
Picture: A coin of Muhammad bin Tughlaq
During the Delhi Sultanate, several Turkic and Afghan dynasties ruled from Delhi, including the Mamluk dynasty (1206–90), the Khilji dynasty (1290–1320), the Tughlaq dynasty (1320–1413), the Sayyid dynasty (1414–51), and the Lodi dynasty (1451–1526). In 1526 the Delhi Sultanate was absorbed by the emerging Mughal Empire.
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Picture: An early silver coin of Uttama Chola found in Sri Lanka showing the Tiger emblem of the cholas
The Chola dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which was one of the longest-ruling in some parts of southern India. The earliest datable references to the dynasty are in inscriptions from the 3rd century BC left by Asoka, a northern ruler; the dynasty continued to reign over varying territory until the 12th century AD.
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Picture: Coin of Shahi Kings of Kabul & Gandhara : Spalapati Deva , circa 750 AD -900 AD. Obv: Recumbent bull facing left, trishula on bulls rump, Devnagari Legends: Sri Spalapati Deva. Rev: Rider bearing lance on caparisoned horse facing right.
The Shahi (Devanagari शाही), Sahi, also called Shahiya dynasties was one of the Middle kingdoms of India which ruled portions of the Kabul Valley (in eastern Afghanistan) and the old province of Gandhara (northern Pakistan) from the decline of the Kushan Empire in third century to the early ninth century. The kingdom was known as Kabul-shahan or Ratbel-shahan from (565 – 670 CE) when the capitals were located in Kapisa and Kabul, and later Udabhandapura (also known as Hund) for its new capital.
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The Gurjara Pratihara Empire (Hindi गुर्जर प्रतिहार Gurjara Pratihâra), also known as Gurjar Parihars, formed an Indian dynasty that ruled much of Northern India from the 6th to the 11th centuries. At its peak of prosperity and power (c. 836–910), it rivaled the Gupta Empire in the extent of its territory.
Picture: Varaha (the boar-headed Vishnu avatar), on a Pratihara coin. 850-900 CE. British Museum
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The Western Chalukya Empire ruled most of the western Deccan, South India, between the 10th and 12th centuries. This dynasty is sometimes called the Kalyani Chalukya after its regal capital at Kalyani, today’s Basavakalyan in Karnataka and alternatively the Later Chalukya from its theoretical relationship to the sixth century Chalukya dynasty of Badami.
The dynasty is called Western Chalukyas to differentiate from the contemporaneous Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi, a separate dynasty. Prior to the rise of these Chalukyas, the Rashtrakuta empire of Manyakheta controlled most of deccan and central India for over two centuries.
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The Chalukya Empire was an Indian royal dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and central India between the 6th and the 12th centuries. During this period, they ruled as three related, but individual dynasties. The earliest dynasty, known as the "Badami Chalukyas", ruled from their capital Vatapi (modern Badami) from the middle of the 6th century. The Badami Chalukyas began to assert their independence at the decline of the Kadamba kingdom of Banavasi and rapidly rose to prominence during the reign of Pulakesi II. After the death of Pulakesi II, the Eastern Chalukyas became an independent kingdom in the eastern Deccan.
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The Pallava dynasty was a tamil dynasty which ruled the Northern Tamil Nadu region and whole of Andhra Pradesh with their capital at Kanchipuram. The word Pallava in Sanskrit means branch. The Pallava dynasty is a an offshoot of the chola rulers.
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The Huna (also known as Chionites) consisted of central Asian hordes in four cardinal directions. Northern Huna were the Black Huns, southern Huna were the Red Huns, Eastern Huna were the Celestial Huns, and Western Huna were the White Huns.
This article mainly concerns the Alchon and their Indo-Hephthalites ruling-elite. The latter seem to have been part of the Hephthalite group, who established themselves in what is now Afghanistan and Pakistan by the first half of the fifth century, with their capital at Bamiyan. They sometimes call themselves "Hono" on their coins, but it seems that they are similar to the Huns who invaded the Western world.
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There are two different theories regarding the Kidarite kingdom: either it is created in the second half of the 4th c., or in the twenties of the 5th c. The only link of the Kidarites with the 4th c. are gold coins discovered in Balkh (Tepe Maranjan) and dating from circa 380 where ‘Kidara’ is supposed to be read in a blundered legend (in Bactrian KIOOOO).
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Picture: Gold Coins of Chandragupta II
The Gupta Empire (Hindi: गुप्त राजवंश Gupta Rājavaṃśa) was an Ancient Indian empire which existed approximately from 320 to 550 CE and covered much of the Indian Subcontinent. Founded by Maharaja Sri-Gupta, the dynasty was the model of a classical civilization. The peace and prosperity created under leadership of Guptas enabled the pursuit of scientific and artistic endeavors.
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