Chapter I: The Pratihara
It is the year 600. While Europe is arising out of the ashes of the Empire and the Caliphate is about to begin its conquests, India is lagging behind technologically. Only northern India is under the sway of a government: Gurjara-Pratihara. The one goal of the kingdom is to stay united and trade and learn with the nations of the East and West.
Buddhism was established as the national religion, but after the assassination of the king, Hinduism became the state religion.
The Pratihara lacked a standing army and had to send slaves to explore the tropics of southern India.
Eventually, the Pratihara spotted the Bedouins near Pakistan. The Caliphate was reaching its maximum height. The Pratihara feared an invasion, but the kings weren't sure the Caliphs were bold enough to make such an aggressive, daring move. The Pratihara wouldn't go down without a fight.
Meanwhile, the Chinese were expanding westward and were approaching Tibet.
Although the Pratihara controlled the holy cities of India, they weren't really "cultured." The kings of Gurjara-Pratihara vowed to change this.
Over the years, an important caste arose in India: the merchants. They would play an important role in Pratihara diplomacy and influence.
Around 1000 AD, India finally was developing. Basic farms were set up but the Pratihara lacked knowledge of animal husbandry.
A border was set up with the Arabs around the Indus River.
Meanwhile, Tibet finally fell to the Chinese. Thanks to the jungles of South East Asia and the Himalayas, the Chinese couldn't conquer India.
Peace was finally negotiated with the Arabs and Pratihara merchants could finally explore the cultured realm of the Islamic World.
The Pratihara discovered the Arabs were technologically advanced and learned the secrets of gunpowder.
Around this time, Pratihara scientists were just discovering the uses of iron weaponry.
The Pratihara needed to improve their army, and maybe even build up a navy to combat the barbarian hordes of the sea.
Faux pas! The Caliphate resumed war with the Pratihara. Their merchants in Egypt were massacred.
The Pratihara also noticed a massive army heading toward Mumbai. But it didn't consist of Bedouins, it was a Turk army!
The Ottoman forces marched right outside of Mumbai were they began besieging the city.
The Pratihara sent an army to hopefully take down the Ottoman siege weapons.
Finally, the Pratihara had access to iron weapons. But, in the long run, it was too late.
Arab caravels reminded the Pratihara their civilization could not compete with the rest of the world.
The power of the merchant class began to decline due to isolationism and the lack of trade. The Pratihara economy dropped.
The government fell into anarchy and was reunited by a corrupt tyrant. The economy was worse than ever and thousands of people were killed during the riots and from being overworked. The Arabs took advantage of this and crossed the Indus River. They captured Mubai, which was virtually undefended and marched to take nearby towns. The Pratihara government collapsed into many different countries, which were gobbled up by the Muslims. Eventually, the last Hindu ruler of Delhi was killed and the Sultans would rule India for many centuries. The fall of the Pratihara.
Coming next time:
