History · X-Factor Notes
South India (Chola, Chalukya, Pallava and Sangam Period) revision notes for UPPCS Prelims.
High-Yield Revision| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative Feature | The Chola age was most famous for its village assemblies (village autonomy/local self-government). | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1991, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008 |
| Source of Administrative Detail | A lot of details regarding the Chola village administration are provided by the Uttaramerur inscription. | |
| Village Committee Name | The system governing villages through autonomous elected panchayats was evolved by the Dravids (Chola). The operating body was known as Variyam. | |
| Garden Administration |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | The capital of the Pallavas was Kanchipuram. | U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Pre) 2004 |
| Monolithic Temples | The Rath temples at Mahabalipuram (Mamallapuram) were built by the Pallavas. | U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007 |
| Key Builder (Rathas) |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Capital Location | The capital of the Chalukyas was Vatapi (Badami), presently in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1991, U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Pre) 2004 |
| Defeat of Harsha | The Chalukyan ruler Pulakesin II stopped Emperor Harsha’s southward march on the Narmada river. | U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016 |
| Aihole Inscription |
| Concept | What to remember | Asked in UPPCS |
|---|---|---|
| Sangam Literature (Grammar) | ‘Tolkappiyam’ is a fundamental text of Tamil grammar. | U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014 |
| Sangam Literature (Epic) | The author of the Tamil epic 'Silapadikaram' was Ilango Adigal. | U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2002 |
| Important Ports |
| U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2013 |
| Tank Maintenance Land | Eripatti was land whose revenue was set apart for the maintenance of the village tank. |
|---|
| Sculpture | The Nataraja (Shiva) bronze sculpture is considered one of the world's greatest iconographical creations made by sthapatis of South India, particularly during the Chola period. |
|---|
| Naval Power | The Chola state was famous for its naval power. Rajaraja I was the first Chola king who created the Naval Army. | U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2004, U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 1992 |
|---|
| Temple Construction | The Brihadeeshwara Temple of Thanjavur was built during the reign of Chola emperor Rajaraja I. The construction of the temple at Gangaikonda Cholapuram occurred during the reign of his son, Rajendra Chola. | U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008 |
|---|
| Artificial Lake | Chola monarch Rajendra Chola is credited with building a huge artificial lake known as Chola Gangam. | U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016 |
|---|
| Diplomacy/Trade | Kulottunga I sent a goodwill mission of 72 traders to China in 1077 A.D.. He also gave complete freedom to Sri Lanka and married his daughter to a Sinhala prince. | U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1992, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2012 |
|---|
| Inscriptional Records | Chola rulers adopted the practice of having inscriptions written on the walls of temples giving a historical narrative of their victories, leading to much information being available about them. | U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2006 |
|---|
| U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007, U.P.B.E.O. (Pre) 2019 |
| Naval Action | Narasimha Varman I sent two naval expeditions to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 642 AD. | U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2016 |
|---|
| Literary Patronage | Mahendravarman I (600-630 AD) composed a humorous book titled ‘Mattvilasaprahasan’. | U.P.B.E.O. (Pre) 2019 (for related chronology) |
|---|
| Temple Colleges | Ghatikas were colleges generally attached to temples. |
|---|
| Pallava Rulers (Chronology) | Mahendravarman I Narsinghvarman I Parmeshvaravarman I Nandivarman II. | U.P.B.E.O. (Pre) 2019 |
|---|
| This inscription mentions the name of the great poet Kalidasa. |
| U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013 |
| Chinese Account | The Chinese traveller Matwalin provided an account of the relationship between China and India during the reign of the Chalukyas. | U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2014 |
|---|
| Geographical Extent | The Chalukya Dynasty did not rule over North India, focusing mainly on the Deccan and Southern India. |
|---|
| The ports of Korkai (Pandya), Poompuhar (Chola), and Muchiri (Chera) were well known in ancient South India. Arikamedu was known as Poduke to the author of 'The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea'. |
| U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997 |
| Cotton Trade Centre | Uraiyur, located on the Cauvery River, was a very significant town during the Sangam Era and the major center of cotton trade. | U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2003 (cited in source) |
|---|
| Pandya Capital/Lifeline | The capital of the Pandyas was Madurai. The Vengi River was considered the lifeline of the Pandya state. | U.P.P.C.S. (Spl) (Pre) 2004, U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2019, U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2010 |
|---|
| Chera Capital | The capital of the Chera dynasty was Karuvur/Karur (also known as Vanchi). | U.P.B.E.O. (Pre) 2019 |
|---|
| Hoysala Capital | Dwarasamudra (Halebidu) was the capital of the Hoysala dynasty. | U.P. Lower Sub (Pre) 2008, U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Pre) 2014, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2003 |
|---|
| Trade Corporations | Manigramam was a famous corporation of merchants (trade union) in ancient India. |
|---|
| Administrative Governors | Polygars were territorial administrative and military governors appointed by Nayaka rulers in South India (16th to 18th centuries). | U.P.P.C.S. (Re. Exam) (Pre) 2015 |
|---|
| Kakatiya Seaport | Motupalli was a very important seaport in the Kakatiya kingdom. |
|---|
| Dynasty Chronology (General) | Chronological order of key rulers/dynasties: Mahendravarman I (Pallava) Gopala (Pala) Bhoja I (Pratihara) Parantaka I (Chola). |
|---|
| Archaeologists in South India | Scholars like Alexander Rea, A.H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess and Walter Elliot were primarily associated with archaeological excavations related to South Indian history. |
|---|
| Temple Architecture | The Nagara, the Dravida (South India), and the Vesara (mixture) are the three main styles of Indian temple architecture. |
|---|
| Land Grant (Vijayanagara) | Amaram was a type of land grant used by Vijayanagara rulers. |
|---|
| Shaiva Devotees | Nayanars were the devotees who worshipped Shiva, mainly in Tamil regions during the medieval period. | U.P. U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2006 |
|---|
| Temple/Dynasty Match | The Dashavatara Temple (Deogarh) is linked to the Gupta era; Khajuraho to Chandela; Badami to Chalukya; and Panamalai to Pallava. |
|---|
