Medieval India - ANITHAISIVA/CH-SIVA-MOHAN- GitHub Wiki

Welcome to the CH-SIVA-MOHAN- wiki! Medieval India Medieval India refers to the Post classical Era, i.e. 8th to 18th century CE in the Indian subcontinent. It is divided into two periods: The 'early medieval period' which lasted from the 8th to the 13th century and the 'late medieval period' which lasted from the 13th to the 18th century in some definitions, though many end the period with the start of the Mughal Empire in 1526. It includes: • Rashtrakuta dynasty was a Kannada royal dynasty ruling large parts of the Indian Subcontinent between the sixth and the 10th centuries and one who built world heritage center Ellora which is in Maharashtra. • Eastern Chalukyas, were a South Indian (kannada) dynasty whose kingdom was located in the present day Andhra Pradesh • Seuna (Yadava) dynasty was a kannada-marata dynasty, which at its peak ruled a kingdom stretching from the Tungabhadra to the Narmada rivers, including present-day Maharashtra, north Karnataka and parts of Madhya Pradesh, from its capital at Devagiri. • Chola Empire, a South Indian empire which ruled from Tamil Nadu and extended till south east Asian Nations in its height. from 9th century to 13th century. • Western Chalukya Empire The Western Chalukya Empire ruled most of the western Deccan, South IndiaKannadiga, between the 10th and 12th centuries and their contribution to world heritage center Badami is very significant. • Kalachuri dynasty The Kalachuri Kannada Empire ruled areas in Central India during 10th-12th centuries and built world heritage center Elephanta Caves which is in present state Maharashtra. • Western Ganga dynasty was an important ruling dynasty of ancient Karnataka in India which lasted from about 350 to 1000 AD. Worlds one of the largest monolithic Bahubali of Shravanabelagola was built during their ruling. • Eastern Ganga dynasty was a royal dynasty ruling Odisha region who are descendants of Kannada Western Ganga Dynasty and Tamil Chola empire. They have built famous Konark Sun Temple and Jagannath_Temple,_Puri. • Hoysala Empire a prominent South Indian Kannadiga empire that ruled most of the modern day state of Karnataka between the 10th and the 14th centuries. The capital of the Hoysalas was initially located at Belur but was later moved to Halebidu. • Kakatiya Kingdom a Telugu dynasty that ruled most of current day Andhra Pradesh, India from 1083 CE to 1323 CE • Rajput states-confederation of Hindu states that ruled present day Rajasthan,Madhya Pradeh,Gujarat,Uttaranchal,Himachal Pradesh, Western Uttar Pradesh and Central Uttar Pradesh. from early medieval to modern times. • Trigarta Kingdom a kingdom mentioned in the epic Mahabharata. • Delhi Sultanate is a term used to cover five short-lived dynasties of Turkic origin, based in Delhi. • Mughal Empire was an imperial state of Turco-Mongol origin from Central Asia, who rule on large parts of the Indian subcontinent from 16th to 18th century, though it lingered for another century, formally ending in 1857. • Maratha Empire was an imperial power based in modern day Maharashtra in western India. Marathas replaced the Mughal rule over large parts of India in the 18th century, they were later usurped by the British Colonialsts, who took over India by defeating several Maratha kingdoms in the Anglo-Maratha Wars in early 19th century. • Ahom Kingdom was a kingdom in the Brahmaputra valley in Assam, India • Reddy Kingdom was established in southern India by Prolaya Vema Reddy. • Vijayanagara Empire was hindu-kannada empire based in South India, in the Deccan Plateau region. World heritage center Hampi was their capital city. • Kingdom of Mysore was a Kannada kingdom have been founded in 1399 in the vicinity of the modern city of Mysore. Their state festival Dasara was world famous. • Nayak dynasty group of Kannada, Telugu, Tamil kings ruled south India. Their contribution can bee seen in Ikkeri, Sri ranga, Madurai, Chitradurga. • Gajapati Kingdom was a medieval Hindu dynasty that ruled over Kalinga (the present day Orissa) • Deccan Sultanates were five Muslim-ruled late medieval kingdoms • Sikh Empire[1] was a major power in the Northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, which arose under the leadership of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in the Punjab region. They were usurped by the British East India Company between early and mid 19th century, following the British victory in the Anglo-Sikh wars. Middle kingdoms of India The Northwest During the 2nd century BCE, the Maurya Empire became a collage of regional powers with overlapping boundaries. The whole northwest attracted a series of invaders between 200 BCE and 300 CE. The Puranas speak of many of these tribes as foreigners and impure barbarians (Mlecchas). First the Satavahana dynasty and then the Gupta Empire, both successor states to the Maurya Empire, attempt