Rajaraja I and his son Rajendra I built the big and grand temples of Thanjavur and Ganqaikondacholapurarn. Both these temples were considered the best examples of architectural and sculptural works. Land given to these temples were cultivated and the produce were used to maintain, look after the specialists working there. They were priests, Tribhuvanamusicians, dancers, cooks, helpers, garland makers, sweepers, etc.

The inscriptions of the Cholas refer to more than 400 terms for different kinds of taxes. The most common among them is Vetti, taken not in cash but in the form of forced labour and Kadami or land revenue. Other taxes were on thatching the houses, the use of a ladder to climb palm trees, a cess on succession to family property, etc.

During the 7th century a new class of rulers emerged. They were the subordinates or Samantas under the influence of big landlords or warrior chiefs. Gradually, they themselves gained power and wealth and declared themselves to be Maha-Samantas, Maha-Mandalesvara (the great lord of a circle or region). Sometimes, they asserted their independence from their overlords.

The new dynasties undertook the following things to gain acceptance
The new dynasties were based in some specific region.
They tried to control other areas.
The most prized area was the city of Kanauj in the Ganga valley.
Rulers belonging to Gurjara-Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas and the Palas fought against each other to get control of Kanauj for centuries.  
New temples were built to demonstrate.ruler's power and wealth. They attacked other's kingdom and used to plunder the temples of the capital so as to gain wealth.

Rashtrakutas become powerful in the following ways
In the beginning, Rashtrakutas were subordinates to the Chalukyas of Karnataka.
In the mid-Bth century Dantidurga, a Rashtrakuta chief, overthrew his Chalukya overlord.
He performed a ritual called Hiranya - Garbha with the help of Brahmanas.
This ritual was then, considered to lead the rebirth of the sacrificer as Kshatriya, even if he was not a Kshatriya born.

Chola empire the Periyapuranam, a twelfth-century Tamil work, tells us about the lives of ordinary men and women in the following way:
(i) On the outskirts of Adanur was a small hamlet of Pulaiyas, a name used for a social group considered "outcastes" by Brahmanas and Vellala
(ii) The hamlet was studded with small huts under old thatches and inhabited by agrarian labourers who were engaged in menial occupations.
(iii) The thresholds of the huts were covered with strips of leather, little chickens moved about in groups, dark children who wore bracelets of black iron were playing around were carrying little puppies. In the shade of the marudu (Arjuna) trees, a female labourer put her baby to sleep on a sheet of leather, there were mango trees from whose branches drums were hanging; and under the coconut palms, in little hollows on the ground, tiny-headed bitches lay after whelping. The red-crested cocks crowed before dawn calling the brawny Pulaiyar (plural) to their day's work; and by day, under the shade of the Kanji tree spread the voice of the wavy-haired Pulaiya women singing as they were husking paddy

All the ruling dynasties were based in a specific region. At the same time they tried to control the other areas. One particularly prized area was the city of Kanauj in the Ganga valley. For centuries, rulers belonging to the Curjara-Pratihara, Rashtrakuta and Pala dynasties fought for control over Kanauj. As there were three 'parties' in this long drawn conflict. Historians often describe it as the "tripartite struggle". Rulers also tried to demonstrate their power and resources by building large temples. When they attacked one another's kingdom; they often chose to target temples, which were sometimes extremely rich.

Agriculture
New developments in agriculture were taken into for the increase in produce.
The river Kaveri branches off into several small channels before falling into the Bay of Bengal. These Channels overflew frequently they deposited fertile soil on their banks.
Water from the channels provide the necessary moisture for agriculture particularly for rice fields. Forests were cleared in some regions. Land was levelled in the other areas. Embankments were made to prevent floods. Canals were made to carry water to the fields. In this way, lands were prepared for large-scale cultivation. 
Irrigation
Wells were dug, huge tanks were constructed to collect rainwater. New rulers and villagers, worked actively in organising labour and resources. They maintained these works, decided on how water was to be shared.

Many rulers described their achievements in Prashastis. One prashasti, written in Sanskrit was found in Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) spoke highly about the success of Nagabhatta, a Pratihara King. It follows like this.
The king of Andhra, Saindhava (Sind), Vidarbha (Maharashtra) Kalinga (part of Orissa) fell before him even as he was a prince. 
He won a victory over Chakrayudha (the ruler of Kanauj). He defeated king of Vanga (Part of Bengal), Anarta (part of Gujarat), Malava (part of Madhya Pradesh), Kirata (forest peoples), Turushka (Turks), VatsaMatsya (both from North India).