[Mission 2023] INSIGHTS STATIC QUIZ, 20 June 2022 – Ancient & Medieval India – INSIGHTSIAS

Solution: c)

There are other coins with the traditional seated tiger, fish and bow emblem adopted by the Cholas that were minted and in circulation.

Several coins carrying the name of feudatories and their titles started finding a mention in Chola inscriptions. This can be clearly viewed as a sign of the downfall of economic control that the imperial Chola had on their feudatories. Names like jaya-mada, uththama-gandan-mada, chamara-mada, biruda-mada, bhujabala-mada found mentions in their respective regional Chola inscriptions.

Solution: d)

The Cholas had an excellent system of administration. The land revenue department was well organized. It was called as puravuvarithinaikkalam. All lands were carefully surveyed and classified for assessment of revenue.

Besides land revenue, there were tolls and customs on goods taken from one place to another, various kinds of professional taxes, dues levied on ceremonial occasions like marriages and judicial fines.

Taxes on mines, ports, forests and salt pans were collected. Professional tax and house tax were also collected.

Solution: a)

Rajaraja I (985 – 1014 A.D.)

It was under Rajaraja I and his son Rajendra I that the Chola power reached its highest point of glory. His military conquests were:

1. The defeat of the Chera ruler Bhaskararavivarman in the naval battle of Kandalursalai and the destruction of the Chera navy.
2. The defeat of the Pandya ruler, Amarabhujanga and establishment of Chola authority in the Pandya country.
3. The conquest of Gangavadi, Tadigaipadi and Nolambapadi located in the Mysore region
4. The Chola victory over the growing power of the Western Chalukyas of Kalyani. Satyasraya was defeated and Rajaraja I captured the Raichur Doab, Banavasi and other places. Hence the Chola power extended up to the river Tungabadhra

Rajendra I defeated mahinda and seized the southern Sri Lanka. Thereafter, whole of Sri Lanka was made part of the Chola Empire.

Solution: b)

The Gurjara-Pratiharas were the earliest of the Rajput rulers. Its first great leader was Harischandra. He conquered extensive territory in Rajaputana and ruled with his capital at Bhinmal. The Gurjaras were in different branches.

One branch ruled Gujarat and another at Avanthi. The Pratiharas involved themselves in a three cornered contest with the Palas of Bengal and the Rashtrakutas of Deccan. Later the Pratiharas became weak.

The Chauhans, the most valiant of the Rajput races, ruled Ajmir. Vigraharaj was their most important king, who occupied Delhi. Therefore the Chauhans faced the onslaught of the Muslims under Muhammad of Ghori. The Paramaras were also important Rajput rulers of this period. The most important king was Bhoja. His military conquests as well as cultural contributions remain notable in the history of Rajputs. Constant fighting weakened the Rajputs. Also, they never united against a common enemy.

Solution: a)

The Hindu princes of north India formed a confederacy under the command of Prithiviraj Chauhan.

Prithviraj defeated Ghori in the battle of Tarain near Delhi in 1191 A.D.

In the ensuing Second Battle of Tarain in 1192, Muhammad Ghori thoroughly routed the army of Prithiviraj, who was captured and killed.

The second battle of Tarain was a decisive battle. It was a major disaster for the Rajputs. Their political prestige suffered a serious setback.

The whole Chauhan kingdom now lay at the feet of the invader. The first Muslim kingdom was thus firmly established in India at Ajmer and a new era in the history of India began.