NCERT Solutions Class 7 Social Science Chapter 4 2026-27

Ans. The period is called a major transition because deeper Turkic invasions and new regional powers changed politics and warfare, while trade, temple architecture, literature and regional rule continued strongly.

1. The 11th and 12th centuries saw deeper Turkic invasions into north India, unlike the earlier Arab incursions described in the previous chapter.
2. New military styles, such as fast cavalry attacks with horse archers, changed the pattern of warfare in many regions.
3. New powers also rose in different parts of India, including the Cholas, Kākatīyas, Hoysalas, Paramāras and Chandellas.
4. At the same time, many continuities remained. Regional kingdoms still fought, formed alliances and ruled through local administration.
5. Trade, temple-building, literature, learning and links with Southeast Asia continued to flourish.
6. So the period was transitional because India faced new external pressures while older political and cultural strengths continued.

Ans. The star should place the 11th and 12th centuries at the centre and arrange dynasties such as Ghaznavids, Ghurids, Paramāras, Chandellas, Chāhamānas, Eastern Gangas, Kākatīyas, Hoysalas and Cholas around it.

1. Write 11th and 12th centuries in the centre of the page.
2. Draw spokes from the centre and place north Indian powers on one side, such as the Ghaznavids, Ghurids, Paramāras, Chandellas and Chāhamānas.
3. Place eastern and Deccan powers on another side, such as the Eastern Gangas and Kākatīyas.
4. Place southern dynasties on the lower side, such as the Cholas and Hoysalas.
5. Add one clue below each name, such as capital, famous ruler, temple, military event or cultural achievement.
6. Use arrows or colours to show contacts, conflicts or trade links where the chapter mentions them.

Ans. A good tour begins in the northwest, moves through north and central India, reaches the east, turns to the Deccan and south India, and finally follows Chola sea links towards Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.

1. Start in the northwest near Ghazni, Punjab and the Khyber Pass to show the Ghaznavid and Ghurid entry routes.
2. Move to north and central India for powers such as the Chāhamānas, Chandellas and Paramāras.
3. Then move east towards Odisha and Bengal for the Eastern Gangas and other eastern references.
4. Shift south to Warangal for the Kākatīyas and to Karnataka for the Hoysalas.
5. End in the Tamil region with the Cholas, marking Thanjavur, Gangaikoṇḍacholapuram and Kanchipuram.
6. If space permits, extend a sea route across the Bay of Bengal towards Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia.

Ans. Rājendra I's fleet probably had to sail roughly 2,500 to 3,000 km from the Chola coast towards the Śhrīvijaya region near the Strait of Malacca and Sumatra, depending on the route measured.

1. Locate the Chola coast near present-day Tamil Nadu on a map.
2. Locate the region linked with the Śhrīvijaya Empire near the Strait of Malacca and Sumatra.
3. Use the map scale to measure the sea distance in straight segments across the Bay of Bengal.
4. A straight-line estimate from the Tamil coast to the Malacca or Sumatra region is roughly 2,500 to 3,000 km.
5. The actual sailing route could be longer because ships followed winds, currents, ports and safe coastal or island routes.
6. So the answer should be written as an approximate navigational distance, not an exact modern road distance.

Ans. (a) Eastern Gangas: (iii) Konark Sun temple; (b) Chandellas: (iv) Kandāriyā Mahādeva temple; (c) Paramāras: (v) Bhojeshwar temple; (d) Hoysalas: (i) Belur; (e) Cholas: (ii) Bṛihadīśhvara temple.

1. The Eastern Gangas are linked with the Konark Sun temple.
2. The Chandellas are linked with the Kandāriyā Mahādeva temple at Khajuraho.
3. The Paramāras are linked with the Bhojeshwar temple associated with King Bhoja.
4. The Hoysalas are linked with Belur, one of their famous temple centres.
5. The Cholas are linked with the Bṛihadīśhvara temple at Thanjavur.
6. So the matched order is a with iii, b with iv, c with v, d with i and e with ii.

Ans. The table should have three groups: dynasties present in both chapters, dynasties that fade from the preceding period and dynasties that newly appear or become prominent in the 11th and 12th centuries.

1. Read the dynasty list from the preceding chapter and the present chapter.
2. In the first column, write dynasties or powers that appear in both discussions.
3. In the second column, write those that were important earlier but are not central in the 11th and 12th century chapter.
4. In the third column, write new or newly prominent powers from this chapter, such as Ghaznavids, Ghurids, Kākatīyas, Hoysalas and later Chola expansion.
5. Add one note beside each entry, such as region, capital, famous ruler or important monument.
6. Discuss differences in class because some entries may overlap by region rather than by exact dynasty.

Ans. Nālandā and similar centres were important because they stored knowledge, trained scholars and connected India with Asia. Their destruction damaged libraries, teachers and networks of learning, though education continued in other places.

1. Centres such as Nālandā attracted scholars, monks and students from India and other parts of Asia.
2. They preserved manuscripts, supported debate and taught subjects such as philosophy, grammar, logic, medicine and Buddhist learning.
3. They also connected India with wider Asian cultural networks through travelling students and teachers.
4. Their destruction damaged buildings, libraries, manuscripts and teaching communities.
5. This could break lines of learning and reduce the movement of scholars between regions.
6. Even so, learning did not end in India. Other centres, local schools, temples, monasteries and scholars continued many traditions.

Ans. Mahmūd's raids were mainly for booty and prestige, so he returned to Ghazni after campaigns. Muhammad Ghūrī sought territory and control, so his victories created a political foothold for later rule in north India.

1. Mahmūd of Ghazni carried out repeated campaigns and usually returned to Ghazni with booty.
2. His motive was mainly plunder, prestige and strengthening his power base outside India.
3. This meant his raids caused destruction and fear, but did not create a long-lasting Indian kingdom under his direct rule.
4. Muhammad Ghūrī, by contrast, looked for territorial expansion and lasting political control in north India.
5. His campaigns led to military footholds and prepared the ground for later sultanate rule.
6. So Mahmūd's outcome was repeated extraction, while Ghūrī's outcome was more connected with state-building in India.