Post Gupta Period
After the Guptan empire fell apart in the 500s AD, India had a lot of smaller kings ruling a lot of small kingdoms. There were a lot of wars among these small kingdoms, but there was also a lot of great architecture and art during this time. In northern India, King Harsha ruled one of the small kingdoms, but after he died in the 600s AD, his kingdom fell apart into three even smaller ones. During this time, southern India had bigger, more powerful kingdoms than northern India did. The most important southern kingdom was the Chola, which got rich partly by selling pepper and Cinnamon and other spices at their seaports to Arab traders who resold the spices in the Islamic states and to medieval Europe.
Vardhan Dynasty/Pushyabhuti Dynasty
- Founded at Thaneswar (Karnal district, Haryana) by Pushyabhuti.
- First Important ruler was Prabhakaravardhana, he was succeeded by Rajyavardhan.
Harsha
Vardhan (Ad 660- 647)
- Beloned to Pushyabhuti family.
- Originally belonged to Thaneshwar, but
shifted to Kannauj.
- Chinese pilgrim, Hieun Tsang visited
during his reign & vardhan adopted Mahayan Buddhism.
- Harsha used to celebrate a solemn
festival at Prayag (Allahabad), at the end of every five years.
- Banabhatta, who adorned his court wrote
Harshacharita and Kadambari.
- Harsha himself wrote there plays,
Priyadarshika, Ratnavalli, and Naganada.
- Defeated by Pulakesin II, the great
Chalukya king, on the banks of Narmada in AD 620.
- Organised conference of buddhism.
i. Kannauj Conference - Honored Tsang
ii. Allahabad Conference - gave away all his wealth
- Harsha wrote 3 plays
i. Nagnanda
ii. Ratnavali
iii. Priyadarshika
- "Nilopitu" - Archive of his period
- "Bhaskera Inscription" - Carries his Signature
Kingdom Of Deccan
The Chalukyas
Cap - Vtapi or Badami (Bijapur, Karnatka)
Founder - Jayasimha & Ramarya
Last - Kirtivarman-II
- The Chalukyas were a great power in southern India between 6th and 8th century A.D.
- Pulakesin I, the first great ruler of this dynasty ascended the throne in 540 A.D. He had sons Kirtivarman and Mangalesa
- Pulakesin II, the son of Kirtivarman, was one of the greatest ruler of the Chalukya dynasty. He ruled for almost 34 years. His greatest achievement was his victory in the defensive war against Harshavardhana.
- However, Pulakesin was defeated and killed by the Pallava king Narasimhavarman in 642 A.D.
- "Aihole Inscription" (Cradle of Indian Temple)- Ravikirti (A Jain Poet of Pulakesin-II)
- "Virupaksha Temple" - Pattadakal
Rashtrakutas
Cap - Malkhed
Founder - Dantidurg
Last - Karka-II
Speaks Kannada
- "Ellora Kailashnath Temple" built by 'Krishna-I'
- "Elephanta Caves" (Mumbai) completed by 'Rashtrakutas'
- "Kvirajmarg" (Kannada) - Amoghvarsa-I
- "Parsavaudaya" - Jinasena (Guru g of Amoghvarsa)
Hoysalas
Cap - Dwarasamudra (Karnataka)
Founder - Vishnuvardhan
Last - Ballala-IV
- Ballala-III def by Malik Kafur
- Built temples at Dwarasamudra & Belur
- Writers - Nayachandra, Kanti, Raghavank, Nemichandra
Kakatiyas
Cap - Warangal (AP)
Founder - Prola-II
Last - Vinayakdeva
- "Kohinoor Diamond" from 'Kollur' (Krishna's bank)
- "Thousand Pillar Temple" at Hanumankonda
Yadavas
Cap - Devagiri (Maharashtra)
Founder - Bhillama-V
Last - Harpala
- "Devagiri Fort" built by them, Jama Masjid & Char minar was added into it by Delhi Sultans
Gupta 'n' Post- Gupta Dynasties And Their Founders
Dynasty
|
Founder
|
The Chalukyas of Vatapi
|
Jayasimha
|
The Gangas of Talakad
|
Konakanivarma
|
The Guptas of Magadha
|
Shri Gupta
|
The Kadambas of Varanasi
|
Mayurasharman
|
The Kingdom of Gaud
|
Shashanka
|
The Kingdom of Thaneshwar
|
Pushyabhuti
|
The Later- Guptas of Magadha- Malwa
|
Krishnagupta
|
The Maitrakas of Vallabhi
|
Bhattarka
|
The Maukharis of Kannauj
|
Yajnavarman
|
The Pallavas of Kanchi
|
Simhavarman
|
The Pandyas of Madurai
|
Kodungon
|
The Vakatas
|
Vindhyashakti
|