The Chola dynasty was a Tamil dynasty of southern India and one of the longest-ruling in history. The Cholas are mentioned in the edicts of Ashoka in the 3rd century BCE, and the medieval dynasty revived in the 9th century under Vijayalaya. It reached its height under Rajaraja I and Rajendra I in the 10th and 11th centuries, when it ruled much of southern India and Sri Lanka and sent a naval expedition to the empire of Srivijaya. It had an effective administration, maintained irrigation works and built magnificent temples such as the Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and its artists produced famous bronze sculptures such as the dancing Shiva, Nataraja. Its power declined in the 13th century and it was ended by the Pandya dynasty.
Before and after
- 4th century BCEPublication of Arthashastra
- from 4th century BCE to 4th centuryFounding of Library of Alexandria
- 4th century BCEOrigins of Paris
- 300 BCEFounding of Chankillo
- from 300 BCE to 1279Chola dynasty
- from 300 BCE to 250 CEYayoi period
- from 299 BCE to 580 CEKingdom of Iberia
- 287 BCEBirth of Archimedes
- c. 285 BCEDeath of Euclid
More in Civilizations & archaeology
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- from 8th century BCE to 3rd centuryClassical antiquity
- from 351 BCE to 1494Construction of Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
- from 323 BCE to 30 BCEHellenistic period
- 248 BCEConstruction of Terracotta Army
- from 375 CE to 568 CEMigration Period
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 3rd century BCE.