to contain the expansions of the successive before eventually crumbling internally due pressure exerted by these wars. The invading tribes were influenced by Buddhism which continued to flourish under the patronage of both invaders and the Satavahanas and Guptas and provides a cultural bridge between the two cultures. Over time, the invaders became "Indianized" as they influenced society and philosophy across the Gangetic plains and were conversely influenced by it. This period is marked by both intellectual and artistic achievements inspired by cultural diffusion and syncretism as the new kingdoms straddle the Silk Road. The Indo-Scythian Sakas Main articles: Indo-Scythians and Saka The Indo-Scythians are a branch of the Sakas who migrated from southern Siberia into Bactria, Sogdia, Arachosia, Gandhara, Kashmir, Punjab, and into parts of Western and Central India, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, from the middle of the 2nd century BCE to the 4th century CE. The first Saka king in India was Maues or Moga who established Saka power in Gandhara and gradually extended supremacy over north-western India. Indo-Scythian rule in India ended with the last of the Western Satraps, Rudrasimha III, in 395 CE. The invasion of India by Scythian tribes from Central Asia, often referred to as the "Indo-Scythian invasion", played a significant part in the history of India as well as nearby countries. In fact, the Indo-Scythian war is just one chapter in the events triggered by the nomadic flight of Central Asians from conflict with Chinese tribes which had lasting effects on Bactria, Kabul, Parthia and India as well as far off Rome in the west. The Scythian groups that invaded India and set up various kingdoms, included besides the Sakas[1] other allied tribes, such as the Medes,[2] Scythians,[2][3] Massagetae, Getae,[4] Parama Kamboja Kingdom, Avars, Bahlikas, Rishikas and Parada Kingdom. The Indo-Greeks Main article: Indo-Greek Kingdom

Silver coin of the founder of the Indo-Greek Kingdom, Demetrius (r. c. 205–171 BC). The Indo-Greek Kingdom covered various parts of the northwest and northern Indian subcontinent during the last two centuries BCE, and was ruled by more than 30 Hellenistic kings, often in conflict with each other. The kingdom was founded when Demetrius I of Bactria invaded the Hindu Kush early in the 2nd century BCE. The Greeks in India were eventually divided from the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom centered in Bactria (now the border between Afghanistan and Uzbekistan). The expression "Indo-Greek Kingdom" loosely describes a number of various dynastic polities. There were numerous cities, such as Taxila[5] Pakistan’s Punjab, or Pushkalavati and Sagala.[6] These cities would house a number of dynasties in their times, and based on Ptolemy’s Geography and the nomenclature of later kings, a certain Theophila in the south was also probably a satrapal or royal seat at some point. Euthydemus I was, according to Polybius[7] a Magnesian Greek. His son, Demetrius, founder of the Indo-Greek kingdom, was therefore of Greek descent from his father at minimum. A marriage treaty was arranged for Demetrius with a daughter of Antiochus III the Great, who had partial Persian descent.[8] The ethnicity of later Indo-Greek rulers is less clear[9] For example, Artemidoros Aniketos (80 BCE) may have been of Indo-Scythian descent. Intermarriage also occurred, as exemplified by Alexander the Great, who married Roxana of Bactria, or Seleucus I Nicator, who married Apama of Sogdia. During the two centuries of their rule, the Indo-Greek kings combined the Greek and Indian languages and symbols, as seen on their coins, and blended Greek, Hindu and Buddhist religious practices, as seen in the archaeological remains of their cities and in the indications of their support of Buddhism, pointing to a rich fusion of Indian and Hellenistic influences.[10] The diffusion of Indo-Greek culture had consequences which are still felt today, particularly through the influence of Greco-Buddhist art. The Indo-Greeks ultimately disappeared as a political entity around 10 CE following the invasions of the Indo-Scythians, although pockets of Greek populations probably remained for several centuries longer under the subsequent rule of the Indo-Parthians and Kushan Empire.[11] The Yavanas Main article: Yona The Yavana or Yona people, literally "Ionian" and meaning "Western foreigner", were described as living beyond Gandhara. Yavanas, Sakas, the Pahlavas and Hunas were sometimes described as mlecchas, "barbarians". Kambojas and the inhabitants of Madra, the Kekeya Kingdom, the Indus River region and Gandhara were sometimes also classified as mlecchas. This name was used to indicate their cultural differences with the culture of the Kuru Kingdom and Panchala.