Textbook
Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.
Andal
Saint / religious leader
Pandya Kingdom (First Empire)
active c. 800 CE
The only woman among the twelve Alvars; composed the Tiruppavai.
Rulers of the time
Kujula Kadphises
Emperor, Kushan Empire · c. 30 CE – c. 80 CE
Vima Taktu
Emperor, Kushan Empire · c. 80 CE – c. 95 CE
Nandivarman II
King, Pallava Dynasty · c. 731 CE – c. 796 CE
Gopala
King, Pala Empire · c. 750 CE – c. 770 CE
Krishna I
King, Rashtrakuta Empire · c. 756 CE – c. 774 CE
Dharmapala
King, Pala Empire · c. 770 CE – c. 810 CE
Dhruva Dharavarsha
King, Rashtrakuta Empire · c. 780 CE – c. 793 CE
Vatsaraja
King, Gurjara-Pratihara Empire · c. 780 CE – c. 800 CE
Govinda III
King, Rashtrakuta Empire · c. 793 CE – c. 814 CE
Nagabhata II
King, Gurjara-Pratihara Empire · c. 805 CE – c. 833 CE
Devapala
King, Pala Empire · c. 810 CE – c. 850 CE
Amoghavarsha I
King, Rashtrakuta Empire · c. 814 CE – c. 878 CE
Events in their lifetime
| c. 788 CE | Adi Shankaracharya born (traditional) |
| c. 800 CE | Vikramashila university founded |
| c. 816 CE | Nagabhata II captures Kannauj Kannauj became the Pratihara capital. |
Contemporaries
Padmasambhava
active c. 770 CE
Guru Rinpoche, who brought Vajrayana Buddhism to Tibet and Bhutan
Adi Shankaracharya
c. 788 CE – c. 820 CE
Exponent of Advaita Vedanta who founded four mathas
📚 Recommended reading
Textbook
Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)
Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.
Textbook
An Introduction to Indian Art, Part I (Class 11)
The standard base for art and architecture questions — stupas, temples and sculpture.
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