3.  The districts to the south of the Jumna known as Jejakabhukti (Bundelkhand) and Cedi (nearly equivalent to our Central Provinces) were governed by two dynasties known as Candels and Kalacuris.  The former are thought to have been originally Gonds.  They were great builders and constructed among other monuments the temples of Khajarao.  Kirtivarman Chandel (1049-1100) greatly extended their territories.  He was a patron of learning and the allegorical drama Prabodhacandrodaya was produced at his court.

4.  The Paramara (Pawar) dynasty of Malwa were likewise celebrated as patrons of literature and kings Munja (974-995) and Bhoja (1018-1060) were authors as well as successful warriors.

5.  Though the Calukyas of Vatapi were temporarily crushed by the Pallavas their power was re-established in 655 and continued for a century.  The Eastern Calukyas, another branch of the same family, established themselves in Vengi between the Kistna and Godaveri.  Here they ruled from 609 to 1070 first as viceroys of the Western Calukyas and then as an independent power till they were absorbed by the Colas.  Yet another branch settled in Gujarat.

6.  The Calukyas of Vatapi were overthrown by the Rashtrakutas who were masters of the Deccan from about 750 to 972, and reigned first at Nasik and then at Manyakheta (Malkhed).  Krishna I of this dynasty excavated the Kailasa temple at Ellora (c. 760) but many of his successors were Jains.  During the ninth century the Rashtrakutas seem to have ruled over most of western India from Malwa to the Tungabhadra.

7.  The Rashtrakutas collapsed before a revival of the Calukya dynasty which reappears from 993 to 1190 as the Calukyas of Kalyani (in the Nizam’s dominions).  The end of this dynasty was partly due to the usurpation of a Jain named Bijjala in whose reign the sect of the Lingayats arose.

We must now turn to an event of great historical importance although its details are not relevant to the subject of this book, namely the Mohammedan conquest.  Three periods in it may be recognized.  First, the conquest of Sind in 712 A.D. by the Arabs, who held it till the eleventh century but without disturbing or influencing India beyond their immediate neighbourhood.  Secondly, the period of invasions and dynasties which are commonly called Turki (c. 1000-1526 A.D.).  The progress of Islam in Central Asia coincided with the advance to the west and south of vigorous tribes known as Turks or Mongols, and by giving them a religious and legal discipline admirably suited to their stage of civilization, it greatly increased their political efficiency.  The Moslim invaders of India started from principalities founded by these tribes near the north-western frontier with a military population of mixed blood and a veneer of Perso-Arabic civilization, and apart from the greater invasions, there were incursions and settlements of Turkis, Afghans and Mongols.  The whole period was troublous and distracted.  The third period was more significant and relatively stable.  Baber, a Turkish prince of Fergana, captured Delhi in 1526 and founded the power of the Mughals, which during the seventeenth century deserved the name of the Indian Empire.