1. Ch. 10 Regional States in Northern India (700-1200) 1.Rashtrakuta, Prathihara and Pala dynasties 2.Smaller states in the North 3.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.