Kings, Farmers and Towns
New notions of kingship
Distinguish a chief from a king.
In the far south (Tamilakam), new chiefdoms emerged, ruled by the Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas. They were stable and prosperous, as Tamil Sangam poems show.
A chief is different from a king. A chief usually receives gifts and redistributes them among his followers, while a king usually collects taxes. Chiefdoms generally have no regular army and no officials.
Many rulers, such as the Satavahanas in western and parts of central India, and the Shakas (of Central Asian origin) in the north-west and west, drew revenue from long-distance trade.
To look great, some kings claimed links with the gods. The Kushanas, who ruled from Central Asia to north-west India, put up colossal statues of themselves in shrines, and used the title devaputra ('son of god').
The Guptas depended heavily on samantas (men who supported the king with their own resources and armed forces). Court poets wrote prashastis (poems in praise of rulers), like Harishena's Prayaga Prashasti (the Allahabad Pillar inscription), composed in praise of Samudragupta. Gods and poets made kings look great.
Practise this lesson
Questions that get harder as you improve, a Tutor that helps without giving the answer away, and progress you can see. Free for every learner.
No account, no email address. Opens the real product.