These DAV Class 6 SST Notes and DAV Class 6 SST Chapter 14 Notes – Early History of Deccan and South India hold significant importance as study material for students.
Early History of Deccan and South India Class 6 DAV Notes
→ The Megalithic culture was mainly concentrated in the Deccan and South India. The people of these regions were known as Megalith Builders.
→ The remains of skeletons of that period show that the megalith people had a strong built with broad bones, thick skulls and protruding teeth.
→ Earlier the archaeologists believed that the Megalith people were nomadic hunters and food gatherers but the discovery of axe, hammer, ploughshare and sickle revealed that they were agriculturists. They also used weapons like dagger, spear, knife and sword.
→ The remains of pottery of the Megalith people indicate that the pots were well-baked and well- fired. Some pots still retain a shiny polish.
→ According to some archaeologists, the megalith people of South India and Deccan were invaders from West Asia.
→ The Megalithic culture gave rise to the Satavahana culture. The archaeological evidences indicate that the megalithic people came from Ireland to India by the sea-route.
→ The Deccan was known as Dakshinapatha in earlier times. It was ruled by the Satavahanans from 3rd century BCE to 1st century BCE, for about 400 years.
→ The Satavahana kingdom was founded by king Simuka. Gautmiputra Satakarni was the greatest Satavahana ruler. His son Vasishthiputra Pulumavi set up his capital at Pratishthana. Yajnasari Satakarni was the last ruler of Satavahana dynasty.
→ The Satavahana kingdom was divided into provinces for efficient administration. The people were the followers of Hinduism.
→ The Satavahana rulers built roads and skips to encourage internal and external trade. They traded in wine, copper, tin, precious stones, etc.
→ Three kingdoms emerged powerful in the southern India—the Cholas, the Pandyas and the Cheras. Sangam literature is the main source of information about this period.
→ The Cholas ruled over South India between Pennar and Velar rivers. They set up their capital at Kaveripattam but later they shifted it to Tanjore and Gangaikondacholapuram.
→ The kingdom of the Pandyas was limited to southernmost and southeastern parts of the Indian peninsula. They set up their capital at Madurai. Nadunjeliam was the most important king of Pandya dynasty.
→ The rule of Pandyas continued upto 11th century CE, when the powerful Chola king Parantaka-I captured Madurai and defeated the Pandyas.
→ The Chera kingdom or Keralaputra consisted of a narrow strip of land between sea and the Western Ghats over Malabar, Cochin and Travancore, parts of modern Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
→ Vanji was the capital of Chera kingdom.
→ The administration in the Southern kingdoms was well organised. The territory during this period was divided into five geographical zones- hills and forests, pastureland, fertile land, coastal land and arid land. The king maintained a large army of soldiers, horses, elephants, etc.
→ Caste system was prevalent in South India. The Brahmins and the Kshatriyas dominated the other castes. The people were highly religious. They loved music, dance and poetry. They celebrated fairs and festivals in their leisure time.
→ The main occupation of the people was agriculture. They used ploughshare, sickle and some other tools for cultivation. They grew rice, sugarcane, pulses, spices, etc.
→ All the above three kingdoms had trade relations with many countries. Muziris, Kaveripattam and Korkai were the important trade centres of Cholas, Pandyas and Cheras respectively.
→ Megaliths : Big pieces of stones erected around the graves by the people of the Deccan and South India.
→ Sangam : Assembly of poets.
→ Deccan : The region to the south of Vindhya and Narmada.
→ Leisure time : unoccupied time.
→ Paddy: Rice
→ Peninsula : Land surrounded by water as to be almost an island.
→ Ragi: A coarse type of grain.