NCERT Solutions for Class 7 social science Chapter 16: Turning Tides 11th and 12th Centuries Class 7

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Turning Tides: 11th and 12th Centuries Questions and Answers Class 7 SST Part 2 Chapter 4

Turning Tides: 11th and 12th Centuries Class 7 Question Answer (In-Text)

The Big Questions (Page 97)

South India: The Hoysalas expanded across Karnataka, while the Kakatiyas governed much of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. The Cholas were powerful rulers who ruled Tamil Nadu and expanded their territory into parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

The essential features of their economic, military and administrative systems are:

Military: These states maintained large armies with infantry, cavalry and war elephants, which required careful organisation and considerable resources. The Ghurids were known for their fast-moving cavalry that helped them secure quick victories.

Administration: Most kingdoms followed structured systems to collect taxes from cultivators and tributes from smaller regions. The Ghurids introduced a more centralised arrangement by giving officers temporary land assignments in return for collecting revenue and providing military service. This approach later influenced the governing style in Delhi.

Economy: Agriculture was the main source of income, and many rulers supported irrigation works to increase productivity. Internal and overseas trade with regions such as China and Southeast Asia also continued to grow, helped by active merchant guilds.

Science and Mathematics: Scholars like Bhaskaracharya made major contributions to mathematics and astronomy, writing works on Bijaganita (algebra), Lilavati (arithmetic), and Siddhantasiromani (celestial calculations).

Architecture and Art: Temples and forts displayed extraordinary craftsmanship, including intricately carved stone temples in Khajuraho,forts with impressive gateways built by the Kakatiyas, and the Hoysala temples with detailed sculptures. The Jagannatha and Sun temples in Odisha also began construction during this time.

Literature and Philosophy: Writers and thinkers flourished. King Bhoja wrote extensively on governance, arts, and poetry. Someshvara III compiled an encyclopaedia covering many aspects of life. Saints like Ramanujacharya and Basava promoted devotion, ethical living, and social reform, emphasising equality and personal spiritual practice.

Cultural Influence: Indian ideas spread abroad, shaping architecture and religious practices in Southeast Asia, exemplified by Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

Let’s Explore

(b) What advantages would it offer to an army trying to reach the Indus plains? But also, what dangers?
For an army attempting to reach the Indus plains, the Khyber Pass offered the advantage of a direct route into the Subcontinent. However, the same environment also posed serious risks. Being a narrow choke point, movement would be slow and confined, making the army highly vulnerable to attack.

This danger was proven by the Hindu Shahis, who successfully resisted several attempted invasions largely because they controlled the pass. The rugged terrain, thus gave defending forces a significant edge for ambushes and strong resistance.

(c) Thinking of the caravans of traders that passed through the Khyber Pass for many centuries, let’s ask the same questions about the advantages as well as dangers.
Answer:
For caravans of traders passing through the Khyber Pass over many centuries, the key advantage was its function as a major trade route. For at least 2,500 years, it served as a vital link, connecting the Subcontinent to Central Asia and beyond, facilitating immense commerce and the exchange of cultures and scholars.

Conversely, the dangers for traders were primarily the natural obstacles of the mountainous terrain itself, which made travel slow and arduous. Furthermore, due to the immense wealth being transported along such a vital route, caravans would have faced the constant danger of being plundered or raided, especially in times of political instability or during the numerous military campaigns by powers like the Ghaznavids.

Because the temple had been repeatedly destroyed and plundered by foreign invaders-most famously by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026 CE-relying on the public’s contributions emphasised that the site’s significance transcended political or state funding and affirmed its enduring importance as a symbol of cultural and spiritual resilience for the Indian populace.

This approach allowed every citizen and devotee to actively participate in the restoration, fostering a deep sense of collective ownership and validating the belief that Indian culture “stands firmer than any rock in the world, with its undying vigour, indestructible life”.

The king’s posture and expression in the painting clearly express humility and deep reverence towards his Guru. He holds his hands which are in anjali mudra (prayer or greeting gesture), a gesture of profound respect and devotion. His slightly lowered head and gaze directed towards the Guru, showing attentiveness and submission to his Guru, who is seated and instructing him.

