EPISODE · Jun 18, 2026 · 5 MIN
The Rise of the Palas: Bengal's Buddhist Empire
from The Hidden History of Bengal: Kingdoms, Empires, and Revolution — Fexingo History · host Fexingo
Before the Senas and the Mughals, Bengal was ruled by the Pala dynasty — a Buddhist empire that stretched from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Gopala founded the dynasty in the mid-8th century, how Dharmapala expanded the empire to Kannauj, and how the Palas became patrons of Nalanda and Vikramashila universities. They discuss the Pala art style that influenced Southeast Asian Buddhist sculpture, the empire's decline under later rulers, and the lasting legacy of Pala rule in Bengal's cultural DNA. Specific names and terms covered: Gopala, Dharmapala, Devapala, Mahipala I, Ramapala, Nalanda, Vikramashila, Somapura Mahavihara, Paharpur, Odantapuri, Kannauj, Tripartite Struggle, Mahayana Buddhism, Vajrayana, Rashtrakutas, Gurjara-Pratiharas, Kamboja, Gauda, Bhoja, Mihira Bhoja, Dharmapala's copperplate inscription, Chola, Rajendra Chola, Bengal delta, Pala sculpture, black stone, bronze. #PalaEmpire #BengalHistory #BuddhistEmpire #Gopala #Dharmapala #NalandaUniversity #Vikramashila #SomapuraMahavihara #TripartiteStruggle #MahayanaBuddhism #Vajrayana #Rashtrakutas #GurjaraPratiharas #Kannauj #IndianHistory #SouthAsianHistory #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
What this episode covers
Before the Senas and the Mughals, Bengal was ruled by the Pala dynasty — a Buddhist empire that stretched from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore how Gopala founded the dynasty in the mid-8th century, how Dharmapala expanded the empire to Kannauj, and how the Palas became patrons of Nalanda and Vikramashila universities. They discuss the Pala art style that influenced Southeast Asian Buddhist sculpture, the empire's decline under later rulers, and the lasting legacy of Pala rule in Bengal's cultural DNA. Specific names and terms covered: Gopala, Dharmapala, Devapala, Mahipala I, Ramapala, Nalanda, Vikramashila, Somapura Mahavihara, Paharpur, Odantapuri, Kannauj, Tripartite Struggle, Mahayana Buddhism, Vajrayana, Rashtrakutas, Gurjara-Pratiharas, Kamboja, Gauda, Bhoja, Mihira Bhoja, Dharmapala's copperplate inscription, Chola, Rajendra Chola, Bengal delta, Pala sculpture, black stone, bronze. #PalaEmpire #BengalHistory #BuddhistEmpire #Gopala #Dharmapala #NalandaUniversity #Vikramashila #SomapuraMahavihara #TripartiteStruggle #MahayanaBuddhism #Vajrayana #Rashtrakutas #GurjaraPratiharas #Kannauj #IndianHistory #SouthAsianHistory #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo
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The Rise of the Palas: Bengal's Buddhist Empire
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