The Age of Reorganisation Class 7 Notes

The Age of Reorganisation Class 7 Notes

The Age of Reorganisation Class 7 Notes

1. Age of Reorganisation: A period after the Maurya empire when new kingdoms emerged and reorganised the political landscape of India.

2. Matrimonial alliance: An alliance arranged through marriage between royal families to strengthen political ties.

3. Ashvamedha yajna: A Vedic ritual where a horse is allowed to roam freely, and territories it crosses unchallenged become part of the king's empire.

4. Sanskrit: An ancient language of India used for philosophical and literary works.

5. Brahmi script: An ancient script used in India, which is the ancestor of many modern Indian scripts.

6. Vedic rituals: Religious ceremonies and practices originating from the Vedas, ancient Indian scriptures.

7. Rock-cut architecture: A style of architecture where structures are carved out of solid rock.

8. Indo-Greeks: A group of Hellenistic kingdoms that ruled parts of northwest India after the decline of the Maurya empire.

9. Cultural confluence: The blending and merging of different cultural traditions and practices.

10. Dynasty: A series of rulers from the same family or lineage.

11. Rise of Shungas

1. Founded by Pushyamitra
2. Performed Ashvamedha Yajna
3. Revived vedic rituals, sanskrit literature (yoga sutra by Panini)
4. Friendly relations with Greeks
5. Shunga art - beautiful carving of railings and reliefs, pillars
6. Bharhut Stupa (Madhya Pradesh)

12. Satavahanas

1. Kingdom - ruled in Deccan, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra
2. Important ruler - Gautamiputra Satakarani
3. Empire fragmented - 3rd century BCE
4. Capitals - Amaravati and Pratishthana

13. Economy

1. Coins show-extensive trade network, shipbuilding, navigation
2. Agriculture - Krishna-Godavari basin
3. Trade with Romans - spice, textile, luxury items

14. Society and Culture

1. Nasik inscription - donation to Buddhist monks
2. Women had higher social status
3. Kings - devotees of Vasudeva, tax-free lands to Vedic scholars
4. Karle Caves (Maharashtra) for Buddhist monks

15. Chedis

1. In Kalinga (Odisha)
2. Important ruler - Kharavela

16. Kharavela

1. Followed jainism, respected all religions
2. Made council of ascetics and sages

17. Art-Architecture

1. Udayagiri-Khandagiri caves -rock-cut, for jain monks
2. Hathigumpha inscription Kharavela's achievements, donations, victories

18. The Age of Reorganisation

1. Period after Maurya
2. Time of cultural and social transformation
3. Invaders assimilated into local society
4. Emergence of new kingdom from tributaries
5. Rise of - Shungas, Satavahanas, Kushanas, Shakas, Chedi, Chola, Chera and Pandya Kingdoms

19. Kingdoms of South

1. Cholas, Cheras, Pandyas - called 'Crowned Kings'
2. Remained independent from Mauryans

20. Cholas (Tamil Nadu region)

1. King Karikala defeated Cheras and Pandyas
2. Karikala - depicted in statue (for power)
3. Made Grand Anicut dam
4. Grand Anicut - in Kaveri delta -- made it 'rice bowl of south'

21. Cheras (Tamil Nadu and Kerala)

1. Capital Vanji
2. Also called Keralaputra
3. Shaped culture and economy
4. Promoted Tamil literature and Sangam poets
5. Trade connection with Romans

22. Pandyas (Parts of Tamil Nadu)

1. Capital Madurai
2. Strong administration, strong navy
3. Trade with Greeks, Romans, most traded item-pearl
4. Welfare of people, supported diverse belief

23. Sangam literature

1. Oldest in South India, collection of poems
2. Poems - personal emotions, societal value, culture

24. Silappadikaram

1. One of the five Tamil epics
2. Talks about justice, social system, moral value
3. Story of Kovalan and his wife Kannagi

25. Shakas

1. Gave Shaka Samvat Calendar
2. 78 years behind Gregorian Calendar
3. Accepted as India's National Calendar

26. Kushanas

1. Originated in Central Asia
2. Famous ruler - Kanishka (King of Kings)
3. Headless statue of Kanishka shows his power

27. Trade/Trade Route/Coins

1. With rest of India, Asia and West, Persia
2. Control over major part of silk route (China-Mediterranean)
3. Coins depicted spear and title (King of kings)
4. Greek script shows fusion of culture
5. Trade with Byzantium, Antioch, Alexandria, Rome on Silk route

28. Art/Architecture

1. Blending of Greek and Indian Art
2. Shows co-existence of different cultures
3. Examples -- Gandhara and Mathura Art Schools
4. Depicts - Death of Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, Shiv linga, Naga, Kartikeya, Agni

29. Mathura Art

1. In Mathura region, north India
2. Red stone for sculpture
3. Indian dieties with full form and smooth modelling
4. Based on Indian themes
5. Lesser Greeko-Roman influence

30. Gandhara Art

1. In western region - in Punjab region
2. Intricate details of figure, blended with Greco-Roman elements
3. Use of Grey-black schist stone
4. Buddha images with realistic anatomy and flowering robes

31. Indo-Greek Invasions

1. From northwest India
2. Ruled by Satraps (Governors of Alexander)
3. Influenced local culture
4. Impact on governance, art, language
5. Heliodorus pillar (Vidisha)
6. Coins - tells about rulers, culture
7. Rule ended by Shakas

32. 185 BCE - Puşhyamitra Shunga Assassinates the last Maurya emperor, leading to the establishment of the Shungas dynasty.

33. 100 BCE - Emergence of the Chedis as a significant power in central India.

34. 100 BCE - 200 CE - Gautamiputra Satakarni the notable ruler of the Satavahana dynasty, known for consolidating power and promoting trade.

35. 100 CE - Kharavela the king of Kalinga, known for his military campaigns and the Hathīgumpha inscription detailing his achievements.

36. 100 CE - 200 CE - Rise of the Kushana Empire, which expanded into northern India and promoted trade along the Silk Road.

37. 100 CE - 300 CE - Kanishka the prominent emperor of the Kushanas, known for his patronage of Buddhism and the arts.

38. 200 CE - Influence of Indo-Greek rulers in northwestern India, contributing to cultural exchanges.

39. 200 CE - Establishment of the Shaka dynasty in western India, known for their trade and cultural contributions.

40. 200 CE - 300 CE Continued prominence of the Satavahana dynasty, known for their patronage of art and literature.

41. 300 CE - 13 CE - Emergence of the Chola dynasty, which would later become a significant power in southern India under rule of The Cholaking Karikala which said to have defeated a combined force of the Cheras and Pandyas and established his supremacy.

42. 300 CE - The Chera dynasty continued to thrive, known for their trade connections with the Roman Empire.

43. 300 CE - The Pandya dynasty, known for their naval power and trade, continued to play a vital role in southern India.