*🛡️Pala dynasty:* ♟️Founded by Gopala. ♟️After the death of Harsha and up to the rise of the Palas, the history of Bengal is not clear. ♟️During this time, West Bengal was known as Gauda and East Bengal as Vanga. ♟️Bengal was subject to internal disorder, which has been termed as Matsyanyaya. ♟️Gopala was the elected king by the people in a revolution to end the Matsyanyaya. ♟️Dharmapala became ruler after Gopala in about A.D. 780. He undertakes the expansion of his empire. ♟️According to Tibetan historians, Pala rulers were great patrons of Buddhist learning and religion. ♟️Dharmapala founded the famous Buddhist monastery at Vikramashila. It became eminent as Nalanda (in fame). ♟️The Pala kings patronized Hinduism as well. ♟️The Palas had close trade contacts and cultural links with South East Asia and China. ♟️The trade with South East Asia and China was very profitable and added greatly to the prosperity of the Pala Empire. ♟️The Palas were great patrons of Mahayana Buddhism. The Buddhist philosopher Haribhadra was the spiritual preceptor of Dharmapala. ♟️Various mahaviharas , Stupas ,chaityas,temples and forts were constructed. ♟️The earliest examples of miniature painting in India exist in the form of illustrations to the religious texts on Buddhism executed under the Palas of the eastern India. ♟️Bronze casting was an important feature of pala sculptures.