Dynasty

Welcome
• Gupta Dynasty (319-467 AD)

• Shashanka (First Bengal King, 600-625AD)
• Matsyanam (Dark Period, 650-750AD)
• Pala Dynasty (400-years rule, 750-
1161 AD)
• Sena Dynasty (Hindu Regime)
• 319-467 AD
• Capital- Pataliputra
• Founder- Chandra Gupta I
• Best- Samudra Gupta
• Chandra Gupta I, Samudra Gupta, and Chandra Gupta II were the
most notable rulers of the Gupta dynasty.
• Kalidas (Chandra Gupta II’s period)
• This period is called the Golden Age of India and was marked by
extensive inventions and discoveries in science,
technology, engineering, art,
literature, logic, mathematics, astronomy, religion, and philosophy.
• In the vast Gupta Empire Bengal was an important province. The
period of the imperial Guptas is generally considered to be the 'golden
age' of Indian history.
• During this period, under a strong benevolent central authority,
peace, wealth and prosperity were manifest for a considerable time
and Bengal enjoyed the benefit of being a part of the All-Indian
empire.
• Bengal had a participation in the All-Indian trade. Gold and silver coins
brought into currency in entire Bengal.
• Introduction of a large number of gold coins proves economic
prosperity of Bengal. Betel nut, silk, cotton, coconut, salt, and sugar etc
were probably exported from Bengal.
• At that time Bengal had trading link with Southeast Asia and China. The
discovery of a large number of imitation Gupta coins from different
places of Bengal prove that Bengal enjoyed the benefit of money
economy.
• The land administration of the Guptas was also well controlled. In Gupta
period, the accurate measurement system of land was active.
• This period also saw artistic excellence & is also remarkable for religious
toleration.
The Gupta Empire fell to pieces as a result of the attacks of a fierce mountainous tribe,
the Huns. Taking this opportunity many small kingdoms rose throughout the whole of
North India. Thus, in the post-Gupta period, Bengal too suffered the political unrest that
affected North India. Sasanka was a very powerful ruler of the kingdom of Gaur. The
ruler of any big region under the Gupta kings was called “Mahasamanta”. Sasanka was
a“Mahasamanta” of the king Mahasena Gupta. He became the king of Gaur a little before
606 A.D by defeating the Maukharis.
Shashangka
• Referred as the First King of Bengal.

• Ruled between 600 AD-625AD.
• Fought many battles and brought large areas under
Gaur kingdom
• Most rajas emerged and ruled from within native
territories, and over their own people.
• Therefore, it may be surmised that Karnasubarna in
Gaur was Shashnka’s true home, and the ultimate seat
of his power.
Shashangka
• Little information available

about his rule.
• Ruled with strong
command.
• Gold / sliver coin
• Bengali calendar,
Architecture
• No stable king in Bengal for
centuries.
After Sasanka there was no able ruler in Bengal for a long time. As a result,
there were disorder and unrest. The country plunged into darkness. The kingdom
was broken into fragments by Harshavardhana and Vaskara Varmana, while the
powerful landlords fought against each other. The feudal kings, all of them desiring
to become the king of Bengal, fellto arms. This period of political unrest has been
termed as “Matsyanayam” in the copper inscriptions of the Pals. When the strong
and big fishes catch and eat up the smaller ones it is called “Matsyanayam”. The
powerful Lords of Bengal began to swallow the small regions in the same manner.
This unrest in Bengal continued for one hundred years. With the rise of the Pala
Dynasty in the middle of eighth century this unrest came to and end.
Matsayanyam
• Period between the death of

Shashangka and rise of Palas
in mid 8th century.
• Matsayanyam, a Sanskrit
term, refers to a situation
when big fish swallows a
small fish.
• Chaos prevailed in Bengal as
no ruler could retain power
for more than a year.
Rise of Palas (750-1161 AD)
Founder- Gopala (750 AD)
Best- Dharma Pala (770AD)
Last- Ram Pala
 Pala kings put an end

to the disorder.
 ‘Pala’ means
protector.
 Ruled for 400 years!
(Mid 8th-late 11th
Century)
 Followers of Buddhism
 Paharpur, Sompur Bihar
 Eighteen generations
of kings
 Samatat Janapada
Tripartite Conflict
Administration
They They
improve could
d upon govern
the for so
administ long
rative because
structure they had
develop a strong
ed by administ
Gupta ration
Empire. system.
Spread of  This region became
the hub of Buddhist
Buddhism teaching.
 Many came from
different corners of
the world.
 Buddhism spread to
areas like Myanmar,
Indonesia, etc.
 Nalanda university
was revived.
Religious  Though most natives
were Hindus,
Harmony amicable relation
persisted between the
Palas and their
subjects.
 Brahmin were posted
in important position.
 Lands were granted
for temples.
SENA DYNASTY
The Sena Empire was a Hindu dynasty that ruled from Bengal through the 11th and early
12th centuries. The empire at its peak covered much of the north-eastern region of the
Indian subcontinent. The rulers of the Sena Dynasty traced their origin to the south Indian
region of Karnataka of the Deccan. According to some, they were
-Brahmakhatryia
-Khatrya
 Language- Sankrit and Bangla
 Religion- Hindu and Buddhism
 Social, administration, religious power established
 The founder of Sena Dynasty

Samanta Sena, who came to Bengal in his old age.
Hemanta Sena (1070- 1098 AD)
Vijai Sena (1098-1160 AD)
Vallala Sena (1160-1178 AD)
Lakhahmana Sena (1178- 1204 AD)
 In the beginning of the thirteenth century, the Muslim power from the North
began to proceed onwards Bengal. The Muslim commander Ikhtiaruddin
Muhammad Bakhtiar Khalji attacked Nadia, the second capital of Sena
Dynasty. Being defeated Lakhshmana Sena fled to East Bengal. North and
North-West Bengal went under the Muslim rule. With the defeat of
Lakhshmana Sena the Sena rule in Bengal came to an end.

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Welcome

• Gupta Dynasty (319-467 AD)

• Referred as the First King of Bengal.

• Little information available

• Period between the death of

 Pala kings put an end

 The founder of Sena Dynasty

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