Editing History of Bangladesh (section)

==Early Middle Ages==
Bengal was left on its own after Mauryan power declined. Little is known of the period after that although parts of Bengal were probably under the Pataliputra-based Sunga dynasty. During this time Pundra was still a significant Buddhist location. Local rulers retained power while paying tribute to the Gupta Empire in the 300s and 400s. The Bengal delta became the kingdom of Samatata; its hub near the contemporary Chandpur. A Gupta inscription indicates that the Gupta empire possessed influence in Samatata without ruling it directly. Bengal remained a frontier despite its rare associations with the Indian heartland. Several dynasties changed during the next few centuries. While not much information is available about them, plates and other forms of evidence obtained from the Comilla district indicate that Gopachandra ruled the area in the early 500s. The Khargas became rulers in the next century. They were followed by the Deva dynasty, Harikela kingdom, Chandras and the Varmans.<ref name="Baxter 1997 13"/> They were based in different sites of the Comilla district and Dhaka district's Vikrampur.<ref name="Baxter 1997 13–4">{{cite book |last=Baxter |first=Craig |year=1997 |title=Bangladesh: From A Nation to a State |publisher=Westview Press |pages=13–4 |isbn=978-0-813-33632-9 }}</ref> Around that time, Bengalis first ruled in Varendra. Gaur was ruled by Sasanka in the early 600s. He was based in Karnasuvarna in modern-day Murshidabad district. Contemporary Chinese reports and coinage suggest that he was a firm Shaivite who was vehemently opposed to Buddhism. Opposition to Buddhism and a commitment to Brahminism apparently continued under the Sura dynasty, founded by Adisura around 700 CE. Around the middle of the eighth century a firm Buddhist, Gopala, assumed power in Bengal, possibly supported by Buddhist chiefs who were opposed to the effects of the Suras and Sasanka's faithful Brahmanism.<ref name="Baxter 1997 13–4"/> During this time, the kingdoms of the Bay of Bengal were trading with the nations of nearby South Asia and Southeast Asia,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ghosh |first=Suchandra |title=Crossings and contacts across the Bay of Bengal: a connected history of ports in early South and Southeast Asia |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19480881.2019.1640577 |journal=Journal of the Indian Ocean Region |volume=15 |issue=3 |date=2019 |pages=281–296|doi=10.1080/19480881.2019.1640577 |s2cid=202332142 |access-date=30 May 2022 |archive-date=30 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530054939/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19480881.2019.1640577 |url-status=live }}</ref> thereby exporting Buddhism into Sri Lanka to the south and both Hinduism and Buddhism into Indonesia, Thailand, [[Malaysia]], Singapore and the [[Philippines]] to the east.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Prabha |first=Himanshu |title=Seafaring in the Bay of Bengal in the Early Centuries AD |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/025764309000600101?journalCode=siha |journal=Studies in History |volume=6 |issue=1 |date=1980 |pages=1–14 |doi=10.1177/025764309000600101 |s2cid=220673640 |access-date=30 May 2022 |archive-date=30 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220530050752/https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/025764309000600101?journalCode=siha |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Gauda Kingdom ===
{{main|Gauda Kingdom}}
By the 6th century, the [[Gupta Empire]], which ruled over the northern Indian subcontinent had largely broken up. [[East Bengal|Eastern Bengal]] splintered into the kingdoms of Vanga, [[Samatata]] and [[Harikela]] while the [[Gauda Kingdom|Gauda]] kings rose in the west with their capital at [[Karnasuvarna]] (near modern [[Murshidabad]]). [[Shashanka]], a vassal of the last Gupta Emperor proclaimed independence and unified the smaller principalities of Bengal (Gaur, Vanga, Samatata). He vied for regional power with [[Harshavardhana]] in northern India after treacherously murdering Harsha's elder brother Rajyavardhana. Harsha's continuous pressure led to the gradual weakening of the Gauda kingdom founded by Shashanka and finally ended with his death. With the overthrow of [[Manava (king)|Manava]] (his son), Bengal descended into a period marked by disunity and intrude once more.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

