Chapter 16: Turning Tides: 11th and 12th Centuries
The 11th and 12th centuries were a turning point. In this chapter we follow Mahmūd of Ghazni's raids, meet the scholars al-Bīrūnī and Bhāskarāchārya, travel through the kingdoms of the east and the south, return north to the Paramāras, the Chāhamānas and the Ghūrid conquest, and see how trade, art and thought carried on through it all.
In this chapter you will
- explain the Ghaznavid and Ghūrid invasions and their impact
- describe the kingdoms of the east, south and north in this period
- describe achievements in science, art and thought
- identify change and continuity
Topics
- The Ghaznavid Invasions NCERT 16.1
Mahmūd of Ghazni defeated the Hindu Shāhis and led 17 plundering campaigns into India.
- Al-Bīrūnī and Bhāskarāchārya NCERT 16.2
Al-Bīrūnī studied Sanskrit and wrote a great survey of Indian knowledge.
- Eastern India NCERT 16.3
The Senas ruled Bengal and supported Hindu literature such as Jayadeva's Gītagovindam.
- Further South NCERT 16.4
The Kākatīyas (Warangal) and Hoysalas (Belur, Halebidu) rose as the Western Chālukyas faded.
- Back to the North NCERT 16.5
Bhoja Paramāra was a scholar-king and builder; the Chāhamānas held Ajmer and Delhi.
- Governance, Trade and Cultural Life NCERT 16.6
Armies needed strong administration; trade grew and farming stayed the base of the economy.
Key words
- Turkic
- peoples and cultures of Central Asia
- Sultan
- a sovereign Muslim ruler
- Khyber Pass
- a pass through the Hindu Kush
- Toraṇa
- an ornamental gateway
- Viśhiṣhṭādvaita
- Rāmānuja's school of philosophy
- Vachana
- short Kannada poem of Basava
- Booty
- goods taken by force in war
- Resilience
- the ability to recover and carry on
Summary
- Mahmūd of Ghazni raided and plundered; Muhammad Ghūrī conquered and left generals to rule.
- The Senas, Eastern Gangas, Kākatīyas, Hoysalas, Cholas, Paramāras and Chāhamānas flourished.
- Scholars like al-Bīrūnī, Bhāskarāchārya, Rāmānuja and Basava left lasting work.
- Despite destruction, trade, art and learning continued, showing resilience.