Page 62 - sst_class_06

Chandragupta II defeated the Shakas of Gujarat, Saurashtra, Malwa and annexed their
territories. He made the trading town of Ujjain as his second capital. This further
strengthened his control over trade.
He promoted learning and art. He is said to have patronised nine renowned scholars, poets
and artists, who were called the navaratna (nine gems). The poet Kalidasa is said to have
been one of them.

India After the Guptas : After the decline of the Gupta empire, some smaller kingdoms arose
in North and South India. Among them, the prominent ones were the kingdom of Harsha in
the North and that of the Chalukyas and Pallavas in South India.
HarsHaVardHana (ad 606-647)

In the AD 606, Harshavardhana became the ruler of Thanesvar in modern Haryana. He
succeeded his brother Rajyavardhana, who had avenged the murder of his sister’s husband,
the ruler of Kannauj, but had himself got killed. Harsha united the kingdoms of Thanesvar
and Kannauj and made Kannauj as his capital.
Kannauj was relatively safe from foreign
invasions as it was not very close to the North-
West Frontier. The Gangetic Plain could also
be better supervised from here.

The Chinese pilgrim Hiven Tsang was a guest at
Harsha’s court and stayed in the country for about
15 years. Hiven Tsang wrote in detail on Harsha’s
administration and court life. Information about
Harsha’s reign is also available in Harsha’s
biography Harshacharita written by Banabhatta.

Harsha’s empire extended from the Himalayas
in the North to the river Narmada in the
South and from Punjab in the West to Bengal
in the East. Harsha restored the conquered
territories to their rulers as long as they
promised to pay him regular tributes. Harsha
led a campaign into the Deccan but was
defeated on the bank of the Narmada by the
Chalukya ruler Pulakeshin II. The Empire of Harsha

tHe cHalukyas and pallaVas
In the Deccan, the Chalukyas played an important role for about two centuries until AD
757. They set up their kingdom in Western Deccan towards the beginning of the sixth
century AD. They established their capital at Vatapi (modern Badami) in Northern Mysore.
The Most renowned Chalukya ruler was Pulakeshin II. We come to know about him in
Parashasti written by Ravi Kirti, his court poet. He defeated Harsha’s army and checked his
advance towards the Deccan. He fought successfully against the other Deccan Kingdoms of
Rashtrakuta and Pallava dynasties. The downfall of the Chalukyas began after the death of
Pulakesin II.

62 Social Studies-6