exercised control over affairs of the Nadu
Shalabhoga
- Land for maintenance of a school
Residential and temple land
was
exempted from tax
Ur
- residential portion of village
puravuvarithinaikkalam
: land department
Number of committees and ward members varied from village to village
Kadamai
- Land revenue
Village assemblies reached their zenith
(
Uttaramerur inscription
gives details of Sabha organisation into committees)
Pallichchandam
- land donated to Jain institutions
Extensive land grants to temples and Brahmanas
Mandalam
—>
Valanadu
(periyanattar) —>
Nadu
(nattar)
Muvendavelan
- Rich peasant serving the three kings
Position of tax collectors
was often
hereditary
Kudavolai system
to choose ward members
400 types of taxes
mentioned in an inscription
Vetti
- Forced labour (most frequently mentioned tax)
Committing sins or stealing property
could
disqualify ward members
Village was divided into wards and each ward nominated members to the village council
Remission of taxes
during
difficult times
Knowledge of Vedas, own residence and ownership of land
was
essential to be a ward member
Vellanvagai
- land of non-brahman peasant proprietors
Devadana, Tirunamattukani
- Land gifted to temples
Brahmadeya
- Land gifted to Brahmanas
Royal tours to increase efficiency of administration
Uttarmerrur inscription
provides information on village administration —>
Parantaka I period
Araiyar
- Chief
Administrative officials -
Perundanam, Sirudanam
Rulers
Rajendra I (1012 - 1044 AD)
Reasserted Chola authority over Chera and Pandya country
Crossed Ganga and
defeated Mahipala I (Pala)
-
founded the city of Gangaikondacholapuram
to commemorate his success
Whole of Sri Lanka was made part of the Chola empire
Rajesvaram temple
in
Gangaikondacholapuram
Tungabhadra
was the
northern boundary of the Chola kingdom
Expedition to Sri Vijaya
Defeated Jayasimha II of Western Chalukyas
- Tungabhadra was recognised
Later Cholas weak; Rajendra III was the last Chola king
- Chola kingdom was absorbed into Pandyas
Parantaka I
Defeated Pandyas
(
Maduraiyyam Elamum Konda
- one who defeated Madurai)
Provided vimana of the famous Nataraja temple
(Chidambaram)
with a golden roof
Krishna III defeated him
in the
Battle of Takkolam
Uttiramerur Inscriptions
: Village administration under Cholas - Pioneers of LSG in India
Aditya
Ended Pallava kingdom
by
beating Aparajita
and
annexing Tondaimandalam
Vijayalaya
Founded the Imperial Chola line
Built town of Tanjore
and
temple for goddess Nishumhasudini
Rajaraja I (985-1014 AD)
Irrigation tank
called
Cholagangam
Devout Shaiva
Buddhist Monastery at Nagapattnam
Brihadeshwara temple at Tanjore in 1010 AD
- Kunjaramallan Rajaraja Perunthachchan
Economy
Metal works developed
- great demand for images in temples
Saliya weavers
- Thanjavur, Uraiyur
Reclamation of forest lands
,
construction and maintenance of irrigation tanks
helped in prosperity of agriculture
Gold, Silver and Bronze coins
were
issued in plenty
Commercial contacts
with
China, Java, Sumatra and Arabia - Arabian horses were imported
Silk-weaving at kanchi flourished
Uraiyur
was famous for
pulses and spices
Revenue from trade led to prosperity of the region
Education and Literature
Endowments of land helped in running these institutes
Peak of Tamil literature
Periyapuranam
- Sekkilar (12th century)
Temples and Mathas were centres for education
Ottakuthar
-
Moovarula
(life of 3 Chola kings)
Colleges at Ennayiram, Thirumukkudal, Thirubhuvanai
- inscriptions provide details
Ramayana
- Kamban
Vedas, Epics, Mathematics and medicine
were taught
Thiruthakkadevar and Kundalakesi
- Sivakasintamani
Social Life
Status of women
-
bad
;
Devadasi system-
emerged;
Sati
- prevalent
Brahmans and Kshatriyas
enjoyed a
superior
status
Mathas
became important centres
Cooperation
among
various castes and sub-castes
Pulaiyas
- Outcastes
Temples
remained
centres of economic activity
Caste system prevalent
-
two major castes
Valangai
and
Idangai
Shaivism and Vaishnavism
continued to
flourish
Cholas
supported
