Medieval India
Early Medieval Period: Rajputs to Cholas Overview
More Articles
- Early Medieval Period: Rajputs To Cholas Overview
- Introduction - Indian History
- Historical Sources (Literary & Archaeological Source)
- Human Evolution Pre-Historic Period
- The Stone Age/Lithic Age 30,00,000 BC to 1,000 BC
- 7 Highlights of India's Prehistoric Ages
- Origin & Culture of Aryans in Vedic India
- Mahajanapada Period (600 BC- 325 BC)
- Religious Movements (600 BC - 400 BC) – Jainism, Buddhism
- Maurya Period (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Post-Maurya/Pre-Gupta Period (185BC-319 AD)
- The Sangam Period (1st-3rd Century AD)
- The Gupta Period (319 AD - 540 AD)
- The Post-Gupta Period/Vardhana Dynasty (550 AD - 647 AD)
- History of Delhi Sultanate
- Vijayanagar Empire (1336-1565 AD)
- Religious Movements in 15th -16th Centuries
- Timeline of Mughal Period (1526-1857)
- Maratha State (1674-1720) and Maratha Confederacy (1720-1818)
- The Advent of the Europeans From (1498-1763)
- Expansion of British Power in India
- India’s Exploitation by the British Rule
- Socio-Religious Movements in 19th-20th Centuries
- Lower Caste/Caste Movements and Organisations
- Moderate Phase (1885-1905) - Indian National Congress
- Extremist Phase (1905-1917)
- The Gandhian Era: 1869–1948
- Miscellaneous - Indian History
- Brahmanic (Hindu) Texts
- Buddhist Texts and Jain Texts
- Historical and Semi-Historical Texts
- Biographical Texts - Indigenous Sources
- Greek Writers - Foreign Sources
- Chinese and Tibetan Writers
- Arabian & Arabic Writers
- Origin & Development of Indian Archaeology
- Inscriptions of Archaeological Sources
- Mauryan Inscriptions
- Post-Mauryan Inscriptions
- Gupta and Later Inscriptions in India
- South Indian Inscriptions
- Mesolithic Age in India (9,000 BC - 4,000 BC)
- Neolithic Age (7,000 BC - 1,000 BC)
- Neolithic Sites in India
- Chalco-Lithic Age (3,500 BC - 1,000 BC)
- Iron Age (1,000 BC–500 BC)
- Iron Using Cultures - Iron Age
- Harappan / Indus Civilization (2500 BC - 1750 BC)
- Vedic Culture (1500 BC – 600 BC)
- Rig Vedic/Early Vedic Period (1500 BC - 1000 BC)
- Later Vedic Period (1000 BC - 600 BC)
- Haryanka Dynasty (544 BC – 412 BC)
- Religious Movements of Jainism (600 BC - 400 BC)
- Religious Movements of Buddhism (600 BC - 400 BC)
- Maurya Period Sources (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Origin of the Maurya Dynasty (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Mauryan Administration & Art (322 BC - 155 BC)
- Gupta Administration: Society, Economy & Culture
- The Khilji Dynasty : 1290-1320 AD
- The Tughlaq Dynasty: 1320-1414 AD
- The Sayyed and Lodhi Dynasty
- Rise of Babur & Humayun in Mughal Period
- Sher Shah Suri Empire (1540–55): Second Afghan Empire
- The Mughal Empire Under Akbar (1556–1605)
- Jahangir to Aurangzeb (1605–1707)
- Later Mughal Empire and Its Administration
- Mughal Culture & Architecture Explained
- Rise of Maratha Power (1674–1720): Shivaji to Shahu
- Maratha Confederacy (1720–1818)
Early Medieval Period: Rajputs to Cholas Overview
North India (Rajput Period)
Overview
After Harshavardhana, the Rajputs emerged as a powerful force in Northern India and dominated the Indian political scene for nearly 500 years from the 7th century.
10 Important Rajput Kingdoms |
Period |
Capital |
Founder |
Chauhan / Chahaman of Delhi – Ajmer |
7th Cen-1192 |
Delhi |
Vasudeva |
Pratihara/Parihar of Kannauji |
730-1036 |
Avanti, Kannauj |
Nagabhatt-I |
Pawar/Parmar of Malwa |
942-1187 |
Anihalvada |
Mularaja-I |
Rashtrakuta of Malkhand |
752-973 |
Malkhand/Manyakheta |
Dantidurg (Dant Vrman-II) |
Chandela of Jejakabhukti. |
831-1202 |
Khajuraho, Mahoba, Kalinjar |
Nannuk Chandela |
Kalchuri/Haihaya of Chedi |
850-1211 |
Tripuri |
Kokkala-I |
Gadhawal/Rathor of Kannauj |
1090-1194 |
Kannauj |
Chandradeva |
Tomar of the Surrounding areas of Haryana and Delhi |
–– |
Dhillika |
–– |
Guhilota/Sisodiya of Mewar |
8th Cen- 1930 |
Chittor |
Bappa Rawal Hammir-I |
Tripartite Struggle
Major Powers
Towards the close of the 8th century AD, there were three great powers in India:
-
The Palas in the East
-
The Gurjar-Partihara in the North
-
The Rashtrakutas in the Deccan
Cause of the Struggle
-
The tripartite struggle for supremacy among the Palas, the Partiharas, and the Rashtrakutas was an important event of these centuries.
-
The main cause for this struggle was the desire to possess the city of Kannauj (Kannauj Distt., UP), which was then a symbol of sovereignty.
The Palas (750–1150)
-
Capital: Muddagiri/Munger (Bihar)
-
Founder: Gopala (750 AD)
-
Dharmapala (770–810):
-
Revived Nalanda University
-
Founded Vikramshila University
-
-
Legacy:
-
The Pala dynasty was succeeded by the Sena dynasty of Bengal
-
Jayadeva ('Gita Gobinda') was the great court poet of Luxman Sen
-
The Pratiharas (730–1036)
The Pratiharas (730–1036)
-
Also called Gurjara-Pratiharas, they likely originated from Gujarat or southwest Rajasthan.
-
Greatest ruler: Bhoja/Mihir Bhoja (836–882)
-
Devotee of Vishnu
-
Took the title ‘Adivarah’
-
The Rashtrakutas (752–973)
-
Founder: Dantidurg (752–756), capital at Malkhand/Malkhed (Gulbarga dist., Karnataka)
-
Greatest rulers:
-
Govinda III (793–814)
-
Amoghvarsha (814–878):
-
Ruled for 64 years
-
Preferred religion and literature over war
-
Author of Kavirajamaga, the earliest Kannada book on poetics
-
-
-
Art Contribution: Krishna, I built the famous rock-cut Kailash temple at Ellora
Other Important Rulers
Prithviraj Chauhan (1178–92)
-
Ruled over Delhi and Agra
-
First Battle of Tarain (1191): Defeated Mohammad Ghori
-
Second Battle of Tarain (1192): Defeated and slain by Mohammad Ghori
-
Impact: Led to the establishment of Muslim rule in North India and later in the South
Jai Chand Gadhawal/Rathor (1169–94)
-
The last Rajput king, defeated and killed by Mohammad Ghori in the Battle of Chandawar (1194)
Rana Kumbha of Mewar (1433–68)
-
Defeated Mohammad Khilji
-
Built the Vijay Stambha (Tower of Victory) at Chittor
-
His successors, Rana Sanga and Maha Rana Pratap, were also great kings
Salient Features of the Rajput Kingdoms
-
Free of invasions but lost foreign contact
-
Rigid caste system
-
Rajputs were proud, warrior-like, but hospitable
-
Cultural contributions:
-
Fortresses and temples such as:
-
Khajuraho (MP)
-
Lingaraja Temple (Bhubaneshwar, Orissa)
-
Sun Temple (Konarka, Orissa)
-
Jagannath Temple (Puri)
-
Dilwara Temple (Mount Abu)
-
-
Causes of the Decline of the Rajputs
-
Lack of unity
-
Lack of foresight
-
Rigid caste system
-
Defective military organization
South India (Cholas and Others)
The Chola Empire (850 AD)
-
Capital: Tanjore, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
-
Founder: Vijayalaya (captured Tanjore in 850 AD, was a feudatory of the Pallavas)
Great Rulers:
-
Rajaraja (985–1014 AD): Built the Vrihadeshwar Temple at Tanjore
-
Rajendra I (1014–1044 AD):
-
Conquered Orissa, Bengal, Burma, Andaman & Nicobar
-
Took the title Gangaikondachola
-
Built city Gangaikonda Cholapuram
-
Last ruler: Rajendra III
Administration:
-
King, aided by a council of ministers
