NCERT HISTORY CLASS-VI
CHAPTER-X PART-II
PALLAVAS AND CHALUKYAS
Both The Pallava and The Chalukya dynasties were considered the most important among south India. Both of them always tried to extend their power of influence around their center or capital city, also they covered many places through invading with their armies. Frequently, they both raided on one another's land for the extension.
- Pallava dynasty - Spread around their capital, Kanchipuram to the Kaveri delta.
- Chalukya dynasty - centered at Raichur Doab and spread between the Rivers Krishna & Tungabhadra. But Aihole, an important trade center is the capital city of them. Later it was developed into a religious center with many temples.
The prashasti of Pulakeshin, an important Chalukya ruler was written by his poet, Ravikirti. He mentioned his ancestors about four generations from father to son. He checked the advance of Harsha. There is an interesting play of words in the poem, Harsha means Happiness. After this defeat, Harsha was no longer Harsha!. But the victory of Chalukya was short-lived because they paved the way for new rulers belonging to Rashtrakuta and Chola dynasties.
ADMINISTRATION
For earlier kings, the Land revenue and the Village (basic unit of Administration) were reminded them important to rule the country. But for kings around this time needed the support of powerful men with social, political, economical, and military strength. So, they started to adapted different steps of policies. These effective policies enabled some powerful men to grew stronger and set an independent kingdom.
- Important administrative posts were made hereditary.
- Many offices can be held by a single person.
- Important men probably had a say in local administration.
ARMIES & ASSEMBLIES
The kings maintained an army with elephants, cavalry, chariots, and foot soldiers, also there were military leaders who provide troops whenever needed. They were not paid regularly instead they were provided with land and allowed to collect revenues. These men were called Samantas, also they become independent when the ruler was weak.
The local assemblies of Pallava were studied through their inscriptions. These assemblies were functioned by sub-committees, they also look after the irrigation, making roads, local temples, etc. The Ur was a village assembly with no Brahmin landowners. The Nagaram was an organization of merchants.
LIFE OF ORDINARY PEOPLE
These lives of ordinary people were derived from plays and other accounts. Kalidasa notes the life in courts that the king and brahmins spoke Sanskrit while others used Prakrit. His famous play, Abhijnana Shakuntalam is a love story between a king-Dushyanta and a young woman-Shakuntala. The king presented a ring to Shakuntala, But it was swallowed by a fish that was captured by a fisherman. And he returned it to the king with loyalty, then the king rewarded him with gold.
Fa Xian, a Chinese pilgrim noted about the untouchables, They were expected to live on the outskirts of the city. He writes that if a man enters a town, he strikes a piece of wood so that all others can be aware that he was untouchable, by hearing the sound and avoid touching or brushing him.