NCERT Solutions for Class 7 Social Science History Chapter 2: New Kings and Kingdoms

Many major ruling dynasties came to power in different parts of the country between the 7th and 12th century. By the seventh century there became a widespread presence of landlords and warrior chiefs in different parts of the country and the existing kings openly presented them as the subordinates or samantas of their kingdom. In these states, the resources were obtained by the king from the producers – such as peasants, cattle-keepers and artisans. More often than not, these people were persuaded and sometimes forced to give up a part of what they used to produce, claimed as a "rent". It was taken by a lord who claimed and asserted to have owned the land. They also collected revenue from the traders.

Meanwhile, the Kings at the peak also assumed the title of Maharaja-Adhiraja and the like. As the samantas gained power and wealth in the kingdoms, they started declaring themselves by titles such as maha-samanta, maha-mandaleshvara (meaning the great lord of a "circle" or region). They even asserted their independence from their overlords to establish themselves as separate entities and not an extension of the kingship.

This chapter titled "New Kings and Kingdoms" explains what happened during the seventh century in detail and how it affected kingship and governance due to the rise of these titles and them wanting to be a separate authority of their power among the people and how it was executed and what impacts and effects it made.