-
Divided into:
-
Mandalams (provinces)
-
Valanadu (commissioner)
-
Nadu (district)
-
Kurram (group of villages)
-
-
Strong local self-government
-
Revenue from land and trade tax
Chola Architecture and Literature
-
Style: Dravidian architecture
-
Example: Kailashnath temple, Kanchipuram
-
-
Famous for Nataraja, the dancing figure of Shiva
-
Kamban: Wrote Ramavataram (Kamba Ramayana)
-
Poets: Kambana, Kuttana, and Pugalendi – known as 'the three gems of Tamil poetry'
Temple Structures:
-
Vimana: Tall pyramidal tower
-
Gopuram and Garbhagriha: Key structures
-
Notable temples:
-
Vijayalaya
-
Choleshwara
-
Nageshwara
-
Koranganath
-
Muvarakovitha
-
Other Kingdoms of South
Kingdom |
Capital |
Real Founder |
Western/Later Chalukyas (973-1200) |
Kalyani, Karnataka |
Tailap-II |
Kakatiyas (1110-1326) |
Warangal, Andhra P. |
Prolaraja-II |
Yadavas (1187-1312) |
Devagiri, Maharashtra |
Bhillam-V |
Hoyasalas (1173-1342) |
Dwarasamudra, Karnataka |
Vittigadev Vishnuvardhan |
Note:
1. The temple of Hoyasaleshwara at Dwarasamudra (modern Halebid) is the greatest achievement of Hoyasala art.
2. The Hoyasala temples at Halebid (Hoyasaleshwara temple), Belur (Channakeshava temple), and Somanathpur (Keshava temple) in Karnataka were listed in UNESCO World Heritage Sites on September 18, 2023.
Final Thoughts
After Harshavardhana, the Rajputs rose to power in North India, dominating the political scene from the 7th to the 12th century. Despite their bravery and cultural achievements, a lack of unity and weak military organization led to their decline and the rise of Muslim rule after battles like Tarain and Chandawar.
In South India, the Cholas emerged as a major power under Rajaraja I and Rajendra I, excelling in administration, temple architecture, and overseas conquests.
The Hoyasalas, Kakatiyas, and others also contributed richly to art and governance. This era shaped India's regional diversity and left a legacy of grand temples and local self-rule.
More Related Articles
What is History? The study of the Past is called ‘History’. The English word ‘History is derived from the Greek word ‘historia’, meaning research, in
Historical sources provide information about events of the past. They are mainly of two types: Literary Sources—These are written records such as religious texts, historic
Africa was the original homeland of humans. For this reason, Africa is often referred to as "the Cradle of Humankind." The following two theories are prevalent in connection with
During the early period of humans, some archaeological evidence was found in which stone implements were found in great numbers. That's why this period is called the Lithic Age, Le Stone Age. T
Definition & Features Derived from Greek: Chalco (Copper) + Lithic (Stone) = Copper-Stone Age. Marked by the use of copper alongside stone tools. The transitional phas
Origin of the Aryans The origin of the Aryans is debated. Some scholars say they were indigenous to India, while others argue they migrated from regions like Central Asia (as per Max Muller), E
The Mahajanapadas were sixteen great kingdoms or republics in ancient India during the 6th century BCE. These are mentioned in Buddhist (Anguttara Nikaya, Mahavastu) and Jain (Bhagavati Sutta)
Various religious movements viz. Buddhism, Jainismetc. were bom and grew up in the Post-Vedic Period known as the Period of Second Urbanisation or the Age of Buddha (6th Century BC to 4th Century
The Mauryan Empire (322–185 BCE) was one of the most powerful and centralized empires in Indian history, founded by Chandragupta Maurya and reaching its zenith under Emperor Ashoka. But h
I. Native Successors of the Mauryas Sunga Dynasty: 185 BC – 73 BC [Capital – Vidisha (M.P.)]The The Sunga Dynasty was established by Pushyamitra Sunga, a Brahmin Commande