Early-Medieval Period (650-1206)

⇒ After Harshavardhana, the Rajputas emerged as a powerful force in Northern India and dominated the Indian political scene for nearly 500 years from the 7th century.

⇒ Towards the close of the 8th century AD, there were three great power in India-the Palas in the East, the Gurjar-Partihara in the North and the Rashtrakutas in the Deccan.

⇒ The tripartite struggle for the supremacy among the Palas, the Partiharas and the Rashtrakutas was the 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.

⇒ Gopala founded the Pala empire in 750 AD.

⇒ His son Dharmpala (770-810) succeeded him. Dharmpala revived Nalanda University.

⇒ He founded the Vikramshila University.

⇒ The Pala dynasty was succeeded by Sena dynasty of Bengal. Jayadeva (‘Gita Gobinda’) was the great court poet of Luxman Sen.

⇒ The Pratiharas are also called Gurjara-Pratiharas probably because they originated from Gujarat or South-West Rajasthan.

⇒ Bhoja/Mihir Bhoja (836-882) was the greatest ruler of this dynasty.

⇒ He was a devotee of Vishnu and adopted the title of ‘Adivarah’.

⇒ Dantidurg(752-756), who fixed his capital at Malkhand/ Malkhed (Gulbarga distt., Karnataka), founded the Kingdom.

⇒ The greatest Rashtrakuta rulers were Govinda III (793814) and Amoghvarsha (814-878). Amoghvarsha ruled for 64 years but by temperament he preferred pursuit of religion and literature to war. He was himself an author and wrote Kavirajamarga, the earliest Kannada book on Poetics.

⇒ The famous rock-cut temple of Kailash (Shiva) at Ellora was built by one of the Rashtrakuta kings Krishna-I.

⇒ Prithviraj Chauhan (1178-92): He ruled and Agra and fought two important battles, viz. First Battle of Tarain was fought in 1191 between the forces of Prithviraj Chauhan and Mohammad Ghori in which the latter was defeated. Second Battle of Tarain was over Delhi fought in 1192 when Mohammad Ghori again invaded India in which Prithviraj Chauhan was defeated and captured and later on slain. The Kingdom of Delhi fell to Mohammad Ghori.

The Battle of Tarain had great significance in the political scene as it led to the establishment of Muslim rule over North India and subsequently in the South for several centuries.

⇒ Jai Chand Gadhawal/Rathor (1169-94): He was the last Rajputa King who was also defeated and killed by Mohammad Ghori in the Battle of Chandawar (1194).

⇒ Rana Kumbha, the Sisodiya ruler of Mewar (1433-68): Rana Kumbha was the famous ruler of Mewar. He defeated Mohammad Khilji and erected the Tower of victory (Vijay Stambha) in Chittor. His successors Rana Sangram Singh (Rana Sanga) and Rana Pratap were also great kings of Mewar state.

⇒ Salient features of the Rajputa Kingdoms : The country remained free of invasions but lost foreign contact. The caste system was rigid. The Rajputas were proud, warrior and people but hospitable. In the field of culture many great fortresses and temples were built by them such as Khajuraho (MP), Lingaraja temple (Bhubaneshwar, Orissa), Sun temple (Konarka,. Orissa), the Jagannath temple (Puri), Dilwara temple (Mount Abu).

⇒ Causes of the Decline of Rajputas: Lack of unity foresightedness, caste system and defective military organization were some of the causes for the downfall of the Rajputas.

Follow on Facebook page – Click Here

Google News join in – Click Here

Read More Asia News – Click Here

Read More Sports News – Click Here

Read More Crypto News – Click Here