Brahmanical and Bhakti traditions
Architecture
Zenith of Dravidian architecture
Rajaraja I
-
Brihadeshwara temple
Bronze statues of Nataraja or Dancing Shiva
- Chola bronzes were world famous
Chief feature -
Vimana
Swamimalai
-
Famous for bronze statues
(Sthapatis - sculptors)
Rajendra I
-
Siva temple at Gangaikondacholapuram
Later Cholas
-
Airavatesvara temple, Kampaharesvara temple
Military
Positons in military
were
hereditary
Controlled Malabar and Coromandel coasts
Naval power
reached zenith under Cholas
Kaikkolaperumpadai
- royal troops,
Velaikkarar
- King’s personal troop
Kadagams
- Military cantonments
Bay of Bengal - lake of Cholas
Elephants, cavalry, infantry, navy
Important Kingdoms (800-1200 AD)
Kingdoms in the South
Kakatiyas
Prolaraja - Founder
Important seaport -
Motupalli
(Marco Polo talked about it)
Capital -
Warangal
1110-1326 AD
Rudramadevi (1262-1289)
- famous woman ruler - changed name on inscription and pretended she was a man
Ganapati - Most powerful ruler
Hoysala
[1173-1342 AD]
Temples of Halebidu
Vira Ballala III
-
Last ruler
- Killed by commander of Alauddin Khilji
Vittigadev Vishnuvardhan
Chennakeshava temple
at Belur
first major ruler
Originally Jain,
became Vaishnava under Ramanujacharya
Growth of Kannada and Sanskrit literature
Capital - Belur, shifted to Halebidu
South Karnataka
Yadavas
Raja Ramachandra
-
last ruler
- submitted to Alauddin Khilji
Founders of Marathi culture
1187-1312 AD
Bhillam V
- Founder
Capital -
Devagiri
Western Chalukyas
Someshwara I
: Established
Kalyani as capital
; Killed
Rajadhiraja Chola in battle of Koppam
Conflict with Cholas and eastern Chalukyas of Vengi
Contributed to Kannada and Sanskrit literature
Vikramditya VI
Shavite
Left many Kannada inscriptions
Vijnaneshwara - Mittakshara - treatise on inheritance (jurist)
Kashmir poet Bilhana - Vikramankadevacharita
1076 AD - Chalukya Vikram era
Destroyed by Hoysalas in 12th century
Tailapa II
-
Founder
- killed
last ruler of Rashtrakuta (Karaka)
;
Patronised Kannada poet Ranna
Rajput Clans
Chauhans
Ajay Rai Chauhan
-
Built Ajmer
Prithvi Raj Chauhan
(1175-1192 AD)
Jayanaka - Prithviraj Vijaya
Defeated Ghori in First Battle of Tarain
, killed in the second
Chand Bardai (court poet)
- Prithvi Raj Raso (Braj Bhasa poem)
Prithvi Raj Chauhan built Qila Rai Pithora
957 - 1192 AD
Capital - Ajmer
Solankis / Chaulukyas of Gujarat
Capital - Anhilwad
Bhima I was defeated by Muhammad Ghazni
- plundered Somnath temple
942-1243 AD
Bhima II defeated Muhammad Ghori
Ruled over Gujarat
- golden period of Gujarat history
Mulraj - founder
Sun temple at Modhera
by Bhima I
Chandelas
Khajuraho temples
Kandariya Mahadeva temple
- Dhangadeva
Image of chief deity in garbhagriha
(where king, his immediate family and priest were allowed)
Commoners were not allowed entry
in Khajuraho
Vidyadhara
Resisted Muhammad Ghazni
when he attacked Kalinjar fort
Extended kingdom to Chambal and Narmada
Also called
Jejakabhukti dynasty
(Feudatories of Gurajara-Pratiharas)
Yashovarma - founder
; Commissioned
Lakshmana temple
Gurjara Pratihara
Gwalior Prashasti
written in
Sanskrit
Rajasekhara
-
Sanskrit poet and dramatist
; during the reign of Mahipala, grandson of Bhoja
Bhoja Prabandha - Ballala Deva
- 11th century text
Nagabhata I - Founder
;
Bhoja
is called the
real founder and greatest ruler
730-1036 AD
Capital - Avanti, Kanauj
Al-Masudi visited after Bhoja's death
; called the Pratihara Kingdom "Al Juzr" and the king "Baura"
Bhoja I
assumed title
Adi Varaha
(
devotee of Vishnu
) - found on some of his coins
Gahadavala
Defeated by Ghori in Battle of Chandawar
11th-12th century
Jaichandra’s daughter married Prithvi Raj Chauhan
Tomara
Ananga Pala
Rashtrakutas
Rulers
Dantidurga
Dashavtar Temple
@ Ellora
performed
Hiranyagarbha ritual (rebirth as Kshatriya)
founder
capital
: Manyakhet
Indra III
Al-Masudi visited
Govinda III
Second ruler to occupy Kanauj
King of Ceylon
sent him
two statues as an act of submission
Victories over North Indian kingdoms
Krishna III
Marched south and captured Tanjore and even Rameshwaram
