The Pala Empire: Bengal's Buddhist Golden Age

Step into the world of the Pala Empire, the Buddhist dynasty that turned Bengal into a center of learning and art from the 8th to 12th centuries. Hosts Lucas and Luna explore the remarkable founding by Gopala, the first ruler elected by a council of chiefs; the patronage of Dharmapala, who built the great monastery of Vikramashila; and the conquests of Devapala, which rivaled the Gupta empire. They discuss the Palas' role in spreading Buddhism to Tibet and Southeast Asia, their conflicts with the Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas, and the eventual decline under the Sena dynasty. This episode uncovers a lesser-known golden age of Bengal, rich with manuscript illuminations, bronze sculptures, and a vibrant intellectual tradition that shaped Asia.

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