India and South Asia 750 CE

What is happening in India and South Asia in 750CE

With the fall of the Gupta empire in the 6^th century, no state has been able to win control of much of the subcontinent for any length of time; this stage in India’s history has been characterized by the emergence of powerful regional kingdoms.

Northern India

A great conqueror, Harsha, briefly united northern India under his rule in the first half of the 7^th century, but his empire fell apart immediately after his death in 647. Since then, the Indian sub-continent has seen the rise of several large regional kingdoms, particularly the Gurjara-Pratihara in the north-west who act as a bulwark against further Muslim advance after the Islamic Caliphate‘s take-over of the Indus region; the Pala in the north-east, and the Chalukya in the Deccan. More or less equally balanced in strength, the struggles between these three states will soon dominate the history of northern India.

Southern India

The Pallavas have become the dominant power in southern India. There have been almost continual hostilities between the Pallavas and the Chalukyas for control of the fertile and commercially strategic east coast. Much territory has changed hands, but neither side has gained a decisive advantage. The Pallavas now face a threat in their backyard, from the Pandyas, who have re-established their power on the tip of India.

The decline of Buddhism

Within the sub-continent, Buddhism is in decline by this date – the Palas are the last major Indian dynasty to patronize the religion. Hinduism is gradually becoming the dominant faith in the region.

Next map: India and South Asia, 979 CE

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The Deccan Empires

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Medieval India in 757 CE