I. The Age of Harshavardhana (606 AD – 647 AD)

Following the decline of the Guptas and the chaos of Huna invasions, Harshavardhana ascended the throne of Thanesar in 606 AD. He later united Thanesar with Kannauj, making it the administrative and cultural nerve center of North India for centuries to come.

During his reign, the Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang visited India (630 AD – 645 AD). He described Harsha as a tireless ruler who spent three-quarters of his day on state business. Harsha’s patronage of Nalanda University and his own literary works like Ratnavali prove that the intellectual fire of the Gupta era had not dimmed.

II. The Tripartite Struggle for Kannauj (750 AD – 1000 AD)

The Pratiharas, originating in Rajasthan around 730 AD, acted as the "Bulwark of the West," successfully repelling early Arab incursions. Under Mihira Bhoja (836 AD – 885 AD), they became the most powerful force in Northern India.

Founded by Gopala in 750 AD through a democratic election by local chieftains, the Palas were great patrons of Mahayana Buddhism. Dharmapala (770 AD – 810 AD) founded Vikramshila University, which became a global hub for Buddhist studies alongside Nalanda.

Dantidurga founded the dynasty in 753 AD. The Rashtrakutas were unique for their military reach, often crossing the Narmada to defeat the Pratiharas and Palas. Their architectural crowning achievement is the Kailasa Temple at Ellora, commissioned by Krishna I in 760 AD.

III. Southern Giants: Chalukyas and Pallavas

Pulakeshin II (610 AD – 642 AD) was the greatest Chalukya ruler. In 618 AD, he famously defeated Harshavardhana on the banks of the Narmada, preventing the northern emperor from expanding into the Deccan.

The Pallavas were the pioneers of Dravidian architecture. Under Mahendravarman I (600 AD – 630 AD) and Narasimhavarman I (630 AD – 668 AD), the magnificent rock-cut temples of Mahabalipuram were carved out of solid granite around 650 AD.

IV. The Imperial Cholas (850 AD – 1279 AD)

Rajaraja I revived Chola power in 985 AD. He was a master administrator who completed a massive land survey in 1001 AD to standardize revenue. He built the Brihadisvara Temple in Thanjavur, consecrated in 1010 AD.

Rajendra I took the empire to its furthest limits. In 1023 AD, he reached the Ganges river (earning the title Gangaikonda). More impressively, in 1025 AD, his navy launched a successful strike against the Srivijaya Empire in Southeast Asia, securing Indian trade dominance in the Indian Ocean.