New Kings And Kingdoms

1. The Cholas

1.1. Vijayalaya, who was a Chola from Uraiyur, captured the Kaveri Delta, which belonged to a subordinate of the Pallavas from Kanchipuram, the Muttaraiyar, and built the town Thanjavur, in which he included a temple of Goddess Nishumbasudini. His successors claimed more regions of the subcontinent, including the Pallava and Pandya regions to the north and south, making the empire larger and stronger.

1.2. Rajaraja I, considered to be one of the most powerful Chola rulers, got control over most of these areas and also reorganised the administration of the empire. His son, Rajendra I, developed a navy, using it to raid the Ganga Valley, Sri Lanka, and countries of Southeast Asia.

1.3. The Prominence of the Cholas

1.3.1. The temples built by Rajaraja and Rajendra, are architectural marvels, as well as hubs of social, economic and cultural activities. They, especially, held amazing sculptures of deities and devotees. Chola sculptures are considered to be one of the best in the world.

1.3.2. The Cholas also used several different methods for agriculture and irrigation, like sluice-gates, rainwater tanks, etc.

1.4. The Administration of the Cholas

1.4.1. A Nadu is a group of peasant settlements, called Ur. The village council and Nadu did a lot of administrative work like dispensing justice and collecting taxes.

1.4.2. The rich Vellala caste peasants had considerable control over the affairs of the Nadu under the supervision of the central government of the Cholas.

1.4.3. The kings gave some rich landowners titles like Muvendavelan, Araiyar, etc. They also entrusted them with important offices in the center.

1.4.4. Associations of traders called Nagarams also often perform administrative duties.

1.5. The Categories of Land

1.5.1. VELLANVAGAI: land of non-Brahmana peasant proprietors

1.5.2. BRAHMADEYA: land gifted to Brahmanas

1.5.3. SHALABHOGA: land for the maintenance of a school

1.5.4. DEVADANA, TIRUNAMATTUKKANI: land gifted to temples

1.5.5. PALLICHHANDAM: land donated to Jaina institutions

1.6. Brahmadeya

1.6.1. Brahmanas, as we know, often receive land grants or Brahmadeyas. Each Brahmadeya was looked after by a Sabha (Assembly).

1.6.2. These consisted of important Brahmana landholders. Their decisions were recorded in detail, often on temple walls.

1.6.3. Sabhas had different committees for different jobs. The names of those who are eligible to be members were written on tiny tickets of palm leaves, which were put into earthen pots, and picked out randomly for each committee by a young boy.

1.7. The Rules for Being A Member Of The Sabha Are:

1.7.1. They have to be owners of land from which revenue is collected.

1.7.2. They should have their own homes.

1.7.3. Their age should be between 35 to 70.

1.7.4. They must have Vedic knowledge.

1.7.5. They should be honest and well versed in administrative matters.

1.7.6. If they have been a member of a certain committee for the past three years, then they cannot be a member of another committee.

1.7.7. A person who has not submitted his and his family's accounts, cannot take part in the election.

2. Samantas

2.1. Big landlords and warrior chiefs.

2.2. Expected to bring gifts for the king, give military support and be present at their courts.

2.3. With gain of power, they called themselves Mahasamantas or Mahamandaleshvara to show their power.

3. Taxes And Revenue

3.1. Often, producers like herders, artisans and peasants were compelled to pay the king a part of what they produce.

3.2. A lord who asserted that he owned the land would claim this as rent. Revenue was also collected from traders.

3.3. The Chola Dynasty had more than 400 different types of taxes!

3.4. Taxes and revenues were used to finance the king's establishment, as well as build temples and forts, fight wars, and many other things.

4. Warfare for Wealth

4.1. Rulers often tried to gain control over other parts of the subcontinent. For example, The rulers of Gurjara Pratihara, Rashtrakuta and Pala dynasties fought to get control of Kanauj for centuries. Since three parties were involved in this struggle for control, historians refer to this as the 'Tripartite Struggle'.

4.2. The kings used the wealth gained from warfare to build temples to show their power. So, when a king wants to attack a kingdom, his first targets are usually the temples.

4.3. Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni had a lot of the subcontinent in his control as he raided the subcontinent almost every year, his target being temples. He used the money gained for creating a glorious capital city in Ghazni.

5. Prashastis and Land Grants

5.1. Prashastis are the tales of valor of the king, often written in hope of rewards. (Albeit it may not be literally true)

5.2. The rewards were land grants, which were recorded on copper plates and given to those who received the land.

5.3. Those who gained the land could have access to the water streams, bushes, vegetation and all the facilities that came along with it, but more importantly, they could collect taxes from it as well as build rooms with upper stories made of baked bricks.