Between the 7th and 12th centuries many new dynasties, like, Gurjara-Pratiharas, Rashtrakutas, Palas, Cholas, and Chahamanas, emerged.
- Rich landlords or warrior chiefs became subordinates of kings and were given title of samantas, and were expected to bring gifts for their kings or overlords, had to be present at their courts and would provide them military support. With more power and wealth, samantas became maha-samantas or maha-mandaleshvara, and some of them became free from their overlords.
- Dantidurga, who was a Rashtrakuta chief, performed hiranya-garbha ritual to become a Kshatriya and then he overthrew his Chalukya overlord.
- In spite of being Brahmans, Kadamba Mayurasharman and Gurjara-Pratihara Harichandra built their kingdoms in Karnataka and Rajasthan.
- The high positions at kingdoms including the army, were appointed either by hereditary or through influential families