===Pala Empire===
{{main|Pala Empire}}
[[File:Asia 800ad.jpg|thumb|right|175px|Pala Empire and its neighbouring kingdoms.]]
The [[Pala Empire]] ruled Bengal until the middle of the twelfth century, expanded Bengali power to its farthest extent and supported Buddhism.<ref name="Baxter 1997 14">{{cite book |last=Baxter |first=Craig |year=1997 |title=Bangladesh: From A Nation to a State |publisher=Westview Press |page=14 |isbn=978-0-813-33632-9 }}</ref> It was the first independent Buddhist dynasty of Bengal. The name ''Pala'' ({{langx|bn|পাল}} ''pal'') means ''protector'' and was used as an ending to the names of all Pala monarchs. The Palas were followers of the [[Mahayana]] and [[Vajrayana|Tantric]] schools of Buddhism. [[Gopala (Pala king)|Gopala]] was the first ruler from the dynasty. He came to power in 750 in [[Gaur, West Bengal|Gaur]], after being elected by a group of feudal chiefs.<ref name="Nitish2011">
{{cite book | last=Sengupta | first=Nitish K. | author-link=Nitish Sengupta | date=2011 | title=Land of Two Rivers: A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kVSh_TyJ0YoC&pg=PA40 | publisher=Penguin Books India | page=40 | isbn=978-0-14-341678-4| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502013923/https://books.google.com/books?id=kVSh_TyJ0YoC&pg=PA40 | archive-date=2 May 2016 | url-status=live}}
</ref><ref name="Biplab2005">
{{cite book |last=Dasgupta |first=Biplab |author-link=Biplab Dasgupta |date=2005 |title=European Trade and Colonial Conquest |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YRRnRK8lEYEC&pg=PA341 |publisher=Anthem Press |pages=341– |isbn=978-1-84331-029-7|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429143118/https://books.google.com/books?id=YRRnRK8lEYEC&pg=PA341 |archive-date=29 April 2016 |url-status=live}}
</ref> He reigned from 750 to 770 and consolidated his position by extending his control over all of Bengal. He was succeeded by Dharmapala. The Palas promoted Buddhism and opposed Brahmanism.<ref name="Baxter 1997 14"/> They provided support to Buddhist universities in Vikramashila and Nalanda.<ref name="Baxter 1997 14"/> During the Pala dynasty the Vajrayana was developed in Bengal and introduced to Tibet. The Palas patronised the arts.<ref>{{cite book |last=Baxter |first=Craig |year=1997 |title=Bangladesh: From A Nation to a State |publisher=Westview Press |page=15 |isbn=978-0-813-33632-9 }}</ref>
[[Image:Paharpur 03.JPG|thumb|left|200px|[[Somapura Mahavihara]] in Bangladesh is the greatest [[Buddhist]] [[Vihara]] in the [[Indian Subcontinent]], built by [[Dharmapala of Bengal|Dharmapala]].]]

[[File:Atisha.jpg|thumb|160px|[[Atisha]] was one of the most influential Buddhist priest during the Pala dynasty in Bengal. He was believed to have been born in [[Bikrampur]]]]
The empire reached its peak under Dharmapala and [[Devapala (Pala dynasty)|Devapala]]. Dharmapala extended the empire into the northern parts of the Indian Subcontinent. This triggered once more for the control of the subcontinent. Devapala, successor of Dharmapala, expanded the empire considerably. The Pala inscriptions credit him with extensive conquests in hyperbolic language. The Badal pillar inscription of his successor Narayana Pala states that he became the suzerain monarch or Chakravarti of the whole tract of Northern India bounded by the Vindhyas and the Himalayas. It also states that his empire extended up to the two oceans (presumably the [[Arabian Sea]] and the [[Bay of Bengal]]). It also claims that Devpala defeated [[Utkala Kingdom|Utkala]] (present-day Orissa), the [[Huna people|Hunas]], the [[Dravidian peoples|Dravidas]], the [[Kamarupa]] (present-day Assam), the [[Kamboja Pala dynasty|Kambojas]] and the [[Gurjara-Pratihara|Gurjaras]].<ref name="Sailendra1999">
{{cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra Nath |year=1999 |title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wk4_ICH_g1EC&pg=PA278 |publisher=New Age International |pages=277–287 |isbn=978-81-224-1198-0|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517130420/https://books.google.com/books?id=Wk4_ICH_g1EC&pg=PA278 |archive-date=17 May 2016 |url-status=live}}
</ref> Historian [[B. P. Sinha]] wrote that these claims about Devapala's victories are exaggerated, but cannot be dismissed entirely. Besides, the neighbouring kingdoms of Rashtrakutas and the Gurjara-Pratiharas were weak at the time, which might have helped him extend his empire.<ref>
{{cite book |last=Sinha |first=B. P. |author-link=Bindeshwari Prasad Sinha | date=1977 | title=Dynastic History of Magadha | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gYO25eaDrqUC&pg=PA185 | location=New Delhi | publisher=Abhinav Publications | page=185 | isbn=978-81-7017-059-4| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603154418/https://books.google.com/books?id=gYO25eaDrqUC&pg=PA185 | archive-date=3 June 2016 | url-status=live}}
</ref> Devapala is also believed to have led an army up to the Indus river in Punjab.<ref name="Sailendra1999"/> Devapala shifted the capital from Monghyr to Pataliputra. Although they were Bengali the dynasty considered the Ganges valley as the centre of its power.<ref name="Baxter 1997 14"/>

[[Image:IndianBuddha11.JPG|thumb|160px|[[Gautama Buddha|Buddha]] and [[Bodhisattva]]s, 11th century, [[Pala Empire]]]]
The dynasty's power declined after Devapala's death. During the rule of Mahipala I the South Indian Chola dynasty challenged the Palas.<ref name="Baxter 1997 14"/>

