UPSC Static Quiz – Ancient & Medieval India : 12 August 2024

Solution: a)

Different administrative related terms used during the period of Palas:
1. Province (Bhukti),
2. Governor (Uparika),
3. District (Mandal or Visaya),
4. Head of District (Visayapati).

Each bhukti was placed under the charge of an uparika.

Solution: d)

The Pala dynasty came to power around 750 A.D. The Pala school of art first flourished in the Magadha region of Southern Bihar, the homeland of Buddhist religion. Not surprisingly, the majority of early Pala-period remains are Buddhist

The Pala painting is characterised by sinuous line and subdued tones of colour. It is a naturalistic style which resembles the ideal forms of contemporary bronze and stone sculpture, and reflects some feeling of the classical art of Ajanta.

The Pala art came to a sudden end after the destruction of the Buddhist monasteries at the hands of Muslim invaders in the first half of the 13th century. Some of the monks and artists escaped and fled to Nepal, which helped in reinforcing the existing art traditions there.

Solution: b)

Chola Local Administration:

• The most important feature of the Chola administration was the local administration at districts, towns and villages level.
• Uttaramerur inscriptions speak much about the Chola administration.
• Village autonomy was the most unique feature of Chola administrative system.
• Nadu was one of the important administrative units of the Cholas. Nadus had representative assemblies. The heads of the Nadus were called Nattars.
• The council of Nadu was called Nattavai.

Solution: d)

The Cholas had an excellent system of administration. The land revenue department was well organized. It was called as puravuvarithinaikkalam. All lands were carefully surveyed and classified for assessment of revenue.

Besides land revenue, there were tolls and customs on goods taken from one place to another, various kinds of professional taxes, dues levied on ceremonial occasions like marriages and judicial fines.

Taxes on mines, ports, forests and salt pans were collected. Professional tax and house tax were also collected.

Solution: a)

Rajaraja I (985 – 1014 A.D.)

It was under Rajaraja I and his son Rajendra I that the Chola power reached its highest point of glory. His military conquests were:

1. The defeat of the Chera ruler Bhaskararavivarman in the naval battle of Kandalursalai and the destruction of the Chera navy.
2. The defeat of the Pandya ruler, Amarabhujanga and establishment of Chola authority in the Pandya country.
3. The conquest of Gangavadi, Tadigaipadi and Nolambapadi located in the Mysore region
4. The Chola victory over the growing power of the Western Chalukyas of Kalyani. Satyasraya was defeated and Rajaraja I captured the Raichur Doab, Banavasi and other places. Hence the Chola power extended up to the river Tungabadhra

Rajendra I defeated mahinda and seized the southern Sri Lanka. Thereafter, whole of Sri Lanka was made part of the Chola Empire.