UPSC CSE Prelims 2023

Early Medieval Regional Kingdoms

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Consider the following dynasties: 1. Hoysala 2. Gahadavala 3. Kakatiya 4. Yadava How many of the above dynasties established their kingdoms in early eighth century AD?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: D

Concept This question tests the chronological awareness of major regional powers in the Deccan and Northern India during the Early Medieval period. Most of these dynasties rose to power as the authority of larger empires like the Western Chalukyas or the Pratiharas waned.

Explanation According to standard historical texts like Satish Chandra’s *Medieval India
and NCERT, the Hoysalas (10th-14th c.), Gahadavalas (11th-13th c.), Kakatiyas (12th-14th c.), and Yadavas (12th-14th c.) all established their independence significantly later than the 8th century.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: The 8th century was dominated by the Tripartite struggle between the Palas, Pratiharas, and Rashtrakutas. The dynasties listed were either non-existent or mere feudatories at that time.
Logic 2: The Hoysalas gained prominence in the 10th century; the Gahadavalas ruled the Kanauj region from the 11th century; the Kakatiyas and Yadavas emerged from the fragments of the Chalukyan empire in the 12th century.

Active Recall

Question

What led to the rise of these regional dynasties like the Hoysalas and Yadavas?

Answer

The decline of the Western Chalukyas of Kalyani allowed their feudatories to assert independence and establish sovereign regional states.

Core Insight

The political landscape of the 8th century was centralized around three major powers; the 'multi-state' regional system seen in the options only flourished after the 10th-11th centuries.