UPSC Prelims 2023 Q45: Medieval History – South Indian Dynasties
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) Only three
- (d) None
Answer: (d) None
Explanation
Dynasties Established in Early 8th Century AD
'Early 8th century AD' = approximately 700–750 CE.
| Dynasty | Actual Founding Period | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Hoysala | ~10th–11th century CE (c. 950–1026 CE) | Karnataka — Belur, Halebidu |
| Gahadavala | ~11th century CE (founded c. 1090 CE) | Varanasi region, UP |
| Kakatiya | ~11th–12th century CE (founded c. 1083 CE) | Warangal, Telangana |
| Yadava | ~9th–10th century CE (consolidated c. 860–900 CE) | Devagiri (Aurangabad), Maharashtra |
None of these dynasties was established in the early 8th century. All emerged two to four centuries later. The early 8th century saw dynasties like the Gurjara-Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas, Pallavas — not these four.
Answer: (d) None.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. 'Only one' — no dynasty in this list was established in the early 8th century; all emerged from the 9th century onwards.
- (b) Incorrect. 'Only two' — Kakatiya and Gahadavala both emerged in the late 11th century, far from the early 8th century.
- (c) Incorrect. 'Only three' — the Yadava dynasty consolidated much later than the early 8th century.
- (d) CORRECT. None of the four dynasties (Hoysala, Gahadavala, Kakatiya, Yadava) was established in the early 8th century — all are medieval Indian dynasties from the 9th century onwards.
Key point
Early 8th century CE = ~700–750 CE. None of these dynasties existed then. Hoysala = 10th-11th c. Gahadavala = 11th c. Kakatiya = 11th-12th c. Yadava = 9th-10th c. 8th century = Gurjara-Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas, Pallavas.
Remember
None of the four dynasties — Hoysala, Gahadavala, Kakatiya, and Yadava — was established in the early 8th century AD. All were founded between the 9th and 12th centuries; the 8th century belonged to the Gurjara-Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas, and Pallavas.
Common mistakes
- Assuming these well-known medieval dynasties were ancient — Hoysala, Kakatiya, Gahadavala, and Yadava are all post-9th century medieval kingdoms.
- Not knowing the 8th century political landscape — the Gurjara-Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas, Palas, and Pallavas dominated this period.
- Confusing 'medieval' with 'early medieval' — the early 8th century belongs to the early medieval period, while most of these dynasties emerged in the high medieval period (10th–13th centuries).
Exam tip
8th century (700s CE) = Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas, Palas, Pallavas. Hoysala/Kakatiya/Gahadavala/Yadava = medieval (900s–1200s). When UPSC asks 'early 8th century' and lists medieval dynasties = answer is None. Check founding dates.
Sources
- NCERT Class 12 History — Chapter 2: Kings, Farmers and Towns
- NCERT Medieval India — Regional Dynasties