Chola dynasty resurgent under Rajaraja

1002

The south Indian Tamil king Rajaraja I consolidated his empire with conquests across peninsular India and raids into the Maldives. He began construction of the great Brihadeshwara temple at Thanjavur, whose stone tower remains one of the architectural marvels of medieval India for visitors today. His naval expeditions extended Chola influence across the Indian Ocean, establishing the dynasty as a maritime power rivaling any in Asia.