EVERYTHING TO KNOW

ABOUT THE INDIAN

SUBCONTINENT'S
CLASSICAL AND EARLY
MEDIEVAL PERIOD!
THE MAP OF
INDIA IN THE
CEM PERIOD
WHEN WAS THE CEMP?
HISTORIANS SAY, THAT THE CLASSICAL AND
EARLY MODERN PERIOD OF INDIA STARTED
AROUND 3RD CENTURY BCE AND LASTED ATLEAST
TILL 6TH CENTURY CE.
EARLY CLASSICAL PERIOD (C. 200 BCE – C. 320 CE)
SHUNGA EMPIRE
Ruled over Magadha and Central India
Established by Pushymitra Shunga
10 kings ruled over the region from this
family
SATAVAHANA EMPIRE
Based out of Amravati, Junnar and Pratishtan
Lasted till the end of the 3rd century, expanded
with the decline of the Maurya Dynasty
Famous kings from this family are
Gautamiputra Satakarni and Sri Yajna
Satakani
KUSHAN EMPIRE
Based out of modern day
Afghanistan and northwest
Indian subcontinent.
First Emperor:Kujula Kadphises
Notable king from the dynasty:
Emperor Kanishka
Last known King- Vasudeva I
Gupta Empire (c. 320 – 650 CE)
Noted for cultural creativity, especially in
literature, architecture, sculpture, and
painting.
produced scholars such as Kalidasa,
Aryabhata, Varahamihira, Vishnu Sharma,
and Vatsyayana.
Founders and most notable Kings –
Chandragupta I, Samudragupta, and
Chandragupta II
Vakataka Empire(Originated from the Deccan mid-
third century CE)
The Kingdom ranged from the southern edges of Malwa and Gujarat in the
north to the Tungabhadra River in the south as well as from the Arabian
Sea in the western to the edges of Chhattisgarh in the east.
They were the most important successors of the Satavahanas in the
Deccan.
The Vakatakas are noted for having been patrons of the arts, architecture
and literature.
Famous Emperor: Harishena, who got the Ajanta cave rock-cut Buddhist
viharas and chaityas of Ajanta Caves built.
 Kamarupa Kingdom
The Kamarupa Kingdom consists of the Central and Western parts of
modern day Assam, North Bengal, Parts of Bangladesh and West Bengal.
Ruled by 3 dynasties, the Varmanas, the Mlecchas and the Kamarupa-
Palas successively All three dynasties claimed their descent from
Narakasura.
The Kamarupa kingdom came to an end in the middle of the 13th century
when the Khen dynasty under Sandhya of Kamarupanagara (North
Guwahati), moved his capital to Kamatapur (North Bengal) after the
invasion of Muslim Turks, and established the Kamata kingdom.
 Pallava Empire
The Pallavas ruled over the Telugu and the Northen parts of the Tamil
speaking region for over 600 years from 4th to 9th Centuries.
Popularised with the introduction and Sanskritisation of Southern texts
Built grand temples and promoted learning through sciene and arts
One of the most Notable kings: Narasimhavarman I, who built the Shore
Temple.
Established academies at Mamallapuram, Kanchipuram and a few more
places.
KADAMBA EMPIRE
Founded by Mayura Sharma in 345 CE,
ruled over parts of present day Karnataka
Established and built peace with the
forest civilisations and defeated
Attacking Pallavas.
Ruled as Feudatories of the Chalukya and
Rashtrakutas later
Split into the Kadambas of Goa, Kadambas
of Halasi, and Kadambas of Hangal.
 THE HARSHAVARDHANA DYNASTY
(Empire of Harsha)
Named after King Harsha who ruled northern India from 606 to
647 CE and belonged to the Vardhana dynasty which occupied
the power vaccum left by the downfall of the Guptas.
This Empire covered much of North and Northwestern India,
extended East until Kamarupa, and South until Narmada River;
and eventually made Kannauj (in present Uttar Pradesh state)
the capital.
 Chalukya Empire
The Chalukya Empire ruled large parts of southern and central India between the
6th and the 12th centuries.
The Badami Chalukyas rapidly rose to prominence during the reign of Pulakeshin
II.
The rule of the Chalukyas marks the golden age in the history of Karnataka.
A Southern India-based kingdom took control and consolidated the entire region
between the Kaveri and the Narmada rivers.
The rise of this empire saw the birth of efficient administration, overseas trade
and commerce and the development of new style of architecture called
"Chalukyan architecture".
RASHTRAKUTA EMPIRE
Founded by Dantidurga around 753 AD, ruled for more than 2
centuries.
Ruled over the region from the Ganga-Yamuna Region to down south
Responsible from expansion of Knowledge relating to Politics,
Architecture and literary contributions. Also Propagated principles
of Jainism
Famous Kings: Govinda III and AmoghaVarsha
Created unique style of Dravidian Architecture as seen at Ellora
The Rashtrakuta period marked the beginning of the golden age of
southern Indian mathematics.
The Rashtrakuta rulers supported recording of texts written in a
variety of languages from Sanskrit to the Apabhraṃśas.
 Cholas
The Chola empire played a major role in rapid
developments of all their regions.
They had a strong navy and expanded their empire
right from the Ganges to parts of South-East Asia
beyond Burma,Vietnam, Andaman and Nicobar islands,
Lakshwadeep, Sumatra Peninsula, Malay Peninsula
and the Pegu Island to even Srilanka through repeated
conquests.
The Cholas helped their region reach new heights in
Art, religion and literature, succeeding the Pallavas.
Famous kings: Rajaraja Chola I, Rajendra Chola I,
Rajadhiraja Chola, Virarajendra Chola and Kulothunga
Chola I
 Western Chalukya Empire
The Western Chalukya Empire ruled most of the western
Deccan, South India, between the 10th and 12th centuries.
The vast areas between the Narmada River in the north and
Kaveri River in the south came under Chalukya control.
The Western Chalukyas developed an architectural style
known today as a transitional style, an architectural link
between the style of the early Chalukya dynasty and that of
the later Hoysala empire.
This was an important period in the development of fine arts
in Southern India, especially in literature as the Western
Chalukya kings encouraged writers in the native language of
Kannada, and Sanskrit like the philosopher and statesman
Basava and the great mathematician Bhāskara II.
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