Nalachampu
by Trivikrama,
Kavirahasya
by Halayudha
Krishneswara temple at Rameshwaram
Amoghavarsha I
Jinasena was his chief preceptor
(converted him to Jainism)
Follower of Jainism
Kavirajamarga
- Kannada work -
first poetic work in Kannada language
His daughter Chandrobalabbe administered Raichur Doab for some time
Krishna I
Built the rock-cut monolithic Kailasa temple at Ellora
Defeated Gangas and Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi
(governors of Chalukyas of Badami)
Dhruva
Defeated Pratiharas and Palas for Kanauj
Literature
Sakatayana
-
Amogavritti
- Grammar (patronised by Amoghavarsha)
Trivikrama
-
Nalachampu
- Indra III
Beginnings of Kannada literature
Pampa
-
Vikramasenavijaya
(
Kannada Mahabharata
- Arjuna alone is the hero, Draupadi is his wife only)
Amoghavarsha I -
Kavirajamarga
-
first poetic work in Kannada
Ponna
-
Santipurana
(patronised by
Krishna III
) -
Life of 16th Jain tirthankara Santinatha
Patronised
Sanskrit literature, Jain literature
Pampa
(final compilation by Gunabhadra) -
Adipurana -
About Rishabanath
Halayudha
-
Kavirahasya
- Krishna III - grammar book (verbs with meaning)
Viracharya
-
Ganitasaram
- Mathematics (
patronised by Amoghavarsha
) - negative number does not have a square root
Amoghavarsha
-
Kavirajamarga
Jinasena
-
Parsvabhudaya
- biography of Parsva
Art and Architecture
Elephanta
Island near Bombay originally called Gharapuri/Sripuri
- Portuguese called it Elephanta
Trimurti statue
- shows
Shiva as creator, preserver, destroyer
Similarities between sculptures of Ellora and Elephanta
At the entrance to sanctum, there are
figures of Dwara-Palaks
sculptures of
Ardhanarishvara
and
Maheshamurti
are found
Ellora
Shikhara similar to shikara of Mamallapuram rock cut temples
Sculpture of
Durga slaying Mahishashura
Kailasa temple
- general features are
Dravidian
Sculpture of
Ravana lifting Mount Kailash
Paintings depicting scenes from Ramayana
Administration
nad-govundas or desa gramakutas
- hereditary revenue officers
gram mahattara
- village elder who often helped village headman in his duties
koshta-pala
- law and order in towns
Rashtras
-
Rashtrapatis
- province
Village assemblies
played a
significant role
in village administration
Bhukti
-
bhogapati
- 50-70 villages
Officers were directly appointed by the central government
village headman and village accountant - hereditary
Vishayas
-
Vishayapati
- district
Society
Vaishnavism and Shaivism flourished
Harmony among various religions
Active commerce between Deccan and Arabs
Jainism progressed
Prosperous Buddhist settlements -
Kanheri, Sholapur, Dharwar
Kingdoms in the East
Pala
Dharmapala
founded
Vikramshila university
8th-9th century
Santarakshita and Atisa Dipankara
-
founder of Sarma tradition of Buddhism
popular in Tibet were scholars at Vikramshila
Destroyed by
Bakhtiyar Khilji
Arab merchant- Sulaiman
calls the Pala kingdom "Ruhma" and attests to its power
Revived Nalanda
Uttarapathaswamin title
Mahipala:
Defeated by Rajendra Chola
Five Mahaviharas
- Nalanda, Odantapura, Vikramshila (Bihar), Somapura, Jagadala (Bangladesh)
founder:
Gopala
Patronised
mahayana buddhism
Mahipala I constructed and repaired several sacred structures at Saranath, Nalanda and Bodh Gaya. Gopala founded the famous monastery at Odantapura (Bihar). Dharmapala established the Vikramashila and the Somapura Mahaviharas (Bangladesh)
Devapala defeated
Amoghavarsha
Sena
Lakshman Sena
Court poet -
Jaydev - Gita Govinda
Bakhtiar Khilji defeated him in 1197
Last great patrons of Buddhism
Kashmir
Avantivarma (Utpala dynasty)
- Dam on Vitasta river (Jhelum)
Kalhana’s Rajtarangini
is the
first systematic written history in India
(12th century)
Didda (Lohara dynasty)
wife of Kshemagupta (only woman ruler in history of Kashmir)
Lalitaditya Muktapida (Karkota dynasty)
- Martand Sun Temple in Srinagar
Mohammad Ghori's Attack
Battle of Kayadra
: Bhima II vs Ghori (D)
Battle of Tarain I:
Ghori vs PVC (W)
Battle of Tarain II:
Ghori vs PVC (D)
Battle of Kannauj:
Ghori vs Jaichand (D)