Textbook
Our Pasts I, II & III (Classes 6–8)
The simplest possible start: short, illustrated and the base of countless exam questions.
Banabhatta
Poet / writer
Pushyabhuti (Vardhana) Dynasty
active c. 630 CE
Author of the Harshacharita and Kadambari.
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
Simhavishnu
King, Pallava Dynasty · c. 575 CE – c. 600 CE
Prabhakaravardhana
King, Pushyabhuti (Vardhana) Dynasty · c. 580 CE – c. 605 CE
Mangalesha
King, Chalukyas of Badami · c. 597 CE – c. 609 CE
Mahendravarman I
King, Pallava Dynasty · c. 600 CE – c. 630 CE
Rajyavardhana
King, Pushyabhuti (Vardhana) Dynasty · 605 CE – 606 CE
Harshavardhana
Emperor, Pushyabhuti (Vardhana) Dynasty · 606 CE – 647 CE
Pulakeshin II
King, Chalukyas of Badami · c. 610 CE – c. 642 CE
Narasimhavarman I (Mamalla)
King, Pallava Dynasty · c. 630 CE – c. 668 CE
Vikramaditya I
King, Chalukyas of Badami · c. 655 CE – c. 680 CE
Shashanka
King, Gauda Kingdom (Shashanka) · c. 590 CE – c. 626 CE
Bhaskaravarman
King, Kamarupa · c. 600 CE – c. 650 CE
Amshuverma
King, Licchavi Kingdom of Nepal · c. 605 CE – c. 621 CE
Chach
King, Brahmin Dynasty of Sindh (Chach) · c. 632 CE – c. 671 CE
Events in their lifetime
| 606 CE | Harsha becomes king |
| c. 612 CE | Harsha makes Kannauj his capital Kannauj became the imperial city of north India. |
| c. 618 CE | Pulakeshin II defeats Harsha on the Narmada The Narmada became the southern limit of Harsha's empire. |
| 634 CE | Aihole inscription of Ravikirti |
| c. 636 CE | Xuanzang studies at Nalanda |
| 642 CE | Narasimhavarman I captures Vatapi Pulakeshin II was killed and Narasimhavarman took the title Vatapikonda. |
| 643 CE | Harsha's assemblies at Kannauj and Prayag |
| 647 CE | Death of Harsha |
Contemporaries
Brahmagupta
c. 598 CE – c. 668 CE
Mathematician who gave rules for zero in the Brahmasphutasiddhanta
Xuanzang
c. 602 CE – c. 664 CE
Chinese pilgrim who studied at Nalanda and visited Harsha's court
Appar (Tirunavukkarasar)
active c. 620 CE
Nayanar saint who converted Mahendravarman I to Shaivism
Ravikirti
active c. 634 CE
Composer of the Aihole inscription of Pulakeshin II
Yijing (I-tsing)
635 CE – 713 CE
Chinese monk who studied at Nalanda in the 670s-680s
📚 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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