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The Chola's heyday
In southern Hindu, the Pallava dynasty dominated India from the 4th to the 9th century AD: it is known for having built the magnificent complex of monuments to Mahaballipuram (carved out of granite) but it is above all the Chola dynasty (9 ° -13 °) which succeeded it, which is famous for its statuary art: this era marked the apogee of bronze. It also corresponds to a period when deities began to come out of the temples to be shown and honoured in processions.
The Chola artists are recognized for the high quality of their work, the great finesse, the elegance of their achievements: they used the lost wax technique.
The most representative model is the Shiva Nataraja: the dancing King Shiva surrounded by the disc of fire.
From the 11th century onwards, Northern India suffered repeated assaults from Muslims, Turks, Mughals who gradually conquered it, Southern India, and especially the Vijayanaga dynasty (14
th / 16
th) resisted it before the arrival of the United Kingdom. From the 13° the artistic styles evolve little but show a beautiful resistance to foreign influences.