Category 1 · Medieval History

Early Medieval Period

21 micro topics in Medieval History for UPSC Prelims, in book order: Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty (8th–10th Century); Pala Dynasty of Bengal (8th–11th Century); and 19 more.

1.1

Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty (8th–10th Century)

The Gurjara-Pratiharas ruled the upper Ganga valley, Rajasthan and Malwa from the eighth to the tenth century, first from Bhinmal and then from Kanauj. Under Bhoja they became the strongest power of north India, and they…
1.2

Pala Dynasty of Bengal (8th–11th Century)

The Palas ruled Bengal and Bihar from about 750 to the twelfth century. Gopala was chosen king by the leading men of the region, Dharmapala briefly held Kanauj, and Devapala made the dynasty the master of…
1.3

The Tripartite Struggle for Kannauj Among the Pratiharas, Palas and Rashtrakutas

The tripartite struggle was the long contest from about 750 to 950 among the Gurjara-Pratiharas, the Palas and the Rashtrakutas for Kanauj and the upper Ganga valley. Each power won a turn, none built a lasting…
1.4

Sena Dynasty of Bengal (11th–12th Century)

The Senas ruled Bengal in the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Their family came from Karnataka and first served the Palas as chiefs of Radha. Vijayasena and Ballala Sena displaced the Palas, Lakshmana Sena patronised Sanskrit poets,…
1.5

Rise of the Rajputs and Major Rajput Clans

The Rajputs were the clan-based ruling class that held many north Indian states from the eighth to the twelfth century. Their origin is debated, and the leading states after the Pratihara break-up were the Gahadavalas of…
1.6

Pallava Dynasty of South India

The Pallavas ruled Tondaimandalam from Kanchipuram from about the sixth to the ninth century. Mahendravarman I and Narasimhavarman I made them a major power against the Chalukyas of Badami, and their rock-cut and structural temples at…
1.7

Chalukya Dynasty (Badami and Kalyani Branches)

The Chalukyas ruled the Deccan in two great phases: the Badami (Vatapi) Chalukyas from 543 to 753, whose king Pulakeshin II defeated Harsha, and the Kalyani (Western) Chalukyas, who revived the power from 973 until the…
1.8

Rashtrakuta Dynasty of the Deccan

The Rashtrakutas ruled the Deccan from Manyakheta (Malkhed) for almost two hundred years, from the middle of the eighth century to 972. Dantidurga founded the empire, Govinda III and Amoghavarsha were its greatest rulers, and Krishna…
1.9

Chola Rulers and Political History (Rajaraja I, Rajendra I)

The Chola empire rose in the ninth century under Vijayalaya, reached its peak under Rajaraja I (985 to 1014) and his son Rajendra I (1014 to 1044), and made the Bay of Bengal a Chola lake.…
1.10

Chola Administration (Local Self-Government – Ur, Sabha, Nadu Village Assemblies)

The Chola state was a monarchy with a council of ministers, a large army and navy, and an empire divided into mandalams, valanadus and nadus. Its best known feature was village self-government through the ur and…
1.11

Chola Socio-Economic Life

Chola society and economy rested on irrigated farming in the Kaveri valley, temple-centred land grants, merchant guilds and Indian Ocean trade. Land was surveyed and graded, temples worked as banks and employers, guilds traded with Java…
1.12

Chola Education and Literature

Education under the Cholas was largely temple-centred, with Vedic colleges such as Ennayiram in the reign of Rajendra I. Tamil literature reached a high point with the Shaiva Tirumurai, Kamban's Ramayana, the Periya Puranam and the…
1.13

Chera Dynasty of South India (9th–12th Century)

The later Cheras, also called the Chera Perumals or Kulasekharas, ruled Kerala from Mahodayapuram (Kodungallur) from about the ninth century until the early twelfth. They ruled an Indian Ocean trading coast, issued the Tharisapalli and Jewish…
1.14

Yadava Dynasty of Devagiri (12th–13th Century)

The Yadavas, also called the Seunas, rose from Chalukya feudatories to rulers of the northern Deccan from Devagiri (Daulatabad). Bhillama V declared independence about 1187, Singhana II made them the strongest Deccan power, and Ramachandra lost…
1.15

South Indian Contact and Trade with South-East Asia

From the sixth century a brisk sea trade linked south India, Bengal and Gujarat with Southeast Asia and China. Guilds, ports such as Tamralipti, the Pallava and Chola navies and embassies to China carried goods, priests…
1.16

Indian Feudalism – Origin and Features in Early Medieval India

Indian feudalism is the label some historians use for the early medieval order in which landed chiefs called samantas, rautas and ranakas held land and local power. It grew from the eighth century through land grants,…
1.17

Society and Culture in Early Medieval India

Early medieval Indian society kept the caste order but changed within it: Brahmans gained land and status, the Rajputs and Kayasthas rose as new groups, Shudras improved their position while untouchables lost ground, and women had…
1.18

Economy and Decline of Trade in Early Medieval India

The economy of early medieval India, roughly 800 to 1200, is debated by historians. One view sees stagnation: little gold coinage until the tenth century, fewer towns, weaker north Indian guilds and more local self-sufficiency. The…
1.19

Arab Conquest of Sindh by Muhammad bin Qasim (712 AD)

In 711 to 712 the Umayyad commander Muhammad bin Qasim, sent by the Iraq governor al-Hajjaj, took Debal and defeated Raja Dahir at Aror, and made Sindh and Multan part of the caliphate. The conquest stayed…
1.20

Mahmud of Ghazni's Invasions of India

Mahmud of Ghazni, who ruled from 998 to 1030, is said to have made seventeen raids into India. He first destroyed the Hindushahi power in Punjab, then plundered Mathura and Kanauj in 1018 and Somnath in…
1.21

Muhammad Ghori's Conquest of North India

Muhammad Ghori, also called Muizzuddin Muhammad bin Sam, ruled from Ghazni from 1173 to 1206. After being beaten at Mount Abu in 1178 and at Tarain in 1191, he defeated Prithviraj Chauhan at the second battle…

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Frequently asked questions

Which topics are in Early Medieval Period?

Early Medieval Period has 21 micro topics in Medieval History: Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty (8th–10th Century); Pala Dynasty of Bengal (8th–11th Century); The Tripartite Struggle for Kannauj Among the Pratiharas, Palas and Rashtrakutas; Sena Dynasty of Bengal (11th–12th Century); Rise of the Rajputs and Major Rajput Clans; Pallava Dynasty of South India; Chalukya Dynasty (Badami and Kalyani Branches); Rashtrakuta Dynasty of the Deccan; Chola Rulers and Political History (Rajaraja I, Rajendra I); Chola Administration (Local Self-Government – Ur, Sabha, Nadu Village Assemblies); Chola Socio-Economic Life; Chola Education and Literature; Chera Dynasty of South India (9th–12th Century); Yadava Dynasty of Devagiri (12th–13th Century); South Indian Contact and Trade with South-East Asia; Indian Feudalism – Origin and Features in Early Medieval India; Society and Culture in Early Medieval India; Economy and Decline of Trade in Early Medieval India; Arab Conquest of Sindh by Muhammad bin Qasim (712 AD); Mahmud of Ghazni's Invasions of India; Muhammad Ghori's Conquest of North India.

Is Early Medieval Period important for UPSC Prelims?

Early Medieval Period is a part of the UPSC Prelims Medieval History syllabus map on MaargX UPSC. Each of its 21 published topics has key terms, a Mains angle and practice questions.