THE HINDU KINGDOMS OF SOUTHERN INDIA
Southern India escaped the invasions, wars, and turmoil that the north had even though the south was still politically divided. Southern Indian Hindu rulers ruled small, loosely governed states that rarely competed. The Chola kingdom ruled the Coromandel coast and had a considerably large navy that dominated the waters from the South China Sea to the Arabian Sea. When they were in their height in the 11th century, they captured Ceylon and portions of southeast Asia. Chola rulers gave local and village rulers considerable self governing rights as long as they maintained order and delivered taxes on time. during the 12th century there were revolts in southern India and the people of Ceylon threw the Chola rule out. The Chola realm didn't collapse but it did decrease down to the size and power influence of the other kingdoms in southern India. The southern kingdom called Vijayanagar owed its origin to the sultans of Delhi efforts to control southern India. The forces of explorers created a defensive response in the south. Officials in Delhi sent brothers Harihara and Bukka to take control of the south in Delhi's name. These brothers recognized the opportunity to establish themselves as independent rulers so they returned to their original faith and proclaimed the establishment of Vijayanagar. This establishment didn't cause hatred between Muslims and Hindus. In 1565, Vijayanagar fell to Mughal conquerors. States like the sultanate of Delhi and the kingdoms of Chola and Vijayanagar weren't powerful enough to bring together India but still India had a interesting and distinct society due to the basis of trade, common social structures, and inherited cultural traditions.