Page 15 - Journeys Through Society-7
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Popular saints called nayanars and alvars, who were high watermark of achievement in the field of
devotees of Shiva and Vishnu, respectively, flourished sculpture.
in Tamil region between the 6th and 9th centuries.
Towns and Markets: Towns were known as pattanams AI Fact
which began as centres of exchange. Local produce Technology Literacy
The introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and
was brought to towns. These towns were
Machine learning (ML) in archaeology has changed
administrative centres as well as places of pilgrimage. archaeology in quite a few ways. It has, in fact, made the
A large number of people used to gather in towns. process of archaeology better and clearer than ever
Goods were exchanged on a regular basis in towns. before.
Rural markets as well as the pattanams were
recognised by the administration as potential sources
of revenue. Turkish Invasion
Mahmud of Ghazni (1098-1030 CE) also called
Mahmud Ghaznavi, was a Turkish conqueror who
established his empire in Ghazni (present day
Afghanistan). As part of his expansionist policy, he
raided India 17 times between 1001 and 1027 CE at
places like Punjab, Mathura, Multan and Thaneshwar.
He looted the Somnath Temple of Gujarat and took
away the loot to Ghazni. It is said the Ghazni was never
interested in establishing an empire in India but was
An artist’s impression of a pattanam
more interested in plundering booty for his army and
Most of the production was meant for local
for beautifying the city of Ghazni.
consumption. However, there also existed overseas
The Rajputs were divided among themselves. They
trade which involved exchange of such high-end
commodities as elephants, horses, spices, perfumes, could not unite and overthrow the Ghaznavids from
Punjab even after the death of Mahmud. This lack of
precious stones, good quality textiles, metal ware,
political insight may be attributed to the absence of a
jewellery, pottery and salt.
dominant force in north-west India.
Emergence of the Temple as an Institution: During
Ghor was a vassal state of Ghazni. Taking advantage of
the Chola period, temple architecture marked a
the weakness of the empire of Ghazni after the death
departure from the earlier rock-cut temple
of Mahmud, the Ghor ruler Muhammad Ghori
monuments to independent structures. They were
conquered Ghazni in 1173 CE and established an
initially small but eventually became immense in size,
as they acquired the status of surrogate courts. During independent kingdom.
the Chola period, the temple emerged as a nodal point Prithviraj Chauhan was engaged in the first and
second Battles of Tarain against Muhammad Ghori in
1191 CE and 1192 CE, respectively. In the first Battle of
Tarain, he defeated Ghori. However, in the second
battle, he was defeated and executed. After the
battles of Tarain, Muhammad Ghori returned to
Ghazni leaving the control of his Indian territory in the
hands of his trusted slave, Qutubuddin Aibak.
Dancing image of Shiva
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