Pala Empire

Pala Empire was an empire in Bengal, Odisha and the northeast (South Asia) that lasted from c. 750 to 1161 CE, about 411 years. Its people spoke Indo-Aryan languages (Vedic, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Sinhala).

Gopala was chosen king by the chiefs of Bengal around 750. His successors Dharmapala and Devapala ruled Bengal and Bihar, fought for Kannauj and funded the Buddhist universities of Nalanda and Vikramashila.

See Pala Empire on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates

c. 750 to 1161 CE

Duration

411 years

Type

Empire

Region

Bengal, Odisha and the northeast, South Asia

Language family

Indo-Aryan

Capital

Pataliputra, Gauda, Monghyr

Became

• Sena dynasty c. 1070 to 1230 CE

Events in South Asia during its time

• 1025 Mahmud of Ghazni sacks Somnath
• 1025 Chola fleet raids Srivijaya

Neighbours in South Asia

• Chola Empire 848 to 1279 CE
• Anuradhapura Kingdom 377 BCE to 1017 CE
• Pallava dynasty c. 275 to 897 CE
• Hoysala Empire c. 1026 to 1343 CE
• Gurjara-Pratihara dynasty c. 730 to 1036 CE
• Rashtrakuta dynasty 753 to 982 CE
• Western Chalukyas 973 to 1189 CE
• Chalukyas of Badami 543 to 753 CE
• Ghaznavid Empire 977 to 1186 CE
• Ghurid dynasty 1148 to 1215 CE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

• Republic of Venice c. 697 to 1797 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Europe
• Byzantine Empire 395 to 1453 CE, Middle East
• Swahili city-states c. 800 to 1700 CE, Central and Southern Africa
• Ghana Empire (Wagadu) c. 300 to 1200 CE, North and West Africa
• Holy Roman Empire 962 to 1806 CE, Europe
• Kingdom of Aksum c. 100 to 940 CE, North and West Africa
• Srivijaya c. 650 to 1377 CE, Southeast Asia
• Moche (Mochica) c. 100 to 800 CE, South America
• Khmer Empire 802 to 1431 CE, Southeast Asia

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