Hinglish

Further South

Class 7 Social Science · Chapter 16: Turning Tides: 11th and 12th Centuries · NCERT Exploring Society: India and Beyond section 16.4

Learn

In the Deccan, wars between the Cholas and the Western Chālukyas wore the Chālukyas down, and two new powers rose. The Kākatīyas ruled Telangana and Andhra from Orugallu (Warangal), with a fort of stone toraṇa gateways and the Thousand Pillar temple at Hanamkonda; they supported Telugu literature, village self-government and irrigation. The Hoysalas of southern Karnataka took their name from a legend: an ascetic told their founder Sāla "Poy, Sāla" (strike, Sāla) when a tiger appeared. Under Viṣhṇuvardhana they broke free of the Chālukyas, ruling from Belur and Halebidu, famous for richly carved temples now on UNESCO's World Heritage list.

The Cholas became masters of the seas. Rājarāja Chola, ruling from 985, conquered northern Sri Lanka and "islands of the sea" (probably the Maldives) and built the Bṛihadīśhvara temple at Thanjavur; he also let the Śhrīvijaya king build a Buddhist monastery at the port of Nāgapaṭṭinam. His son Rājendra I campaigned to Bengal, took the title Gangaikoṇḍachola ("the Chola who brought the Gangā") and, around 1025, sent his navy against the Śhrīvijaya Empire, which controlled the Strait of Malacca on the route to China. Backed by merchant guilds, it won but did not occupy the land. The Cholas also built roads, tanks and canals, but constant wars weakened them, and the Pāṇḍyas absorbed them by the 13th century.

Explore: which southern dynasty?

  1. Sort each clue.

Remember

  • The Kākatīyas (Warangal) and Hoysalas (Belur, Halebidu) rose as the Western Chālukyas faded.
  • The Cholas under Rājarāja and Rājendra built a sea-going empire and great temples.

Quick check

Why did Rājendra I attack the Śhrīvijaya Empire?

  1. it controlled a sea route vital to Chola trade with China
  2. it had destroyed Thanjavur
  3. to spread Islam
  4. to find gold mines in Bengal
Answer

it controlled a sea route vital to Chola trade with China. Relations with Śhrīvijaya were otherwise mostly peaceful and cultural.

Think about it

Why might merchant guilds support a king's naval expedition?

One answer

Because a free sea route to China meant safer, cheaper and more profitable trade for them, so the expedition served their interests too.

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.