Assignment

Prepared For:
Mr. Masood Imran
Lecturer, Department of History

North South University

Course Name: His 101
Section No: 21
Date of submission: 03/05/2020

Submitted By:

Name ID Number

Jakaria Hossain Shajid 1621829030

1. Illustrate the geo-political landscape of Barind Track & Madhupur Track from geological
timeline to till Mughal Period.
Barind Tract largest Pleistocene physiographic unit of the Bengal basin, covering a district of
about 7,770 sq km. it's long been recognized as a unit of old alluvium, which differs from the
encircling floodplains. In Bangla, it's spelled and pronounced as Varendra Bhumi.
Geographically this unit lies roughly between latitudes 24'20'N and 25'35'N and longitudes
88'20'E and 89'30'E. This physiographic unit is bounded by the karatoya to the east, the
mahananda to the west, and therefore the northern bank of the ganges to the South. A lower fault
scarp marks the eastern fringe of the Barind Tract, and therefore the little jamuna, atrai and
Lower Punarbhaba Rivers occupy fault troughs. The western a part of this unit has been tilted up;
parts of the western edge are quite 15m beyond the remainder of the tract and therefore the
adjoining Mahananda floodplain. The southern a part of the most eastern block of the Barind
Tract is tilted down towards the southwest and passes under lower Atrai basin sediments within
the south. The Barind Tract covers most parts of the greater dinajpur, rangpur, pabna, rajshahi,
bogra, joypurhat and naogaon districts of Rajshahi division.The Barind Tract lies within the
monsoon region of the summer dominant hemisphere. The tropic of cancer lies south of this
region. The climate of the realm is mostly warm and humid. Supported rainfall, humidity,
temperature and wind pressure the atmospheric phenomenon is classed into four types, such as,
(a) pre-monsoon, (b) monsoon, (c) post-monsoon and (d) winter. Rainfall is relatively little
during this region, the typical being about 1,971 mm. It mainly occurs during the monsoon.
Rainfall varies from place to position moreover as year to year. For example, the rainfall
recorded in 1981 was about 1,738 mm, but in 1992 it had been about 798 mm only. This region
has already been designated as drought prone. Its average temperature ranges from 35'C to 25'C
within the hottest season and 9'C to 15'C within the coolest season. Generally this region is very
hot and is taken into account semi-arid. In summer, a number of the most well liked days
experience a temperature of about 45'C or perhaps more in Rajshahi area, particularly in lalpur
upazila. In winter it falls to about 5'C in some places of Dinajpur and Rangpur districts. So this
older alluvium region experiences extremes that are clearly in contrast to the climatic condition
of the remainder of the country. Physiographically this region is split into three units. These are
recent geological phenomenon, Barind Pleistocene, and up to date Floodplain. These
morphologic units are separated by long, narrow bands of recent alluvium. The floodplain of the
Mahananda flanks the side while the Karatoya delineates the eastern margin. The punarbhaba,
Atrai and Old Jamuna with headwaters within the foothills of the himalayas have cut across the
Pleistocene and their floodplains separate the units. These and various other streams are
chargeable for the event of a broad Piedmont alluvial plain, which delineates the northern flank
of the Tract. The Tista geological phenomenon is found to the north of the realm. This fan
surface of the Himalayan foothills incorporates a slope of roughly 0.43m/km and it overlaps the
Barind, which has essentially a flat or somewhat domed surface. South of the Barind Tract are
the Recent Floodplains, with a southerly slope of about 0.06m/km.

