NCERT Class 7 Social Science Chapter 15
Empires and Kingdoms: 6th to 10th Centuries
This chapter covers the rise and fall of various empires and kingdoms that flourished in India from the 6th to the 10th centuries CE, including the Chalukyas, Pallavas, Rashtrakutas, Palas, and Pratiharas. Students examine the political fragmentation after the Gupta decline, regional powers competing for dominance, and significant cultural and architectural achievements of this period.
Read Online
Key Terms
- Chalukyas
- A powerful dynasty that ruled over the Deccan and parts of south India (6th–12th centuries), known for magnificent cave temples at Ajanta and Ellora.
- Pallavas
- A dynasty that ruled in south India (3rd–9th centuries), known for their contribution to Dravidian architecture, especially the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram.
- Rashtrakutas
- A powerful dynasty that succeeded the Chalukyas in the Deccan (8th–10th centuries), known for the Kailasa Temple at Ellora carved from a single rock.
- Tripartite Struggle
- The prolonged conflict among the Gurjara-Pratiharas, Palas, and Rashtrakutas for control of the Gangetic plain and the strategic city of Kannauj.
- Pala Dynasty
- A Buddhist dynasty that ruled Bengal and Bihar (8th–12th centuries), known for patronizing Buddhism and founding Vikramashila University.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the Tripartite Struggle?▾
The Tripartite Struggle was a prolonged conflict between three powerful dynasties — the Gurjara-Pratiharas of Rajasthan, the Palas of Bengal, and the Rashtrakutas of the Deccan — for control of Kannauj, which was considered the gateway to northern India.
What were the major achievements of the Pallava dynasty?▾
The Pallavas made significant contributions to Dravidian architecture. They built the Shore Temple and rathas at Mahabalipuram, developed the Pallava script which influenced Southeast Asian writing systems, and patronized Tamil literature and scholarship.
Which dynasty built the famous Kailasa Temple at Ellora?▾
The Kailasa Temple at Ellora was built by the Rashtrakuta king Dantidurga or possibly Krishna I in the 8th century. It is remarkable because the entire temple complex was carved out of a single rock and is one of the world's greatest architectural achievements.
Why is the period from 6th to 10th century called the age of regional kingdoms?▾
After the decline of the Gupta Empire, no single dynasty could control the entire subcontinent. Instead, many powerful regional kingdoms emerged competing for dominance, each patronizing their own culture, religion, and architecture, leading to great regional diversity.
What role did the Palas play in the spread of Buddhism?▾
The Pala kings were great patrons of Buddhism. They founded Vikramashila University and supported Nalanda University, which attracted Buddhist scholars from across Asia. Pala missionaries and traders helped spread Buddhism to Tibet, Southeast Asia, and East Asia.
Disclaimer & Attribution
- All NCERT textbook PDFs displayed on this page are served directly from NCERT's official servers at ncert.nic.in. We do not host, store, or redistribute any PDF files on our servers.
- This website is free to use. We do not sell, charge for, or commercially exploit any NCERT content.
- All textbook content is the intellectual property of NCERT, Government of India and is published under their open-access policy for educational purposes.
- This page is provided purely for educational reference in compliance with NCERT's guidelines for non-commercial use of their freely available materials.