The Age of
Reorganisation

The great empires of early India (such as the Guptas) did not last for ever. Over time they weakened. But power did not simply disappear — it was reorganised:

• Instead of one large empire, there were now many regional kingdoms.
• Each kingdom ruled its own part of the subcontinent.
• Power was redistributed, not destroyed.

In this age, different parts of the subcontinent came under their own ruling families. A dynasty is a line of rulers from the same family who pass on power.

• Each regional kingdom was strong in its own region.
• Rulers built capitals and ran their own administration.
• Power usually passed within a family (dynasty), from one ruler to the next.

Because there were many kingdoms, the subcontinent had many centres of power at the same time.

The age of reorganisation was a time when regional culture flourished:

• Temples, art and music grew richly in many regions.
• Regional languages and learning developed alongside older traditions.
• Trade by land and sea continued, linking regions to each other and to distant lands.
• Regional kingdoms also had rivalries, competing for land and power.