Pallava's Contribution to Architecture:
Pallava Period is known for architectural splendour. Pallava architecture can be classified as
(i) Rock Cut temples - Mahendravarman style
(ii) Monolithic Rathas and Sculptural Mandapas - Mamallan style
(iii) Structural temples - Rajasimhan style and Nandivarman sryle
Mahendra Style:
(i) The best example of Mahendra Varma style monuments are cave temples at Mandagapattu, Mahendravadi, Mamandur, Dalavanur, Tiruchirapalli, Vallam, Tirukazhukkundram and
Siyamangalam.
Mamalla style:
(i) The five rathas popularly called Panchapandavar rathas, signify five different style of temple architecture.
(ii) Each ratha has been carved out of a single rock.
(iii) So they are called monolithic.
(iv) The popular mandapams they built are mahishasuramardhini mandapam, Thirumoorthi mandapam and Varaha mandapam.
Rajasimha style:
(i) Narasimhavarma II, also known as Rajasimha constructed structural temples using stone blocks.
(ii) The best example for the structural temple is Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram.
(iii) This temple was built by using sand stones.
Nandivarma style:
(i) The last stage of the Pallava architecture is also represented by structural temples built by the later Pallavas.
(ii) The best example is Vaikunda Perumal temple at Kanchipuram.

(i) When Samaudragupta become emperor, he carried on a Vigorous Compaign all over the Country.
(ii) In the Southern Pallava Kingdom, the king who was defeated by Samudragupta was Vishnugopa.
(iii) He conquered nine Kingdom's in northern India.
(iv) He reduced 12 rulers of the southern India forced them to pay tribute.
(v) He also received homage from the rulers of East Bengal, Assam, Nepal, the eastern part of Punjab and Various tribes of Rajasthan.

(i) The break-up of Mauryan Empire resulted in the invasion of Sakas, Scythians, Parthians, Indo-Greeks of Bactrain Greeks and Kilshanas from the north-west.
(ii) The most important features of the Post - Mauryan period was the growth of trade and commerce, both internally as well as externally.
(iii) These were two major internal land routes in ancient India, ie, Uttarapatha and Dakshinapatha.
(iv) The important ports on the western coasts were Sopara and Broach. On easten coast were Arikamedu and Kaveripattinam.
(v) The trade between India and Rome flourished during this period.
(vi) There was constant trade in silk between India and China.
(vii) The Kushanas and the Satvahanas especially benefited from their trade with the Roman Empire.
(viii) India forged trade relations with Java, Sumatra, Malaysia, Burma and China also.

1. He was one of the best known Indo-Greek kings.
2. He is said to have ruled a large kingdom in the north-west of the country.
3. His coins were found over an extensive area ranging from Kabul valley and Indus river to western Uttar Pradesh.
4. Menander is believed to have become a Buddhist and promoted Buddhism.

(i) Following the sangam Period, the kalabhra had occupied the Tamil country for about two and half centuries.
(ii) We have very little information about kalabhras. They left neither artefacts nor monuments. But there is evidence of their rule in literary texts.
(iii) The literary sources for this period includes Tamil Navalar charithai, yapernkalam and Peria Puranam.
(iv) Seevaka chinthamani and kundalakesi were also written during this period.
(v) In Tamilzhagam, Jainism and Buddhism became prominent during this period.
(vi) Introduction of sanskrit and Prakrit languages had resulted in the development of a new script called vattezhuththu.
(vii) Many works under Pathinenkeezhkanakku were composed.
(viii) Trade and commerce continued to flourish during this period. So the Kalabhra period is not a dark age as it is portrayed.