The period from A.D. 550 to 1200 saw the rapid development of Aryanizeo culture in the peninsula. Two main focuses of power emerged, one in the Deccan and the other in the Tamil plain, and their rulers contended constantly and indecisively for mastery for more than 600 years. The events of this region throw an interesting light on the workings of the Hindu political system.
For instance in the Deccan the Chalukya Dynasty held power from the middle of the sixth to the middle of the eighth century. A sudden revolt by an important vassal, Dantidurga of the line of the Rashtrakutas, brought about the overthrow of the Chalukyas.
They were not completely eradicated, however, but were allowed to continue as the Rashtrakutas’ vassals, thus the Chalukyas persisted for 200 years, until in the tenth century the Rashtrakutas grew weak. Then the Chalukyas seized their chance and regained supremacy, only for their empire to be partitioned among three of their own vassals after a further 200 years.