Madhupur Tract an oversized upland area within the central a part of Bangladesh. The southern a
part of this tract is thought in Bangla as Bhawal Garh and also the northern part as Madhupur
Garh. Geologically it's a terrace from one to 10 metres above the adjacent floodplains. Though in
its present form it's of Pleistocene age its origin could also be within the late Miocene, when the
bengal basin was being filled in rapidly. The overall extent of this Tract is 4,244 sq km. Unlike
the barind tract it's largely in one piece, with seven small outliers. The most section stretches
from just south of Jamalpur within the north, to Fatullah of Narayanganj, within the south. Most
of Dhaka City is on this Tract. Of the seven outliers four are within the east and three within the
north. All of them seem to own been separated atleast superficially, by faults. This a part of
Bangladesh has been uplifted several times, leading to numerous longitudinal faults. The
foremost prominent of those are along the western side, where they will be clearly seen at Mirpur
(Dhaka City) and near Ghatail and Madhupur further north. Long fault traces also are extant on
the eastern side. The climate of the Tract varies slightly from north to south, the northern reaches
being much cooler in winter. Average temperatures vary from 28'C to 32'C in summer, falling to
20'C in winter, with extreme lows of 10'C. Rainfall ranges between 1,000 mm and 1,500 mm
annually. Severe storms are unusual but tornadoes have struck the southern areas.The soils of the
Tract have developed largely on madhupur clays; which are nutrient poor and somewhat acidic.
They’re red or brown in colour. In most places the changes from the floodplains to the Tract is
kind of sharp, but in some places the floodplain soils overlie the gently inclining edges. The
Madhupur Tract is extensively dissected, with narrow or broad valleys extending deep into the
extent landscape and also the drainage pattern is clearly dendritic. The upper level lands are
referred to as chala and also the valleys are called baid. The valleys are cultivated with boro rice
within the time of year by impounding the streams for irrigation. At this point the fields are dry
within the uplands except where cultivated with sugarcane. Many of chala are well-known for
his or her jackfruit gardens. Large quantities of jackfruit are shipped dead set other parts of the
country from April to June. Some areas within the south, like Kaliakair and Savar also are known
for his or her production of mango, Bengal Olive, Pomelo and fruit tree. Pineapples, mainly
Giant Kew variety, are grown extensively in Madhupur thana within the north.Most of this Tract
was accustomed be covered by forests as recently as fifty years ago and Sal (Shorea robusta) was
the dominant species. Because of illegal deforestation only about 600 sq km of forest remains
and new woodlands planted. With exotic species like Akashi (Acacia auriculiformis) and
eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) have transformed the ecosystem in many areas. One
effect has been the reduction of bird species and numbers. It’s also reduced the extraction of fuel
by local villagers. Because of these and other detrimental effects, the Forest Department is
considering changing the species composition. Two areas where something of the initial forest
remains are the Madhupur Park within the north and also the Bhawal Park within the south.
These parks were expected to guard the natural ecosystems. However illegal extraction and
poaching of wildlife has seriously reduced their potential. Two centuries ago elephant and
rhinoceros are reported within these forests but became extinct in the late nineteenth century.
Tigers and leopards were numerous, but tigers dwindled within the early twentieth century and
extinct fifty years ago. Leopards are feared to be near extinction. The Leopard-Cat, Fishing-Cat,
Felis chaus and tiny Indian Civet are still to be found. The Peacock was at only once quite
plentiful but became extinct thirty years ago.Two tribal people, the Koch and also the Mande
(garo), who are obsessed on these forests, sleep in the Madhupur Tract. The Koch are among the
earliest people of Bangladesh, while the Mande have their main centre of dispersal within the
Garo Hills in India. The Bengali-speaking people, who accustomed live along the fringes of the
extensive forests, have entered in large numbers and cleared most of the forests. Within the past
thirty years the landscape and ecosystems of most of the Tract has changed drastically. Bengalis
has developed stable agro-horticultural systems within the west, from Savar to Kaliakair. These
areas are still very productive, especially of fruits, but are now threatened by the inexorable
expansion of Dhaka City. Urbanisation may be a relatively new phenomenon during this Tract.
In precedent days the greater a part of these uplands seems to own been forested. Only within the
south, where the Tract bordered by the buriganga river, did urban centres flourish, as at Savar
and Dhaka, both of which can are founded two thousand years ago.

