Page 89 - SST Class 06

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The Post-Gupta Period

During the end of 5th century AD the Gupta EMPIRE OF HARSHA 646 CE HARSHA’S CONTEMPORARIES
Empire began to disintegrate. Along with EASTERN INDIA .......... Shasjamla of Gauda
this breakdown Imperial Guptas, Magadha BAMIYANA KASMIRA NORTH EAST .............. Bhaskaravarman of Kamrupa
DECCAN ...................... PULAKESIN II, the Chalukya
Kapisi
and its capital Patliputra also lost their Purusapura Pravarapura SOUTH INDIA .............. Narasimhavarman, the Pallava
Taksasila
importance. Therefore, Post Gupta Period Varana Sakala
TAKKA
was very turbulent in nature. Jalandhara
HARSHAVARDHANA (AD 606-647) SINDHU Mulashthanapura Sthanvisvara
H
Sindhu
Harshavardhana was one of the most PRATIHARAS Indraprastha A Ahicchatra Kapilavastu Pattana S
Sravasti
Mathura
N
Alor
Bairata Kanauj R Ayodhya Kusinagara M A Lauhitya
Medantaka
important Indian emperors of the 7th Mandavyapura Puskara Mahesvapura S Vaisali A V A R KAMRUPA
Brahmanabad Padmavati Kausambi Pataliputra D Pragiyotisapura
Century. During the peak of his reign, GURJARA BUNDELKHAND Varanasi H Nalanda Gaur U Pundravardhana
Ganga
Bhillamala
Khajuraha A A PUNDRAVARDHANA
MADRAKAS
Harshavardhana’s empire extended from KACCHA Vidisha Rohitasva Buddha Gaya G Karnasuvarna
Dvaraka Valabhi Ujjayini DAKSINA SASANKAS
north India to the Narmada River in central VALABHI Narmada KOSALA Tamralipti SAMATATA
MALAVAMahismati
Girinagara
SURASTRA Bharukoccha Ajanta Nandivardhana Mahanadi Vaisali
India. His rule was renowned for peace, Prabhasa Nasikya VIDARBHA Sripura Caritra
Surparaka I N D I A
Krsnavena CHALUKYAS
stability and prosperity and attracted many Kalyana Pratisthana KALINGA
Pushkari
RASHTRAKUTAS Godavari Kalinganagara
P U R V A
artists and scholars from far and wide. Xuan Pistapura S A M U D R A
Vijayadurga KUNTALA
Zang, a famous Chinese traveler, heaped a Vatapi Srisailam Vengi
P A S C I M A
lot of praise on Harshavardhana for his S A M U D R A Vanavasi CHOLAS REFERENCES
Nandagiri Present external
generosity and administrative skills. Ruling PALLAVAS boundaries
States/Kingdoms
from 606 to 647 CE, Harshavardhana PERUMALS Kaveri Kancipuram Place names KALINGA
Vengi
became the most successful emperor of the LAKSHADWEEP Vanci Tanjavur Capitals (INDIA) ANDMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS
Madurai Approximate boundary
of Harsha’s empire
Pushyabhuti dynasty until he was defeated PANDYAS Ramesvaram Other states
(INDIA)
Korkai
by a South Indian ruler Kumari SIMHALA
Pulakeshin II. The defeat of
DAKSINA SAMUDRA
Harshavardhana marked
the end of the Pushyabhuti Hiuen Tsang, who visited India during Harsha’s
dynasty. reign. Besides these, inscriptions and coins also
Sources tell us about Harsha.
There are two main sources Military Campaigns
on Harsha’s reign. One is Harsha began ruling in AD 606. Soon after
Harshacharita, the biogra- acquiring power, Harsha shifted his capital from
phy of Harsha written by his Thanesar to Kanuj. This was done to control the
court poet, Banabhatta. The empire better and also to keep away from the
other source is the accounts invasion-prone north-western borders, where the
of the Chinese pilgrim, Hiuen Tsang Hunas were always a threat.
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