The Post-Gupta Age (6th–12th centuries CE) witnessed the decline of centralized empires and the rise of regional kingdoms like the Vardhanas, Chalukyas, Pallavas, and Rashtrakutas. This period saw frequent conflicts, political fragmentation, and the tripartite struggle for Kannauj. Indian culture flourished with advancements in art, temple architecture, and Sanskrit literature. New regional languages and Bhakti movements began emerging, sowing seeds for future socio-religious changes. The period also faced external threats, notably from the Huns and early Arab invasions in western India.

Major Dynasties 

Hunas [454AD]

• The Hunas were a rare race of Central Asia who came to India.
• During the reign of Kumargupta, Hunas invaded India for the first time.
• They could not succeed in India under the dynasty of Kumargupta and Skandagupta, though they could penetrate into India.
• Huns occupied India for a very short period of thirty years.
• Hunas’ supremacy was established in North India.
• Toramana was there a best ruler and Mihirakula the most powerful and cultured one.
• Hunas after defeating Firoz, king of Persia became masters of Persia

Maitrakas

• They were tributary chiefs of Guptas and establish an independent Kingdom in western India.
• DhruvaSena 2nd was the most important ruler and was contemporary of Harshavardhana.
• Vallabhi was their capital and it became an important centre of learning
• It was port town hence flourished the trade and commerce.
• They continued to rule the area until the middle of the 18th century when Arab attacks and weekend their power

Mukharis

• The region of Western Uttar Pradesh around Kanauj was held by the Maukharis.
• They also conquered some part of Magadha. Gradually they overthrew the later
• Guptas and made them move to Malwa. They were also the subordinate rulers of Gupta’s Harshvardhan sister Rajeshree was married to Griha Verma
• But Sashanka the ruler of Bengal and Dev Gupta the later Gupta ruler attack and killed him
• The Kingdom of Kannauj was merged with that of Pushyabhutis.

The Pushyabhutis:

• Thaneswar (north of Delhi) was the capital of Pushyabhutis.
• Prabhakarvardhan was the most important ruler of the dynasty who assumed the
• title of Parambhattaraka Maharajadhiraja.
• They had a marriage alliance with the Maukharis.
• The marriage alliance strengthened the two empires. Harshavardhana belonged to this clan.

The Gaudas:

• They ruled over a territory in Bengal and were quite lesser-known of the four kingdoms.
• It’s most powerful and ambitious ruler was Sasanka.
• He invaded Makhauris, killed Grahavarman and detained Rajyasri.

CULTURE IN POST GUPTA

• The university of Nalanda flourished in the sixth century. Saintly Sthiramati was its head in the middle of the sixth century.
• Dharmapala, who extended his patronage to the university in the latter half of the century was an eminent scholar. As a matter of fact, Nalanda witnessed its golden period in this period.
• Classical Sanskrit reached its perfection in the sixth century. Bharavi, Kumaradasa and Dandin among the poets and Vishkhadatta among the dramatists lived in the sixth century A.D.
• Some historians ascribe the development of Indian mathematics and astronomy to the sixth century. Varahamira is said to have died in 587 A.D.
• It can equally be said that philosophy, logic and Mimamsa matured during this
• Buddhist and Hindu systems of logic witnessed their golden age.
• It is also noteworthy that vernacular literatures began to grow. Prakrit evolved into a literary language possessing its own grammars.

 

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