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U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1992

Harsha's Administration

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Emperor Harsha had shifted his capital from Thaneshwar to-

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept The relocation of a capital often signifies a shift in political gravity or the consolidation of new territories into an existing empire.

Explanation Emperor Harsha shifted his capital to Kannauj after annexing the territory of the Maukhari king Avantivarman. This move placed him at the heart of North India's fertile plains.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Kannauj replaced Pataliputra as the premier political and cultural hub of North India during the 7th century.
Logic 2: The city hosted great religious assemblies and was strategically located to manage an empire stretching from Punjab to Bengal.
Logic 3: Thaneshwar (modern Haryana) remained an ancestral seat but Kannauj provided better administrative centralisation.

Active Recall

Question

Which city was the political center of the Maukharis before Harsha?

Answer

Kannauj was the capital of the Maukhari dynasty before being united with Harsha's kingdom.

Core Insight

The shift to Kannauj marked the rise of the city as the 'Mahodaya' of North India, a status it held through the subsequent Tripartite Struggle.

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