Important Dynasties and Kingdoms of India (Founder & Capital)

India has a very interesting history which has witnessed the rise and fall of various dynasties. Here is a list of Important Dynasties and Kingdoms of India, their Founder and Capital.

Emperor Vikramaditya of Ujjain started Vikram Samvat in 57 BC.

Earlier scholars believed that Kanishka ascended the Kushan throne in 78 AD, and that this date was used as the beginning of the Saka calendar era (Saka Samvat).

Sarnath Buddhist image inscription of "Kanishka" happened during 81 AD

Some of the scholars in the Court of Kanishka were Parsva, Vasumitra, Asvaghosa, Charaka, Nagarjuna and Mathara.

Vasumitra was a scholar in his court who headed the 4th Buddhist Council.

The famous Rabatak Inscription written on a rock in the Bactrian language and the Greek script presents valuable information on Kanishka.

The Kushans loosely ruled a territory that extended to the Aral Sea through present-day Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan into northern India.

School of Gandhara (Indo-Greek) art flourished during the reign of the Kushan Dynasty, under the rule of emperor Kanishka from 1st century BCE to the 4th century CE.

The first Persian ruler who occupied part of Indian territory was Cyrus.

The "Matsya Purana" mentions that the Andhra dynasty (Satavahana) ruled for around 450 years.

Kharavela (Chedi Dynasty) was a Jain king of Kalinga in present-day Odisha, India, who ruled during the second or first century BCE. The primary source for Kharavela is his rock-cut Hathigumpha inscription (Odisha).

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Pravarasena I was the real founder of Vakataka empire, he performed four Asvamedha Yajnas.

The Allahabad pillar is erected by "Ashoka", while it is one of the few extant pillars that carry Ashokan edicts, it is particularly notable for containing later inscriptions attributed to the Gupta emperor Samudragupta (4th century CE).

Prayag Prashasti (Allahabad pillar) is a pillar inscription of Samudragupta found at Allahabad and written in Sanskrit.

Allahabad pillar also contains inscriptions by the Mughal emperor "Jahangir", from the 17th century.

The Hephthalites, known as the Hunas in India kept on invading India until the Gupta ruler Skandagupta repulsed them - from Bitari Pillar.

The Gupta king who had to face the first Huna invasion was Kumaragupta I.

Chandragupta II is known as 'Shaka-Conquerer' referred to as a man of culture.

Sushruta is known for his work on medicine during the Gupta period. Sushruta was the first Indian surgeon of 600 century BC.

Kalidasa was one of the "nine gems" at the court of the fabulous king Chandragupta II.

Chandragupta 1, the son of Ghatotkacha was the first Gupta king to issue gold coins.

Gupta Samvat was started in 319 AD, by Chandragupta I.

Gradual decline of towns was an important feature of the - Gupta period.

The land revenue rate in religious books is 1/6 of the produce.

The land during Gupta period was categorized into several groups such as Kshetra (cultivable land), Khila (wasteland), Aprahata (jungle or forest land), Vasti (habitable land) and Gapata Sarah (Pasture land).

The Samkhya system is attributed to Kapila - it is closely associated with Yoga and forms a part of the philosophical background of the Gita.

Yoga-darsana, codified in the work of Patanjali (contemporary of "Pushyamitra Sunga") consists of Yoga Sutras.

The best-known philosopher of the Navya-Nyaya, and the founder of the modern school of Indian logic, was Gangesha (13th century).

The founder of the Nyaya Darshana was Akshapada Gautama.

The "Purva Mimansa" was postulated by Jamini.

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