Experts have designed these Class 7 SST Notes Chapter 6 The Age of Reorganisation Class 7 Notes for effective learning.
Class 7 The Age of Reorganisation Notes
Class 7 SST Chapter 6 The Age of Reorganisation Notes
Class 7 SST Chapter 6 Notes – The Age of Reorganisation Notes Class 7
→ Mauryan Empire: The first significant empire of ancient India, founded by Chandragupta Maurya around 320 BCE.
→ Ashoka: A famous Mauryan emperor known for spreading Buddhism and ruling with kindness after the Kalinga War.
→ Decline: A slow loss of power, strength, or importance.
→ Collapse: A complete breakdown or fall of an empire or system.
→ Small Kingdoms: Regional states that ruled smaller areas after the fall of the Mauryan Empire.
→ Regional Powers: Local rulers who became powerful in their own regions after the deterioration of a vital empire.
→ Shunga Dynasty: A dynasty that ruled parts of North India after the Mauiyas.
→ Satavahanas: A powerful dynasty in South India that emerged after the Mauiyas.
→ Kushanas: A Central Asian tribe that ruled parts of North India and helped spread trade and Buddhism.
→ Reorganisation: The process of organising something again in a new way to increase its productivity (like forming new kingdoms).
→ Administration: The way a government or kingdom is managed and run.
→ Culture: The ideas, customs, art, and traditions of a group of people or community.
→ Trade: The buying and selling of goods and sendees between people or regions.
→ Local Rulers: Kings or leaders who ruled small regions or cities.
→ Art and Religion: Creative activities and spiritual beliefs that flourish in different regions.
→ Political Change: A shift in administration.
→ Indian Subcontinent: A large landmass that includes India and neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, – and Nepal.
→ Dynasty: A succession of rulers from the same family.
→ Historical Period: A certain time frame in history, marked by specific events and changes.
→ Matrimonial Alliance: Alliance arranged through a marriage generally between two members of the royal families.
→ Yoga Sutras: Recipe/ guide to calm your mind and body.
→ Ashvamedha Yajna: The Ashvamedha Yajna was an ancient Vedic ritual performed by kings to prove their authority. In this ceremony, a horse, accompanied by soldiers, was set free to roam wherever it pleased. Any region the horse entered without being stopped was considered part of the king’s territory. However, if another ruler stopped the horse, it led to a battle to establish the dominance.
The Age of Reorganisation Class 7th Notes
- It is believed that Ashoka’s successor was assassinated by his Commander-in-chief Pushyamitra Shunga around 185 BCE.
- This led to the breakup of the Mauryan Empire due to which northwest region of the Indian subcontinent became weak inviting invasions from outside.
- New kingdoms emerged across the subcontinent.
- This period is known as the ‘age of reorganisation’.
- New kingdoms competed with each other for territorial control.
- To gain control over the territories, methods like matrimonial alliances or use of military force was used.
SURGE OF THE SHUNGAS
- Shunga dynasty was founded by Pushyamitra Shunga in 185 BCE, after killing the last king of Maurya Empire.
- It ruled parts of northern and central India.
- Shungas maintained friendly relations with potential invaders to the north, including Greeks.
- Vedic rituals and practices survived during this period.
- The empire could not last long after him. It ended a century later.
- Sanskrit v/as the most preferred language during this period.
- During this period, Patanjali composed Yoga Sutras (A classical yoga text).
- Literature, art, and architecture flourished during this period.
THE SATAVAHANAS
- Satavahanas ruled large parts of the Deccan (today’s states of Maharashtra, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh) from 2nd century BCE onwards.
- Satavahanas were a prominent dynasty. They were also referred to as Andhras.
- They had different capitals at different time, famous were Amravati and Pratishthana (Paithan).
- Coins issued during this period have been found in various regions of India.
- Maritime trade flourished during this period. This can be concluded from the coins which show ships carved on them.
- Agriculture and trade also flourished during that period.
- Economic prosperity led to the development of literature, art, and culture.
Life under the Satavahanas
- Princess were often named after their mothers.
- Important inscriptions were carved to show the rulers influence.
- The inscriptions are in Brahmi script which mentioned Vedic gods like Suiya, Chandra and Indra. It also include few numericals (symbols for numbers) which resembles today’s numbers, showing origin of modern numerals from India.
- Devout followers of Vasudeva (Krishna).
