1. "PRE-HISTORY" OF PENINSULAR INDIA

A. Central Indian kingdoms before c. 600 C.E.

Vakatakas

Kharavela of Orissa

Shatavahanas
 

B. Southern Indian kingdoms before c. 600 C.E.

Cholas

Cheras

Pandyas: Patrons of the SANGAMS: Literary assemblies between first and third centuries C.E.

* Probably defeated by a tribal group the Kalabhras who may have been Buddhists.

* Important for trade with ROME, which declined in third and fourth century, C.E.
 

2. END OF NORTHERN SUPREMACY AFTER HARSHA

Phase I (seventh to eighth century)

A. HARSHA (606-647 C.E.) Capital and KANNAUJ. Empire size rivals that of the Guptas, but does not continue beyond HARSHA. The PALLAVA-CHALUKYA struggle takes center stage.

B. CHALUKYA dynasty of BADAMI in Central India: PULAKESHIN II defeats HARSHA c. 630 C.E. Able to control central India coast to coast for a while.

C. PALLAVA dynasty of KANCHIPURAM in Southern India. Struggle with the CHALUKYAS for control over central India.
 

Phase II (late eighth to ninth century)

A. The GURJARA-PRATIHARA rulers take control of Kannauj and important in the North.

B. PALA dynasty rise to prominence in eastern India, later ousted by the SENAS.

C. The RASHTRAKUTA dynasty take over from the CHALUKYAS in Central India.

D. PALLAVAS still important in the far-South.
 

Phase III (ninth to twelfth-thirteenth centuries)

A. Rise of the CHOLAS who defeat their PALLAVA overlords. RAJARAJA I and RAJENDRA I extend boundaries of their empire in India and overseas to South-East Asia.

B. The rise to independent power of various RAJPUT clans in western India,
 

3. CHANGES IN SOCIAL AND POLITICAL STRUCTURES

* Political Feudalism and the importance of SAMANTAS: Three phases in the "Samant-ization" of the polity.

* The political importance of Temples and Land Grants to Brahmins.
 

4. RELIGIOUS AND CULTURAL CHANGES

* BHAKTI: New forms of worship. Bhakti and Caste. Bhakti and Regional Power.

* Regional Identities: Languages and Literature.