Ch. 10 Regional States in Northern India (700-1200)

1. Ch. 10 Regional States in Northern India (700-1200) Rashtrakuta, Prathihara and Pala dynasties Smaller states in the North Ghazni and Ghori Conquests

3. Rashtrakutas • South West India

4. Prathiharas • Descendants of Gurjara people of Rajasthan in Western India • Rashtrakutas claim they were door-keepers (pratihara)- They may have been palace officials who rose to power. • Said to be fierce enemy of mlechchas (barbarians) • North west and North east is ruled by them

5. Pala • Controlled most of Bengal and Bihar • Not much is known about early Palas • Gopala founded the empire • He was said to have been elected to end anarchy- Tibetan historian Taranatha records this • He was given a club by goddess Chandi and he killed the demons with that club and survived • May be a good leader, follower of goddess Chandi

6. Palas • Dharmapala next king- expanded the kingdom- defeated Kanauj- Friendly relations with Tibet • Good relations with Sotheast Asia • Endowed Nalanda University- when they were raided later by Afghan raiders- they left and went to southeast Asia • All these three kingdoms were constantly involved with battles among themselves- All these three powers declined simultaneously after 950 C.E.

7. Smaller kingdoms in the north • Kashmir- prominent kingdom in the Himalayas- Rajatarangini of Kalhana provides historical details of this kingdom. • Nepal: Revolted against Tibet and formed an independent state. Trades independently with Chaina and India- economically prosperous. • Kamarupa (Assam) Link between India, Tibet and China. Conquered by Ahom- from which the name Assam is derived.

8. Rajputs • Four clans claimed special status: • Pratiharas (different from the pratiharas above- also called Pariharas) • Chahamanas or Chauhans • Chalukyas • Solanki • They call themselves Agnikula Ksatriyas. This is the first occasion where a ruling family made deliberate attempt to claim ksatriya status. • All these kings began as the feudatories of the Main Pratihara kings- and asserted themselves later on. • Created from the Sacrificial fire created by the sages- to defeat the enemies or demons

9. Ghazni and Ghori • Ghazni, a principality in Afghanistan, came into prominence in 977 when a Turkish noble man established it as independent state. His son Mahmud interested in conquering India. • A number of campaigns mainly raids- on Multan and took vast amounts of wealth (1004-8). • Ghazni Muhammed had then conflict with Ghori ruler. • Temples were deposits of gold and wealth- Many raids on the temples- Mathura, Thanesar, Kanauj and Somnath. Mahmud died in 1030. Alberuni accompanied him and recorded a lot of history. Raided Nalanda and destroyed it completely- no other university was founded later.

10. All these smaller kingdoms spent their resources on internal conflicts- an finally Afghans entered India- • Mohammed of Ghori- 1185 conquered Lahore. • Gadually entered India. • Battle of Tarain- 1191- the deciding battle- Prithviraja king of Delhi was defeated • Kingdom established in Delhi.

11. Why the Afghans were successful • Afghan cavlry- pitched battles • Horses • Phalanxes • Guerilla warfare • Afghans- Islamic influence- Jihad- ragarded battle as “life and death” struggle.