[citation needed] The Indo-Parthians Main article: Indo-Parthian Kingdom With the rise of Parthia, the Indus Valley was brought under the influence of the Persian Empire as they conquered the Indo-Scythians. The Indo-Parthian Kingdom was founded by Gondophares around 20 BCE when he declared his Independence from Parthia. The kingdom lasted only briefly until its conquest by the Kushan Empire in the late 1st century CE and was a loose framework where many smaller dynasts maintained their independence. The Pahlavas Main article: The Pahlavas The Pahlavas are a people mentioned in ancient Indian texts like the Manusmṛti, various Puranas, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, and the Brhatsamhita. In some texts the Pahlavas are synonymous with the Pallava dynasty of South India. While the Vayu Purana distinguishes between Pahlava and Pahnava, the Vamana Purana and Matsya Purana refer to both as Pallava. The Brahmanda Purana and Markendeya Purana refer to both as Pahlava or Pallava. The Bhishama Parava of the Mahabharata does not distinguish between the Pahlavas and Pallavas. The Pahlavas are said to be same as the Parasikas, a Saka group. According to P. Carnegy,[12] the Pahlava are probably those people who spoke Paluvi or Pehlvi, the Parthian language. Buhler similarly suggests Pahlava is an Indic form of Parthava meaning "Parthian".[13] In a 4th-century BCE, the Vartika of Kātyāyana mentions the Sakah-Parthavah, demonstrating an awareness of these Saka-Parthians, probably by way of commerce.[14] The Western Satraps Main article: Western Satraps The Western Satraps (35-405 CE) were Saka rulers of the western and central part of India (Saurashtra and Malwa: modern Gujarat, southern Sindh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh states). Their state, or at least part of it, was called "Ariaca" according to the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea. They were successors to the Indo-Scythians and were contemporaneous with the Kushan Empire, which ruled the northern part of the Indian subcontinent and were possibly their overlords, and the Satavahana dynasty of Andhra who ruled in Central India. They are called "Western" in contrast to the "Northern" Indo-Scythian satraps who ruled in the area of Mathura, such as Rajuvula, and his successors under the Kushans, the "Great Satrap" Kharapallana and the "Satrap" Vanaspara.[15] Although they called themselves "Satraps" on their coins, leading to their modern designation of "Western Satraps", Ptolemy’s Geography still called them "Indo-Scythians".[16] Altogether, there were 27 independent Western Satrap rulers during a period of about 350 years. The word Kshatrapa stands for satrap and its equivalent in Persian, Ksatrapavan, which means "viceroy" or "governor of a province". The Kushans Main article: Kushan Empire

Middle kingdoms of India (or Classical India) refers to the political entities in India from the 3rd century BCE and the 13th century CE. This period begins after the decline of the Maurya Empire, and the corresponding rise of the Satavahana dynasty, beginning with Simuka, from 230 BCE. The "Middle" period lasts for some 1500 years, and ends in the 13th century with the rise of the Delhi Sultanate and the end of the Later Cholas (Rajendra Chola III died in 1279). The period is known as the classical period of India, during which India is estimated to have had the largest economy of the world controlling between one third and one fourth of the The Guptas Main article: Gupta Empire

Silver coin of the Gupta King Kumara Gupta I (414–455). The Classical Age refers to the period when much of the Indian Subcontinent was reunited under the Gupta Empire (ca. 320 AD–550 AD).[32] This period is called the Golden Age of India[33] and was marked by extensive achievements in science, technology, engineering, art, dialectic, literature, logic, mathematics, astronomy, religion and philosophy that crystallized the elements of what is generally known as Hindu culture.[34] The decimal numeral system, including the concept of zero, was invented in India during this period.[35] The peace and prosperity created under Guptas leadership enabled the pursuit of scientific and artistic endeavors in India.[36] The high points of this cultural creativity is seen in Gupta architecture, sculpture and painting.[37] The Gupta period produced scholars such as Kalidasa, Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Vishnu Sharma, and Vatsyayana who made advances in a variety of academic fields.[38] Science and political administration advanced during the Gupta era.[citation needed][clarification needed] Trade ties made the region an important cultural center and set the region up as a base that would influence nearby kingdoms and regions in Burma, Sri Lanka, and both maritime and mainland Southeast Asia. The Guptas performed Vedic sacrifices to legitimize their rule, but they also patronized Buddhism, which continued to provide an alternative to Brahmanical orthodoxy.[citation needed] The military exploits of the first three rulers - Chandragupta I (ca. 319–335), Samudragupta (ca. 335–376), and Chandragupta II (ca. 376–415) —brought much of India under their leadership.[39] They successfully resisted the North-Western Kingdoms until the arrival of the Hunas who established themselves in Afghanistan by the first half of the 5th century, with their capital at Bamiyan. Nevertheless, much of the Deccan and southern India were largely unaffected by this state of flux in the north.[citation needed] The Vakatakas Main article: Vakataka

