Palas of Bengal
Realm 06: Lords of the East, Mahaviharas, and the Tantric Dawn
WORLD B — MAJOR DYNASTIES, 750–1200
MICRO-REALM 01
Origins & Gopala
- Matsyanyaya (anarchy) ended.
- Gopala elected king.
- Consolidated Bengal region.
- Founded Odantapuri monastery.
MICRO-REALM 02
Dharmapala
- Expanded the empire.
- Captured Kannauj briefly.
- Founded Vikramashila university.
- Paramasaugata (devout Buddhist).
MICRO-REALM 03
Devapala
→
- Empire reaches zenith.
- Conquered Assam and Odisha.
- Defeated Hunas and Gurjaras.
- Patronized Nalanda university.
MICRO-REALM 04
Tripartite Struggle
- Fought Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas.
- Kannauj as ultimate prize.
- Exhausted imperial resources.
- Shifting political alliances.
MICRO-REALM 05
Elephant Cavalry
- Supreme elephant forces.
- Gajapati military advantage.
- Sourced from eastern jungles.
- Intimidated rival armies.
MICRO-REALM 06
The Mahaviharas
- Nalanda, Vikramashila, Somapura.
- Massive brick universities.
- Global Buddhist hubs.
- Monastic education centers.
MICRO-REALM 07
Vajrayana Buddhism
- Tantric Buddhist rise.
- Mystic rituals & mantras.
- Atisha Dipankara to Tibet.
- Iconographic evolution.
MICRO-REALM 08
Southeast Asian Ties
- Sailendra dynasty relations.
- Srivijaya maritime trade.
- Nalanda monastery endowments.
- Cultural and religious exchange.
MICRO-REALM 09
Art & Sculpture
- Black basalt carving.
- Exquisite bronze casting.
- Dhiman and Vitapala.
- Influenced Tibetan art.
MICRO-REALM 10
Decline & Successors
- Kaivarta peasant rebellion.
- Weak later rulers.
- Rise of the Senas.
- Buddhism wanes in India.