By the early 7th century, in Harsha's time, the far south had come under the control of the Pallava kings of Kanchipuram. Pallava sovereignty included the domains of the Cholas and the Pandyas. Much of the central and eastern Deccan was under the Chalukyas of Badami (Vatapi), who were then pushed away by the Rashtrakutas. The medieval period in India was marked by the emergence of regional centres of power; there was no single imperial power like the Mauryas or Guptas controlling the greater part of India.
1. The Pallavas of Kanchipuram
- Kanchipuram, on the southeast coast, was a prosperous agrarian settlement and trade centre, well known to Chinese and Roman merchants.
- The later Pallavas extended their sovereignty over all the Tamil-speaking regions during the 7th and 8th centuries.
- The central part of their kingdom was Thondaimandalam – northern parts of Tamil Nadu and the adjoining Andhra districts.