Political development of the Pala dynasty:
(i) In eastern India, the Pala dynasty was founded by Gopala (8th century).
(ii) The son and grandson of Gopala, viz; Dharmapala and Devapala greatly extended the power and prestige of the Pala dynasty.
(iii) Though their expansion towards west was checked by the Pratiharas, the Palas continued to rule over Bihar and Bengal for nearly four centuries with a small break.
(iv) The Pala kings were the followers of Buddhism. They greatly promoted this religion by making monasteries (viharas) and temples in eastern India.
(v) Dharmapala is known to have founded the famous Vikramashila university near Bhagalpur in Bihar. Like Nalanda university, it attracted students from all parts of India and also from Tibet. Many Sanskrit texts were translated into Tibetan at this monastery. The most celebrated name associated with Vikramashila University was that of Atisha Dipankara who was greatly respected in Tibet.
Political development of the Rashtrakuta dynasty:
(i) In south, Dantidurga was the founder of the dynasty called, Rashtrakuta dynasty (8th AD). The capital of the Rastrakutas was Manyakheta or Malkhed near Sholapur.
(ii) Under the king Dhruva the Rashtrakutas turned towards north India in a bid to control Kannauj, the then imperial city. It led to the beginning of a "Tripartite struggle'.
(iii) One of the important kings of the Rashtrakuta dynasty was Krishna I. He built the famous Kailash temple at Ellora (near Aurangabad, Maharashtra). It is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is monolithic i.e., made of one single piece of rock.
(iv) The Rashtrakutas were quite friendly with the Arab traders who visited their empire. These traders were allowed to build mosques and follow their religion without any hindrance. It testifies to the liberal attitude of the Rashtrakuta kings and also to their desire to draw economic benefit from the growing sea trade conducted by the Arabs at that time.