- The Satavahanas Kings flourished Jaina and Buddhists studies by granting tax free agriculture lands to Vedic scholars.
- In 3rd century empire fragmented due to weak central control and gradual economic decline.
Coming of the Chedis
- After the decline of the Maurya Empire, the kings of the Chedi dynasty rose Kalinga as a prominent power.
- Their main ruler of the Chedi dynasty, Kharavela, was a devoted follower of Jain teachings.
- He was also called ‘Bhikshu-raja’ or monk-king.
- All schools of thought were respected during his rule.
- Rock-cut architecture developed during this period and caves were made for Jain monks.
- His accomplishments have been inscribed in Brahmi script in the Hathigumpha inscription at Udayagiri-Khandagiri caves near Bhubaneswar.
KINGDOMS AND LIFE IN THE SOUTH
- Between 3rd or 2nd century BCE and 3rd century CE, three dynasties of the South rose to power the Cheras, the Cholas, and the Pandyas.
- These three dynasties competed with each other for control over the South.
- Although trade and culture developed during this period, as per Kharavela, he defeated the alliance of South Indian kings as they threatened him.
- The work of many South Indian poets known as ‘Sangam Literature’ was created during this era (also known as Sangam age).
- Sangam Literature, the oldest in South India, consists of learned collections or anthologies of poems.
- Personal emotions like love, generosity and heroism were expressed with great skills and delicacy in the Sangam Poetry.
The Cholas
- The three crowned kings – the Cholas, the Cheras, and the Pandyas are referred in the Sangam literature.
- The Cholas were a powerful dynasty which ruled the Southern part of India during 3rd century BCE till the 13th Century CE.
- The Cholas had defeated the combined forces of Cheras and Pandyas and established their supremacy.
- Karikala, one of the famous Chola rulers, undertook many projects for the benefit of the people.
- He made a complex water diversion system known as Kallanai or Grand Anicut.
- It helped to divert waters from the Kaveri to the central and southern parts of Kaveri delta.
- This helped in bringing more land under cultivation, and therefore the area earned the name ‘Rice Bowl of the South’.
The Cheras
- Cheras are also called the Keralaputras (sons of Kerala).
- Parts of western Tamil Nadu and Kerala were under their control.
- Vanji, present day Karur in Tamil Nadu, was their capital.
- Cheras had very good relations with the Roman Empire and exported goods like spices, timber, ivory and pearls.
- A number of coins were also issued under their reign.
- The Cheras played an important role in popularising Tamil literature and Sangam poets.
The Pandyas
- Parts of Tamil Nadu and the surrounding regions were ruled by the Pandyas.
- Present-day Madurai was their capital.
- Megasthenes in his work Indika’ has mentioned that the state of Pandyas was very prosperous.
- They had a strong administration and active internal and external trade with Romans and the Greeks.
- They were also an important naval power and contributed greatly to the art, architecture, and overall prosperity of the region.
Invasions of the Indo-Greeks
- After his campaign in the Indus plain, Alexander left his governors (satraps) behind.
- Later, these governors became rulers and established their own independent territories.
- They were known as Indo-Greeks and were influenced by the rich local culture.
- The blend of Greek and Indian elements in governance, art, language and daily life shaped the cultural landscape of the region.
- The Heliodorus pillar near Vidisha, in Madhya Pradesh, shows the blend of In- do-Greek culture.
- Indo-Greek coins have been found by the archaeologists during excavations.
- The coins found were made of gold, silver, copper and nickel portraying a king on one side and Greek deities on the other.
- Some coins also depict Vasudeva-Krishna and Lakshmi.
- Indo-Greek rule ended with the invasion of the Indo-Scythians or Shakas.
The Emergence of the Kushanas
- In the 2nd century CE, Kushanas entered India from Central Asia.
- History of the Indian subcontinent is greatly impacted by their rule.
- King Kanishka was the most powerful ruler of the Kushanas.
- He was called the ‘Maharaja Rajadhiraja Devaputra Kanishka” meaning The Great King, king of kings, Son of God, Kanishka.
- Significant section of the Silk Route was under their control.
- During this time, Gandhara and Mathura schools of art flourished.
- The Gandhara Style emerged in western regions of Punjab with fusion of Indian, roman and Greek styles including Buddha images.
- The Mathura style of art was developed in present Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, and is known for its unique Indian style.
- Sanskrit literature flourished during this period with composition of famous Indian texts including Ramayana and Mahabharata.