During the later part of Pala rule, Rajendra Chola I of the [[Chola Empire]] frequently invaded Bengal from 1021 to 1023 to get Ganges water and in the process, succeeded in humbling the rulers and acquiring considerable booty.<ref name="Two Rivers p.45">{{cite book |last=Sengupta |first=Nitish K. |author-link=Nitish Sengupta |date=2011 |title=Land of Two Rivers: A History of Bengal from the Mahabharata to Mujib |location=New Delhi |publisher=Penguin Books India |page=45 |isbn=978-0-14-341678-4}}</ref> The rulers of Bengal who were defeated by Rajendra Chola were Dharmapal, Ranasur and Govindachandra of the [[Candra Dynasty]] who might have been feudatories under Mahipala of the Pala Dynasty.<ref Name="Two Rivers p.45"/> The invasion by the south Indian ruler [[Vikramaditya VI]] of the Western Chalukya Empire brought his countrymen from [[Karnataka]] into Bengal which explains the southern origin of the Sena Dynasty.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Allan |first1=John |last2=Dodwell |first2=Henry Herbert |last3=Haig |first3=Thomas Wolseley |year=1934 |title=The Cambridge Shorter History of India |publisher=Cambridge University Press |page=10 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Sen |first=Sailendra Nath |year=1988 |title=Ancient Indian History and Civilization |location=New Delhi |publisher=Wiley Eastern |page=281 }}</ref> Around the 1150s the Palas lost power to the Senas.<ref name="Baxter 1997 14"/>

===Chandra dynasty===
{{main|Chandra dynasty}}
The Chandra dynasty were a family who ruled over the kingdom of [[Harikela]] in eastern Bengal (comprising the ancient lands of Harikela, Vanga and Samatata) for roughly a century and a half from the beginning of the 10th century CE. Their empire also encompassed Vanga and Samatata, with [[Srichandra]] expanding his domain to include parts of Kamarupa. Their empire was ruled from their capital, [[Vikrampur]] (modern [[Munshiganj]]) and was powerful enough to militarily withstand the Pala Empire to the north-west. The last ruler of the Chandra Dynasty, [[Govindachandra (Chandra dynasty)|Govindachandra]], was defeated by the south Indian Emperor Rajendra Chola I of the Chola dynasty in the 11th century.<ref>{{cite book |last=Raatan |first=T. |year=2004 |title=Encyclopaedia of North-East India |location=New Delhi |publisher=Kalpaz Publications |page=143 |isbn=978-8178350684}}</ref>

===Sena dynasty===
{{main|Sena dynasty}}
The Sena dynasty started around 1095 but only finally defeated the Palas around 1150. They apparently originated in Karnataka. Vijayasena took control of northern and western Bengal, removed the Palas from the former regions and based his rule in Nadia. The greatest ruler from the dynasty was Lakshmanasena. He established the dynasty's writ in Orissa and Benares. In 1202, Ikhtiyarrudin Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji took Nadia from the Senas, already having taken Bihar. Lakshmanasena left for Vikrampur in southeastern Bengal.<ref>{{cite book|last=Baxter|first=Craig|year=1997|title=Bangladesh: From A Nation to a State|publisher=Westview Press|page=15|isbn=978-0-813-33632-9}}</ref> His sons inherited the dynasty, which came to an end around 1245 because of feudal revolts and Muslim pressure.<ref>{{cite book|last=Baxter|first=Craig|year=1997|title=Bangladesh: From A Nation to a State|publisher=Westview Press|pages=15–6|isbn=978-0-813-33632-9}}</ref>

The dynasty has been staunchly Brahminist and had attempted to restore Brahminism to Bengal. They also established the system of ''kulin''ism in Bengal; through which higher caste males could take lower caste brides and enhance the status of these women's children. Some postulate that the dynasty's suppression of Buddhism became a cause for the conversions to Islam, especially in eastern Bengal.<ref>{{cite book|last=Baxter|first=Craig|year=1997|title=Bangladesh: From A Nation to a State|publisher=Westview Press|page=16|isbn=978-0-813-33632-9}}</ref>

===Deva Kingdom===
{{main|Deva dynasty}}
The [[Deva dynasty|Deva Kingdom]] was a [[Hindu]] dynasty of medieval Bengal that ruled over eastern Bengal after the collapse [[Sena Empire]]. The capital of this dynasty was [[Bikrampur]] in present-day [[Munshiganj District]] of Bangladesh. The inscriptional evidences show that his kingdom was extended up to the present-day [[Comilla District|Comilla]]-[[Noakhali district|Noakhali]]-[[Chittagong District|Chittagong]] region. A later ruler of the dynasty ''Ariraja-Danuja-Madhava'' [[Dasharathadeva]] extended his kingdom to cover much of [[East Bengal]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Ray |first=Niharranjan |author-link=Niharranjan Ray |date=1993 |title=Bangalir Itihas: Adiparba |language=bn |location=Calcutta |publisher=Dey's Publishing |pages=408–9 |isbn=978-81-7079-270-3}}</ref>