The rock-cut Buddhist viharas and chaityas of Ajanta Caves, built under the patronage of the Vakataka rulers. The Vakataka Empire was the contemporaries of the Gupta Empire and the successor state of the Satavahanas they formed the southern boundaries of the north and ruled over today’s modern-day states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra during the 3rd and 5th centuries. The rock-cut Buddhist viharas and chaityas of Ajanta Caves (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), built under the patronage of the Vakataka rulers. They were eventually overrun by the Chalukyas. The Harsha Vardhana Main article: Harsha After the collapse of the Gupta Empire, the gangetic plains fractured into numerous small nations. Harsha of Kannauj was able to briefly bind them together under his rulership. Only a defeat at the hands of the Chalukyas (Pulakeshin II) prevented him from expanding his reign south of the Narmada River. This unity did not last long beyond his reign and his empire fractured soon after his death in 647 AD. The Gurjars Main article: Gurjar From 550 to 1018 AD, the Gurjars played a great part in history of Northern India nearly for 500 years.[40] Present day Rajasthan was under the rule of Gurjars for centuries with capital at Bhilmal (Bhinmal or Srimal), situated nearly 50 miles to the north west of Mount Abu.[40] The Gurjars of Bhilmal conquered Kannuaj on the Ganges at the beginning of the 9th century and transferred their capital to Kannuaj and founded an empire which at its peak was bounded on the east by Bihar, on the west by the lost river, the Hakra, and the Arabian Sea, on the North By the Himalaya and Sutlaj, and on the South by the Jumna and Narmada.[40] The region round Broach, which was offshoot of this kingdom, was also ruled by the Gurjaras of Nandipuri (or Nadol).[41] The Vishnukundinas Main article: Vishnukundina The Vishnukundina Empire was an Indian dynasty that ruled over the Deccan, Odisha and parts of South India during the 5th and 6th centuries carving land out from the Vakataka Empire. The Vishnukundin reign came to an end with the conquest of the eastern Deccan by the Chalukya, Pulakeshin II. Pulakeshin appointed his brother Kubja Vishnuvardhana as Viceroy to rule over the conquered lands. Eventually Vishnuvardhana declared his independence and started the Eastern Chalukya dynasty. The Maitrakas Main article: Maitraka The Maitraka Empire ruled Gujarat in western India from the c. 475 to 767. The founder of the dynasty, Senapati (general) Bhatarka, was a military governor of Saurashtra peninsula under Gupta Empire, who had established himself as the independent ruler of Gujarat approximately in the last quarter of the 5th century. The first two Maitraka rulers Bhatarka and Dharasena I used only the title of Senapati (general). The third ruler Dronasimha declared himself as the Maharaja.[42] King Guhasena stopped using the term Paramabhattaraka Padanudhyata along his name like his predecessors, which denotes the cessation of displaying of the nominal allegiance to the Gupta overlords. He was succeeded by his son Dharasena II, who used the title of Mahadhiraja. His son, the next ruler Siladitya I, Dharmaditya was described by Hiuen Tsang as a "monarch of great administrative ability and of rare kindness and compassion". Siladitya I was succeeded by his younger brother Kharagraha I.[43] Virdi copperplate grant (616 CE) of Kharagraha I proves that his territories included Ujjain. The Gurjara Pratiharas Main article: Gurjara Pratihara The Gurjara Pratihara Empire (Hindi: गुर्जर प्रतिहार)[44] formed an Indian dynasty that ruled much of Northern India from the 6th to the 11th centuries. At its peak of prosperity and power (c. 836–910), it rivaled the Gupta Empire in the extent of its territory.