The Palas, Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas

Palas, Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas

There was a common struggle between these kingdoms over the control of Kannauj which enabled them to control the fertile upper Gangetic plains

They dominated Eastern India.
Founded by Gopala in 750 AD and succeeded by Dharam Pala. The Pala rulers were defeated by the Prathiharas and Rashtrakutas in the North.
They were patrons of Buddhism.
Dharmapala revived the Nalanda University by setting aside 200 villages for its expenses. He also founded Vikramashila University and built many Viharas for Buddhist monks.
They had trade contacts and cultural links with South-East Asia. Sailendra dynasty sent many ambassadors and asked permission to build a monastery near Nalanda

They dominated Western India and Upper Gangetic valley
The real founder and major ruler was Bhoja with title Adivaraha
Al-Masudi, a Baghdad traveller, visited India during the times of Pratiharas in 915-16 AD
Rajashekar, a great Sanskrit poet, and dramatist lived at the court of Mahipala
The attacks by Rashtrakuta rulers, Indra III and Krishna III led to the faster dissolution of the empire

They dominated Deccan and certain territories in North and South India. Kingdom was founded by Dandi Durga with capital at Malkhed
Amogavarsha was a great king. He was credited with writing the first poetics book in Kannada. He also built the Capital city, Manyakhet.
They were in the constant contest with the Pallavas, the Cholas and the Chalukyas in the South
Krishna I built the rock-cut temple of Shiva at Ellora
They had a tolerant religious policy which favoured their foreign trade

The king was the centre of administration and his position became hereditary
Royal household = Antahpur
Administration in Palas and Pratiharas
1. Bhukti – Province under Uparika
2. Mandala or Visaya – district under Visayapati
3. Group of Villages – Samanthas or Bhogapatis.
4. Pattala – smaller unit
Administration in the Rashtrakutas
1. Rashtra – Province under Rashtrapati
2. Visaya – district
3. Bhukti – smaller unit
Grama-Mahajana – Village elder
Kotwal – responsibility to maintain law and order
Nad-Gavundas/Desa-gramakutas – hereditary revenue officers in Deccan

The Chola empire, which arose in the 9^th century, brought a large part of the Peninsula under their control. With a strong Navy, they conquered Sri Lanka, Maldives and had a strong foreign trade.
The empire was founded by Vijaylala, a feudatory of Pallavas, in 850 AD.
Rajaraja (985-1014) and Rajendra I (1014-1044) were the greatest Chola kings. They followed a policy of annexation which included annexing Sri Lanka, Maldives, Pandyas and Cheras to control the prosperous trade with South-East Asian countries
Rajarajeshwara temple was built in 1010 at Tanjore.
Rajendra I assumed the title Gangaikondachola (the Chola conqueror of Ganga) and instituted a new capital at the banks of Kaveri called “Gangaikondacholapuram”
Rajendra I also undertook a naval expedition against revived Sri Vijaya Empire of Indo-China
The ruler of Sailendra dynasty had built a Buddhist monastery at Nagapattinam.
The strong navy of Chola led to the conversion of Bay of Bengal into “Chola lake”
The Cholas encouraged Local Self-Government in the villages under their administration

The King administered his territories with advice from his Council of Ministers
Chola administration
1. Mandalams – Provinces
2. Valanadu – minor provinces
3. Nadu – district
4. Kurram – a group of villages
Infrastructure: Royal roads were built, irrigation projects were undertaken
Village assemblies: the Ur – general assembly of the village; the Mahasabha – the gathering of adult men in Brahmana villages which were called Agraharas

They were great builders of Cities (Tanjore, Gangaikondacholapuram), large palaces, banquet halls, spacious gardens, and terraces etc.
Dravida style of temple architecture attained its climax. The temple had become so elaborate like a mini city and enjoyed revenue-free grants of lands for its expenses
Kailashnath temple in Kanchi, Brihadeswara temple in Tanjore are examples of Dravidian architecture
After the fall of Cholas, the Hoysalas continued the tradition with building temples in Halebid (Hoysaleshwara temple), an example of Chalukyan architecture.
Sculpture art attained its heights with Gomateshwar statue in Sharvana Belagola and Bronze Nataraja statue
Along with Sanskrit literature, the local language literature also grew in this region
Bhakti movement started with Alvars and Nayanars flourished in 6^th to 9^th Their writings “Tirumurai” is seen as Fifth Veda. Kamban’s Ramayan is also considered as a classic in Tamil literature.
Pampa, Ponna, and Ranna are regarded as the three gems of Kannada Poetry

Thus, this period had a flourishing trade and commerce, great temple building activities and promising literary works.