UPSC History North India from 700 CE to 1200 CE Short Notes - North India (AD 800-1200)

North India (AD 800-1200)

• After the death of Harshavardhan three dynasties came into existencein the northern part of India andDeccan. Palas, Gurjara-Partiharas and Rashtrakutas.
• The Palas (750-1150 AD) ruled in Bihar and Bengal from the 8th to the l2th century.
• The Palas were supporters of Buddhism.
• The Gurjara-Pratiharas were Rajputs who ruled in Gujarat and Rajasthan and later Kanauj.
• Nagabhata-I was great ruler of the dynasty who defeated Muslim forces of Arab.
• Bhoja-1 [836-885 AD) adopted the title of Adivaraha.
• The Rashtrakutas-    Dantidurga [Founder); Capital - Manyakheta.
• The king Amonghavarsha-I himself authored a part of Kavirajamarga.
• The king Krishna-I built the famous temple of Kailash at Ellora.

 Tripartite Struggle

• Tripartite conflict was fought among the Gurjara-Pratiharas, Rashtrkutas and Palas for the control over Kannauj.
• Kannauj was located on the Ganga trade route and was connected to the Silk route.
• The tripartite struggle continued from the end of eighth century to middle of tenth century.
• This struggle started during the reign Of Vatsaraja-Pratihara.
• Both Dharmpala, the Pala king and Pratihara king, Vatsaraja clashed against each other for Kannauj.
• Nagabhata 11 Pratihara finally defeated Chakrayudha and usurped the throne of Kannauj.

The Rajputs

• The period between 647 A.D. and 1192 A.D., i.e. 500 years is known as the Rajput period in the history of India.
• The most   powerful   Rajputs: Gahadavalas     [Kanauj),     the Paramaras(Malwa),    and    the

Chauhans (Ajmer).

• Other smaller dynasties : Kalachuris- Jabalpur, the    Chandellas    in Bundelkhand),    the    Chalukyas (Gujarat), and the Tomars [Delhi), etc.

Dynasties        -          Place

Tomars              -           Delhi

Chalukyas          -           Gujarat

Chandellas         -           Bundelkhand

Kalachuris          -           Jabalpur

Pratihara           -           Southern Rajasthan

The Chauhans    -           Eastern Rajasthan

The Solankis      -           Kathiwara Gujarai

Parmars             -           Malwa

• Prithviraj Chauhan's [1178-92 AD) empire included Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
• His court's poet Chand Bardai wrote Prithviraj Chauhan's   biography "Prithviraj Raso".
• He defeated     Shahabuddin Muhammad Ghori in the first battle of Tarrain in ll91,
• In the Second battle of Tarrain (1192) Muhammad Ghori won and killed Prithviraj Chauhan.
• Jayachandra was the king of Kannauj. Muhammad Ghori defeated and killed Jayachandra in the Battle of Chadawarin 1194.
• Rana Kumbha was the ruler of Mewar, a state in western India.
• Dilwara temples at Mount Abu, the Vimala Vasahi and the Luna Vasahi were built by Solankis of Gujarat.