Introduction – The Emergence of New Dynasties

• After the 7th century CE, many regional kingdoms emerged across India.
• Smaller chiefs and landlords (Samantas) declared independence and became rulers.
• Powerful dynasties like the Rashtrakutas, Palas, Gurjara-Pratiharas, and Cholas rose to prominence.
• These rulers built temples, encouraged trade, and fought wars to expand their territories.

How Did New Ruling Dynasties Gain Power?

1. Samantas Became Kings

• Samantas (landlords or military chiefs) initially worked under big rulers.
• Over time, they became powerful and declared themselves kings.
• They performed rituals like hiranyagarbha (golden womb ceremony) to claim royal status.

2. Royal Families and Lineages

• Kings often claimed descent from famous rulers or gods to gain legitimacy.
• Example: The Cholas traced their lineage to the Sun God (Surya Vamsa).

Administration – How Were Kingdoms Governed?

• Kings were at the top of the administration, with officials and local rulers under them.
• Samantas and nobles controlled smaller regions and paid tribute (gifts and taxes) to the king.
• Samantas and nobles controlled smaller regions and paid tribute (gifts and taxes) to the king.

Important Administrative Positions

• Mahasamanta – A powerful noble who helped the king in wars.
• Dandanayaka – A military general who led the army.
• Prashasti Writers – Poets who wrote about kings’ achievements.

Warfare for Wealth – The Struggle for Power

• Kings fought wars to expand their territories and gain wealth.
• They often attacked neighboring kingdoms, temples, and rich cities to gain resources.
• Prashastis (inscriptions) written by poets and scholars glorified these victories.

Examples of Wars for Wealth

• Rashtrakuta King Dantidurga defeated the Chalukyas and became powerful.
• Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni (Afghanistan) attacked India 17 times to loot wealth.
• Cholas fought wars with the Pallavas and Pandyas to expand their empire.

The Chola Dynasty – A Powerful South Indian Empire

• The Chola dynasty was one of the greatest South Indian empires (9th–13th century CE).
• It was founded by Vijayalaya Chola in 850 CE.
• The Cholas ruled Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Sri Lanka.

Famous Chola Rulers

• Rajaraja Chola I (985–1014 CE) – Expanded the empire, built temples, and organized administration.
• Rajendra Chola I (1014–1044 CE) – Conquered Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and parts of Southeast Asia.

Chola Administration – A Well-Organized System

• Chola rulers established a strong administrative system.
• They introduced a decentralized government with local self-governance.

1. Central Administration

• The king was the supreme ruler and took important decisions.
• Officials collected taxes (land revenue, trade taxes) to fund the empire.

2. Provincial and Local Governance

• The empire was divided into Mandalams (provinces), ruled by governors.
• Each province was further divided into Valanadus (districts) and Nadu (villages).
• Ur (village councils) and Sabhas (local assemblies) took care of administration at the village level.

Temples and Bronze Sculptures – The Cultural Contributions of the Cholas

• The Cholas were great temple builders.
• Temples were not just places of worship but also centers of education, art, and administration.

1. Famous Chola Temples

• Brihadeshwara Temple (Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu) – Built by Rajaraja Chola I.
• Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple – Built by Rajendra Chola I.

2. Bronze Sculptures

• The Cholas made beautiful bronze statues of Hindu gods and goddesses.
• The Nataraja (Shiva) statue is one of the finest examples of Chola bronze work.

Conclusion

• New dynasties like the Rashtrakutas, Palas, and Cholas emerged after the 7th century.
• Samantas (local chiefs) became kings and started new ruling dynasties.
• Administration was organized with kings, nobles, and village councils.
• Wars were fought for wealth and power, and many rulers looted temples and cities.
• The Cholas were a powerful South Indian dynasty known for their military conquests and administration.
• They built great temples like Brihadeshwara and created magnificent bronze sculptures.