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UPSC CORE · NCERT HISTORY · SHARMA CH 23-30: EASTERN INDIA + HARSHA + PALLAVA-CHOLA + FEUDALISM + ASIAN OUTREACH

Post-Gupta: Harsha, Pallavas, Feudalism, Asia 🌏

NCERT-aligned UPSC Core History topic from NCERT Class 11/12 + standard reference works (Bipan Chandra, R.S. Sharma, Romila Thapar). Every item is anchored to a real location on India's map — built for boards (CBSE, ICSE, state) and UPSC aspirants.

📚 NCERT TEXTBOOK ALIGNMENT
Class UPSC History — NCERT Class 11/12 + standard reference works (Bipan Chandra, R.S. Sharma, Romila Thapar) — Chapter: Sharma Ch 23-30: Eastern India + Harsha + Pallava-Chola + Feudalism + Asian Outreach.
20LOCATIONS
174QUESTIONS
UPSC CORENCERT LEVEL
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Key locations covered (20)

Sample questions (12 of 174)

How did Harsha become emperor at age 16?
Born ~590 CE; PUSHYABHUTI dynasty of THANESAR (modern Haryana). His elder brother RAJYAVARDHANA was MURDERED by SHASHANKA (king of Gauda/Bengal) ~605 CE; Rajyavardhana had earlier succeeded their father Prabhakaravardhana. The 16-year-old Harsha avenged his brother, united the THANESAR + KANNAUJ thrones (Kannauj inherited from his sister Rajyashri's in-laws — Maukhari king Grahavarman); ruled 41 years (606-647 CE).
Harsha's defeat at the Narmada (~635 CE)?
Harsha attempted to extend his empire SOUTHWARD; the CHALUKYA king PULAKESHIN II of BADAMI (Vatapi) DECISIVELY DEFEATED him at the NARMADA river (~635 CE). Pulakeshin's "AIHOLE INSCRIPTION" (composed by his court poet RAVIKIRTI) celebrates this victory + calls Pulakeshin "LORD OF THE THREE SEAS" (Arabian, Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean). MARKED the LIMIT of Harsha's empire — he never crossed the Narmada again.
Harsha's 5-year Prayag Mahamoksha Parishad?
EVERY 5 YEARS Harsha distributed his entire treasury at PRAYAG (Allahabad, at the GANGA-YAMUNA SANGAM) at the MAHAMOKSHA PARISHAD — a religious assembly. Per Hiuen-Tsang: at his last 6th assembly (~643 CE), Harsha distributed 5 years of accumulated revenue + treasury to monks, priests, the poor; took off his royal jewels + dressed simply at the end. Generosity-based monarchy.
BANABHATTA — what did he write?
BANABHATTA was Harsha's court poet + biographer. Wrote: (i) HARSHACHARITA — Sanskrit BIOGRAPHY of Harsha's early life + accession; FIRST PROPER historical biography in Sanskrit; (ii) KADAMBARI — a Sanskrit ROMANCE; one of the earliest novels in any language. Both works are stylistic milestones in Sanskrit literature.
HIUEN-TSANG's observations on Harsha?
Chinese Buddhist monk HIUEN-TSANG (Xuanzang) visited India 630-643 CE; spent ~13 years in India + 5 years studying at NALANDA. Praised Harsha as a great + just ruler; described his court at KANNAUJ; attended KANYAKUBJA (Kannauj) ASSEMBLY 643 CE — 18 days of religious debate; 20 KINGS, 1000 BUDDHIST MONKS, 500 BRAHMINS attended. Hiuen-Tsang's "RECORDS OF THE WESTERN REGIONS" (Si-yu-ki) — among the most detailed accounts of 7th-century India.
Harsha's plays + religious patronage?
Harsha himself wrote 3 SANSKRIT PLAYS: (i) RATNAVALI; (ii) PRIYADARSHIKA; (iii) NAGANANDA — Buddhist play. Initially Shaiva, later patronised both BUDDHISM (esp. Mahayana — under Hiuen-Tsang's influence) + Hinduism. Built monasteries at Nalanda; donated gold + silver. After Harsha's death (647 CE) the empire fragmented; north India was politically chaotic for ~150 years until the Pratiharas.
Consider the following on Harshavardhana: 1) Last great Hindu emperor of North India (606-647 CE). 2) Patronised Banabhatta who wrote Harshacharita and Kadambari. 3) Hosted Hiuen Tsang at his court. 4) Held a great religious assembly at Prayag every 5 years. Which are correct?
All four are correct.
Harshavardhana wrote which three Sanskrit plays?
Ratnavali, Priyadarshika, Nagananda.
Harshavardhana reigned during?
606-647 CE
Harsha's father was?
Prabhakaravardhana (Pushyabhuti dynasty)
Harsha's biography Harshacharita was written by?
Banabhatta
Bana also wrote which prose romance?
Kadambari

All 174 questions are available in the interactive map quiz.

About this topic

This topic is part of the NCERT UPSC Core History syllabus, specifically the textbook NCERT Class 11/12 + standard reference works (Bipan Chandra, R.S. Sharma, Romila Thapar), drawn from the chapter Sharma Ch 23-30: Eastern India + Harsha + Pallava-Chola + Feudalism + Asian Outreach. Content is cross-referenced against the latest NCERT textbook editions + standard reference works (Bipan Chandra, R.S. Sharma, Romila Thapar, Satish Chandra for history; G.C. Leong, Savindra Singh for geography; the UPSC Civil Services prelims + mains syllabus).

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