Ancient History of India : OLD NCERT Short Notes or Revision : CHAPTER-28 : Brahmanization, Rural Expansion, and Peasant Protest in the Peninsula (Arora IAS) OLD NCERT Notes (Ancient India)

CHAPTER-28 : Brahmanization, Rural Expansion, and Peasant Protest in the Peninsula

Ancient History of India
OLD NCERT
Short Notes or Revision Notes 

South India: The Second Historical Phase (c. 300-750 CE)

Continuity from the First Phase (c. 200 BC-300 CE):

• Rise of powerful empires: Satavahanas in the Deccan, Tamil kingdoms in south Tamil Nadu.

Political Landscape:

• Emergence of three major states by 7th century CE:
  • Pallavas of Kanchi
  • Chalukyas of Badami
  • Pandyas of Madurai

Economic Trends:

• Decline in trade, towns, and coinage compared to the first phase.
• Increase in tax-free land grants to temples and Brahmins.

Religious Developments:

• Cave inscriptions suggest Jain and Buddhist influence in south Tamil Nadu.
• Rise of Shiva and Vishnu temple construction:
  • Pallavas in Tamil Nadu
  • Chalukyas of Badami in Karnataka

Cultural Shift:

• Transition from “land of megaliths” to “land of temples.”
• Rise of Aryan and Brahminical influence:
  • Patronage by Brahmin rulers
  • Land grants to Brahmins

Linguistic Changes:

• Shift from Prakrit to Sanskrit:
  • Sanskrit as the official language by 400 CE
  • Most charters composed in Sanskrit

Successors of the Satavahanas (c. 2nd Century CE – 8th Century CE)

Deccan:

• Vakatakas (North Maharashtra & Vidarbha):
  • Brahmin rulers
  • Promoted Brahminical religion & Vedic sacrifices
  • Succeeded by Chalukyas of Badami (6th-8th CE)

Eastern Deccan:

• Ikshvakus (Krishna-Guntur Region):
  • Local tribe claiming Brahminical lineage
  • Land grant practices
  • Supplanted by Pallavas

South India:

• Pallavas (Tondainadu/Kanchi):
  • Possibly a local tribe
  • Ruled parts of Andhra & Tamil Nadu
  • Promoted Vedic learning & temple construction
  • Conflicted with Kadambas
• Kadambas (North Karnataka & Konkan):
  • Founded by Mayurasharma
  • Defeated & later recognized by Pallavas
  • Performed Vedic sacrifices & granted land to Brahmins
  • Capital: Vaijayanti/Banavasi
• Gangas (Southern Karnataka):
  • Western Gangas/Gangas of Mysore
  • Located between Pallavas & Kadambas

Common Feature:

• All these dynasties (Pallavas, Kadambas, Chalukyas of Badami) actively promoted Vedic sacrifices.

The Kalabhra Revolt (6th Century CE)

Disruption in State Formation:

• Despite advancements in state formation (300-750 CE), the Kalabhra revolt stands out.

The Kalabhras:

• Possibly a tribal people.
• Briefly ruled parts of South India, weakening Cholas, Pallavas, and others.
• Considered anti-Brahminical:
  • Ended Brahmin land rights (Brahmadeya)
  • Possibly Buddhist

Revolt’s Impact:

• Widespread uprising requiring combined force of Pandyas, Pallavas, and Chalukyas to suppress.
• Briefly captured Chola, Pandya, and Chera kings (according to tradition).

The Pallava-Chalukya Rivalry (6th-8th Century CE)

Central Conflict:

• Power struggle between Pallavas of Kanchi and Chalukyas of Badami for dominance in South India.
• The Pandyas played a minor role.

Bone of Contention:

• Territory between Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers.

Key Events:

• Pulakeshin II (Chalukya King):
  • Defeated Kadambas, Gangas, and partially Pallavas.
  • Established Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi branch.
• Narasimhavarman (Pallava King):
  • Conquered Chalukya capital Vatapi (642 CE).
  • Claimed victories over other South Indian kingdoms.
• Vikramaditya II (Chalukya King):
  • Defeated Pallavas in 740 CE, ending their supremacy.

Outcome:

• Chalukyas ultimately defeated Pallavas but were overthrown by Rashtrakutas in 757 CE.

Rise of Bhakti Movement and Temple Construction (7th-8th Century CE)

Bhakti Movement:

• Nayanars and Alvars promoted Shiva and Vishnu cults respectively.

Pallava Temple Architecture:

• Constructed stone temples for Shiva and Vishnu.
  • Seven Rathas (chariot) temples at Mahabalipuram (7th century).
  • Shore Temple, Mahabalipuram (structural, not rock-cut).
  • Kailashanathar Temple, Kanchi (8th century).

Chalukya Temple Architecture:

• Built numerous temples at Aihole, Badami, and Pattadakal (7th-8th century).
  • Pattadakal:
    • Papanatha Temple (northern style, low tower).
    • Virupaksha Temple (southern style, high square tower).

Demands on Peasants in Pallava & Chalukya Kingdoms (c. 300-750 CE)

Burdens on Peasants:

• Funding for wars, arts, religion, and administration.
• Similar demands in both Vakataka (Vidarbha/Maharashtra) and Pallava (Andhra/Tamil Nadu) kingdoms.
• Examples of burdens:
  • Labor
  • Produce

Land Grants and Rural Expansion:

• Demands suggest peasants’ ability to pay.
• State growth relied on:
  • Increase in rural communities
  • Higher agricultural production

Types of Villages:

• Ur (South Tamil Nadu):
  • Peasant castes
  • Communal land ownership?
  • Village headman collected taxes.
• Sabha:
  • Brahmadeya villages (Brahmins)
  • Agrahara villages
  • Individual land rights for Brahmins, collective activities.
• Nagaram:
  • Traders and merchants
  • Possibly due to trade decline.

Chalukya Administration:

• Village elders (Mahajana) managed rural affairs.

Evidence:

• This period shows signs of:
  • Agricultural expansion
  • Rural organization
  • Improved land use