Hinglish

Eastern India

Class 7 Social Science · Chapter 16: Turning Tides: 11th and 12th Centuries · NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond section 16.3

Learn

While the north bore Mahmūd's raids, eastern India was calmer. After the Pālas declined, the Sena dynasty ruled much of Bengal from Nādīya. Unlike the Buddhist-supporting Pālas, the Senas promoted Hindu thought and literature and hosted the poet Jayadeva, whose Gītagovindam sings of Kṛiṣhṇa and Rādhā.

Further down the coast in Kalinga (Odisha), the Eastern Gangas made marriage alliances with the Cholas but also fought them. By the end of the 12th century they were among the most stable powers of the east, ruling "from the Gangā to the Godāvarī". They began the Jagannātha temple at Puri and, in the 13th century, the great Sun temple at Konark.

Explore: Senas or Eastern Gangas?

  1. Sort each clue.

Remember

  • The Senas ruled Bengal and supported Hindu literature such as Jayadeva's Gītagovindam.
  • The Eastern Gangas of Kalinga began the temples at Puri and Konark.

Quick check

Jayadeva's Gītagovindam is about …

  1. Kṛiṣhṇa and Rādhā
  2. the Chola navy
  3. Mahmūd's raids
  4. farming
Answer

Kṛiṣhṇa and Rādhā. It is still sung and danced across India.

Think about it

Why might kings make marriage alliances with rival dynasties?

One answer

To turn enemies into relatives, secure borders, gain allies in war and share in trade, though such ties did not always prevent fighting.

Practice

Practise with fresh questions at three levels (easy, medium, hard), some answered hands-on, with hints and worked answers. Get 4 of your last 5 right to finish the topic.