[45] Pointing out the importance of the Gurjara Pratihara empire in the history of India Dr. R. C. Majumdar has observed, "the Gurjara Pratihara Empire which continued in full glory for nearly a century, was the last great empire in Northern India before the Muslim conquest. This honour is accorded to the empire of Harsha by many historians of repute but without any real justification, for the Pratihara empire was probably larger, certainly not less in extent rivalled the Gupta Empire and brought political unity and its attendant blessings upon a large part of Northern India. But its chief credit lies in its succecessful resistance to the foreign invasions from the west, from the days of Junaid. This was frankly recognised by the Arab writers themselves. Historians of India, since the days of Eliphinstone, has wondered at slow progress of Muslim invaders in India compared to their rapid advance in other parts of the world. Arguments of doubtful validity have often been put forward to explain this unique phenomenon. Now there can be little doubt that it was the power of the Gurjara Pratihara army that effectively barred the progress of the Muslims beyond the confines of Sindh, their first conquest for nearly three hundred years. In the light of later events this might be regarded as the "chief contribution of the Gurjara Pratiharas to the history of India".[46] The Rajputs Main article: Rajput The Rajput were a Hindu clan who rose to power across a region stretching from the gangaetic plains to the Afghan mountains, and refer to the various dynasties of the many kingdoms in the region in the wake of the collapse of the Sassanid Empire and Gupta Empire and marks the transition of Buddhist ruling dynasties to Hindu ruling dynasties. Katoch Dynasty Main article: Katoch The Katoch were a Hindu clan who rose to power across Trigarta Kingdom a region stretching from the Multan to Pinjore in North India around Satyuga (7000 BC) and ruled in Hindustan until 1948. The Katoch Dynasty having four sub clans (i)Jaswal (ii)Guleria (iii)Sibaia & (iv)Dadwal. The Chauhans Main article: Chauhan

Statue of Prithvi Raj Chauhan at Ajmer The Chauhan dynasty flourished from the 8th to 12th centuries AD. It was one of the three main Rajput dynasties of that era, the others being Pratiharas and Paramaras. Chauhan dynasties established themselves in several places in North India and in the state of Gujarat in Western India. They were also prominent at Sirohi in the southwest of Rajputana, and at Bundi and Kota in the east. Inscriptions also associate them with Sambhar, the salt lake area in the Amber (later Jaipur) district (the Sakhambari branch remained near lake Sambhar and married into the ruling Gurjara–Pratihara, who then ruled an empire in Northern India). Chauhans adopted a political policy that saw them indulge largely in campaigns against the Chalukyas and the invading Muslim hordes. In the 11th century, they founded the city of Ajayameru (Ajmer) in the southern part of their kingdom, and in the 12th century, the Chauhans captured Dhilika (the ancient name of Delhi) from the Tomaras and annexed some of their territory along the Yamuna River. The Chauhan Kingdom became the leading state in Northern India under King Prithviraj III (1165–1192), also known as Prithvi Raj Chauhan or Rai Pithora. Prithviraj III has become famous in folk tales and historical literature as the Chauhan king of Delhi who resisted and repelled the invasion by Mohammed of Ghor at the first Battle of Tarain in 1191. Armies from other Rajput kingdoms, including Mewar, assisted him. The Chauhan kingdom collapsed after Prithviraj and his armies fled[47][48] from Mohammed of Ghor in 1192 at the Second Battle of Tarain. The Kachwaha Main article: Kachwaha The Kachwaha originated as tributaries of the preceding powers of the region. Some scholars point out that it was only following the downfall, in the 8th-10th century, of Kannauj (the regional seat-of-power, following the break-up of Harsha’s empire), that the Kacchapaghata state emerged as a principal power in the Chambal valley of present-day Madhya Pradesh.[49] The Paramaras Main article: Paramara dynasty The Paramara dynasty was an early medieval Indian dynasty who ruled over Malwa region in central India. This dynasty was founded by Upendra in c. 800. The most significant ruler of this dynasty was Bhoja I who was a philosopher king and polymath. The seat of the Paramara kingdom was Dhara Nagari (the present day Dhar city in Madhya Pradesh state).[50] The Solankis Main article: Solanki

Modhera Sun Temple built by the Solankis. The Solanki were Hindu[51] The name Solanki comes from Chalukya the ancient Indian dynasty. During 543-566, Pulakeshin I, established the kingdom at Vatapi (present-day Badami, Bagalkot District in North Karnataka of Karnataka).[52] In Gujarat, Anhilwara (modern Siddhpur Patan) served as their capital. Gujarat was a major center of Indian Ocean trade, and Anhilwara was one of the largest cities in India, with population estimated at 100,000 in the year 1000. The Solankis were patrons of the great seaside temple of Shiva at Somnath Patan in Kathiawar; Bhima Dev helped rebuild the temple after it was sacked by Mahmud of Ghazni in 1026. His son, Karandev, conquered the Bhil king Ashapall or Ashaval, and after his victory established a city named Karnavati on the banks of the Sabarmati River, at the site of modern Ahmedabad.