New Kings And Kingdoms - Class 7 History - Extra Questions

A merchant is a person who trades in commodities produced by other people. Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade.

Nagaram was an organization of merchants.

During fifth or sixth century the area of Tamil Nadu was opened up for large-scale cultivation. For irrigation, a variety of new methods were discovered. In, many areas wells were dug. Huge tanks were constructed for rainwater storage.

The system of election in Uttaramerur was quite different from that of the present day panchayat elections. In Uttaramerur election the names of the persons eligible to be members of the committees were written on small tickets of palm leaves. The tickets were put into an earthenware pot. Thereafter a young boy was asked to take out the tickets, one by one for each committee. But the present day panchayat members are elected through a general election. The names of the total members are printed with a symbol allotted to them on a paper called ballot paper. The voter put a stamp over their choice and drops it in a ballot box. Votes are counted and the winners' name is declared by the Returning Officer. Every procedure is organized by a statutory body.

The Sothern India was famous for its temples which were built during Chola dynasty, Pandya Dynasty, Sangam age, etc.

The Chola temples were the nuclei of settlements growing around them which included centres of craft production. Temples were also endowed with land by rulers as well as by others. The produce of the land was used for the maintenance of the priests, garland makers, cooks, sweepers, musicians, dancers etc who were associated with the temples and used to work for them. Hence temples were not simply the place of worship. They were also the hub of economic, social and cultural life as well.

The settlements of peasants were called as 'ur'.

Dantidurga was a Rashtrakuta chief who turned to be a kshatriya after performing a ritual known as hiranya-garbha.

The land gifted to Brahmanas was called as 'brahmadeya'.

The temples which are found nowadays do not have such intricate architechture except few as shown in this chapter Only Akshar Dham temple can match such other wall as the temple that at Gangaikondacholapuram.

Prashastis are a special kind of inscription, meaning “in praise of”. They were composed by learned Brahmans in praise of the rulers, which may not be literally true; but, they tell us how rulers of that time wanted to illustrate themselves.

The new dynasties gained power and wealth. Thereafter they declared themselves to be maha-samantas or mahamandaleshwara. Many of such kings adopted high sounding titles like maharaja-adhiraja or tribhuvana-chakravartin. They also deputed learned brahmanas to depict them as valiant, victorious warriors. Their activities were recorded in Prashastis. They tried to demonstrate their power and resources by building large temples.

Prashastis, often written by learned Brahmanas, were details of the functioning of a king. They may not be literally true. They tell us how rulers wanted to depict themselves-as valiant, victorious warriors, etc. Brahmanas were rewarded by grants of land which were recorded on copper plates.