Page 1 - LN-sub topic 2-Harshavardhana and the Harshacharita

SAI INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL
SUBJECT HISTORY
CLASS VI (2020-21)
CH- 10 NEW EMPIRES AND KINGDOMS
MODULE-2
LESSON NOTES

 Some information are also provided from the biographies of
Harshavardhana kings.
and the
Harshacharita  Banabhatta, a court poet of Harshavardhan wrote his
biography, the Harshacharita, in Sanskrit.

 This gives us the genealogy of Harsha, and ends with his
becoming king.

 Harsha was successful in the east and conquered both
Magadha and Bengal.
 He tried to cross the Narmada to march into the Deccan but
was stopped by a ruler belonging to the Chalukya dynasty,
Pulakeshin II.

 The Pallavas and Chalukyas were the most important ruling
The Pallavas, dynasties in south India.
Chalukyas and
Pulakeshin’s  The kingdom of the Pallavas spread from the region around
prashasti their capital, Kanchipuram, to the Kaveri delta.
 The Chalukyas was centred around the Raichur Doab,
between the rivers Krishna and Tungabhadra.

 Pulakeshin II was the best-known Chalukya ruler. Aihole,
the capital of the Chalukyas, was an important trading
centre and developed as a religious centre, with a number
of temples.

 His prashasti was composed by his court poet Ravikirti.
 Land revenue remained important and the village remained
How were these the basic unit of administration.
kingdoms  Some important administrative posts were hereditary, one
administered? person held many offices and important men probably had a

say in local administration.
 They maintained a well- organized army.
 Military leaders, called samantas, provided troops to the
king.