2. Who ruled the Samatata and Banga Region during the Pala and Sena Dynasty?

The founding father of the Pala Dynasty was Gopala who was selected because the emperor of
Gaur in750. He subdued the prevalent unrest with the assistance of the elders of the society. The
kings of the Pala Dynasty ruled Bengal for four hundred years at a stretch. No other royalty
everruled Bengal for such an extended period. It had multiple capitals at different stages of
thekingdom. Its first capital was in Vikrampura in present day Munshiganj. Later it had been
moved to Pataliputra, so to Gaur. After having restored peace, Gopala turned his attention to the
extension of the dominion. He brought most the regions of the North and Eastern a part of
Bengal under his kingdom. North-EastBengal remained out of Gopala’s rule. Although some are
of opinion that Gopalaruled for 27 years, some modern researchers believe that he ruled the
country from Dharma Pala, son of Gopala, was the best of the Pala kings. He established his
decree Bengal and Bihar. His capital was in Somapura in Naogaon district. He fought many
fights and wars during his reign, e.g. the “Tripartite War”, the battle with King Nagbhatta II of
Gurjara-Pratihara etc. He was defeated in most of them, though the lossincurred by him wasn't
much. When the Rashtrakuta King Govinda III defeated NagbhattaII, Dharma pala could regain
his supremacy in North India. However, Dharma pala conqueredVaranasi and Proyaga and
extended his kingdom up to the region situated between the middle part of the Ganges and
therefore the Jamuna. Some historians say that he also conquered Nepal and Reigned for about
40 years. The vast area that Dharma pala established was now not akingdom; it became an
empire.After the death of Dharma Pala, his son Devapala ascended the throne as the emperor. He
was a worthy successor of his father in respect of intelligence and power. He established his
capital in Monghyr (Munger) in India. Deva Pala had two reputed Brahmin ministers. They were
Darvapani and Kedaramisra. Aided by these two ministers Devapala could make successful
attacks on the Pratihara and Rashtrakuta kings. The vast region of North India came under the
sway of Bengal’s King Devapala. The Pala Empire was most widespread during his time. Evil
days came across the Pala Empire with the death of Devapala. The later kings were weak. This
weakness was manifest mostly from the reign of Vigrahapala I to Vigrahapala II. Narayan Pala,
the son of Vigrahapala I, ruled for the longes tperiod. But he was weak and inactive. After him,
Rajyapala and Gopala II ascended the throne one after another. None of them were worthy
enough tobe the successors of the Pala Dynasty; as a result the Empire began to break down and
itsregion began to shrink.When the Pala Empire was on the verge of destruction, Mahipala I , son
of Vigrahapala II came forward with a ray of hope. He liberated North and West Bengal from the
clutches of foreign powers and founded the capital in Mahipal in present day Murshidabad. He
checked the autumn of the Pala Empire and brought back its former glory. But Mahipala couldn't
leave a worthy successor. Together with his death the empire broke down immediately. After
him, his son Nayapala and his grandson Vigrahapala III ascended the throne. They might not
protect the empire from foreign attacks. Bihar, outside Bengal began to slide away. During the
reign of Vigrahapala III, the Pala Empire in Bengal broke into many pieces. The difficult
situation became comparatively tense within the reign of Mahipala II the landlords of North
Bengal openly revolted within the Barendra region which is understood as the “Kaivarta”
rebellion in history. MahipalaII was killed by the rebels and therefore the Kaivartaleader Divya
or Divyak captured power within the Barendra region. In the meantime, Surapala II, the younger
brother of Mahipala II, ascended the Pala throne. He ruled for 2 years. Thereafter, his youngest
brother, Rampala (became the king. He was the last successful ruler of Pala Dynasty. The
traditional poet of Bengal,Sandhakara Nandi, wrote a biography of Rampala called Ramcharita .
We will study this life from it. Rampala tried to recover Barendra from the clutches of the
Kaivartas. He failed within the first attempt. Later he went for the second attempt with the
assistance the kings of fourteen regions, including Rashtrakuta, Magadha and Rahr who helped
him with soldiers, arms and money. In the war the Kaivarta king Bhima was defeated and killed.
Rampala tried to bring peace to thecountry after recovering Barendra. He established a brand
new capital called Ramavati near thepresent Maldah. So as to regain the lost glory, he exercised
supremacy over Magadha and Kamrupa. But it had been unfortunate that the succeeding Pala
kings were very weak. It had been inconceivable for them to avoid wasting the Pala Empire.
After Rampala, Kumara Pala,Gopala III and Madana Pala ascended the throne of the Pala
Empire one after another. Some historians known that there was another king of The Pala
Dynasty after Madana Pala named Govindapala; though the span of his reign cannot be exactly
determined. However, during now, warfare became an everyday affair. As a result, decadence
began which gradually led to the collapse of the Pala Dynasty