Remembering the meaning of vihara and noting that Nälanda was known in ancient inscriptions as ‘Nalanda Mahavihara’, can you find two more clues in the above passage to identify the ‘fortress’ near the Nalanda university? (Hint: Who do you think these ‘Brahmans’ actually were?) (Page 117)
Answer:
The first clue that the passage mentions is that “the greater number of the inhabitants of that place were Brahmans, and all those Brahmans had their heads shaven”. Given that Nälanda was an enormous, world-renowned Buddhist monastery and university, and Buddhist monks shave their heads as part of their monastic vows, these individuals referred to as “Brahmans” were in reality Buddhist monks and scholars.

The term “Brahman” may have been used loosely by the foreign historian to refer to Hindu or religious scholars/priests in general, mistakenly applying it to the shaven-headed Buddhist monks who were the primary residents and victims of the attack.

Secondly “There were a great number of books in the place.” Nalanda Mahavihara was famous for its vast library and collections of manuscripts. These clues clearly point to the fact that the “fortress” mentioned was actually Nalanda University (Nalanda Mahavihara).

(a) Why, in your opinion, did Basava want people from all backgrounds to come together and exchange ideas?
Answer:
Basava’s primary motivation for establishing the anubhava mandapa (pavilion of experience) was to enact radical social and spiritual reform by directly challenging the oppressive caste system and traditional ritualism. By insisting that people of all social, economic, and gender backgrounds gather and exchange ideas, he aimed to prove the equal spiritual potential of every individual, thereby undercutting the authority of existing hierarchies.

The mandapa served as a revolutionary, inclusive platform for the democratisation of spiritual knowledge, fostering a new path of personal devotion (bhakti) and ethical conduct, and ensuring that the fundamental principles of equality within the Lingayat movement were collectively developed and embraced by the people it sought to liberate.

(b) If something like an anubhava mandapa existed today, what important topics do you think people ought to discuss there?
Answer:
If something like the anubhava mandapaa highly inclusive, non-hierarchical forum for ethical and spiritual debate-were to exist today, participants would likely focus on addressing the most pressing social, ethical, and existential challenges facing the world.

The anubhava mandapa offers profound lessons for creating a just and civil society today, primarily by championing inclusive dialogue and radical equality.

(c) What lessons can we draw from the anubhava mandapa spirit to create a just and civil society today?
Answer:
The most crucial lesson is the principle of radical inclusion, which Basava enacted by gathering people from all backgrounds, including those marginalised by caste and gender. This teaches us that true societal progress can only occur when all voices are heard and equally validated, regardless of social status, wealth, or identity.

By making the mandapa a forum for ethical exchange, Basava demonstrated that collective wisdom is superior to hierarchical, top-down dogma. Today, this translates to establishing truly accessible public spheres where policy and community ethics are debated openly, ensuring that the experiences of the vulnerable actively inform decision-making, rather than being dictated by privileged elites.

Think About It

Turning Tides: 11th and 12th Centuries Class 7 Solutions (Exercise)

The expedition would have launched from major Chola ports like Nagapattinam on the Coromandel Coast (Tamil Nadu). The primary route involved crossing the Bay of Bengal for several weeks, past the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The fleet then had to navigate the highly strategic and volatile waters around the Strait of Malacca, using ports on the Malay Peninsula (like Kedah) or the west coast of Sumatra (like Barus) resupply before attacking the Shrivijaya capital and other key ports.

(2) When Nalanda was destroyed in the 12th century, its huge libraries and classrooms were burnt down. This meant that many valuable books and ideas collected over hundreds of years were lost forever. The destruction also weakened Buddhism in India and broke the chain of organised higher education. As a result, India lost its position as a global centre of learning, and the flow of knowledge to other countries slowed down.

Conversely, Muhammad Ghuri was motivated by territorial expansion and longterm control. After his decisive victory at the Second Battle of Tarain, he left his general Qutb-ud-din Aibak to consolidate the gains and establish control over Delhi and the Gangetic plains. Thus, Ghuri’s motive directly shaped the outcome of his campaigns to establish a new, enduring political authority the foundation of the Delhi Sultanate.