Ancient History of Andhra Pradesh | APPSC State Specific Preparation Course - APPSC (Andhra Pradesh) PDF Download

History

• The study of history reveals that a significant portion of southern India, known as Dakshina Padham, was predominantly influenced by the Andhra region, with various dynasties ruling over this area.
• According to Megasthenese, who visited the Court of Chandragupta Maurya (B.C.322–297), the Andhra country boasted 30 fortified towns and possessed a formidable army comprising 100,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry, and 1,000 elephants. Buddhist texts also attest to the establishment of Andhra kingdoms along the Godavari belt during this period. Furthermore, Asoka mentioned in his 13th rock edict that the Andhras were among his vassals.
• The earliest historical reference to the Andhras can be found in the Aitareya Brahmana (B.C.800), during which the region was referred to as Dakshina Padh. Historians believe that various groups, including the Andhras, Pulindas, and Sabaras, inhabited Dakshina Padh during this time. However, it was during the Mauryan age that the Andhras emerged as a significant political power in the southeastern Deccan.

Eastern Chalukyas

• This dynasty originated as a branch of the Chalukyas of Badami, with Pulakesin II, a renowned ruler of the Chalukyas, conquering Vengi (near Eluru) in A.D. 624. He appointed his brother Kubja Vishnuvardhana (A.D. 624–641) as the ruler, establishing the Eastern Chalukya dynasty, which ruled for nearly four centuries. 
• Vishnuvardhana expanded his territories up to Srikakulam in the north and Nellore in the south. He was succeeded by his son Jayasimha I (A.D. 641–673), with brief reigns by other kings between A.D. 641 and A.D. 705, except for Jayasimha I and Mangi Yuvaraju (A.D. 681–705). Following this, a period of unrest marked by internal conflicts and weak rulers ensued, during which the Rashtrakutas of Malkhed displaced the Chalukyas of Badami. 
• The weak rulers of Vengi struggled against Rashtrakuta incursions until Gunaga Vijayaditya assumed power in A.D. 848. However, he was unable to counter the Rashtrakutas, eventually proclaiming independence after the death of Rashtrakuta ruler Amoghavarsha. Vijayaditya ruled for 44 years until A.D. 892, succeeded by his nephew Chalukya Bhima (A.D. 892–921). The Rashtrakutas attacked Vengi again during Bhima's reign, but Vengi effectively repelled them and formed an alliance. Vengi maintained its independence until the Chalukyas of Kalyani overthrew the Rashtrakutas in A.D. 973. Contemporaries of the Eastern Chalukyas included the Eastern Gangas in the northeast and the Pallavas in the south.
• The Eastern Gangas emerged in the political landscape towards the end of the 5th century A.D. as rulers of Orissa. The first known ruler was Indravarma (6th century A.D.), who initially had his capital at Dantapura before moving it to Kalinganagara (Mukhalingam in Srikakulam district). The Eastern Gangas ruled from Andhra for about five centuries until relocating to Cuttack in the late 11th century A.D.
• The Pallava rule, suppressed by the Kalabhras, was revived in the late 6th century A.D. by Simhavishnu, leading to the establishment of the 'Greater Pallavas' or 'Later Pallavas' dynasty. Virakurcha was the earliest Pallava ruler, with Trilochana Pallava being the most renowned. Mahendravarman (A.D. 600–630), son of Simhavishnu, expanded Pallava control south of the Krishna. 
• From the 7th century A.D. onward, the Pallavas encountered the expanding Chalukya power, leading to prolonged conflicts. However, the demise of the Chalukyas of Badami at the hands of the Rashtrakutas allowed the Pallavas to consolidate their power. The Pallavas remained influential until the end of the 9th century A.D., when they were supplanted by the Cholas of Tanjore, who seized Kanchipuram.
• The Vemulavada Chalukyas, situated in present-day Karimnagar district, held significant sway over the Karimnagar and Nizamabad districts. Operating as vassals under the Rashtrakutas, they governed semi-autonomously for about two centuries (A.D. 755–968), coinciding with the Rashtrakuta rule. Notably, they claimed descent from the Sun, deviating from the lunar descent claimed by many other Chalukya families.
• The Cholas emerged as a dominant force in southern India under Rajaraja I (A.D. 985–1016). Two rebellious princes from the Eastern Chalukya lineage sought refuge with Rajaraja I. Leveraging their claims, Rajaraja I intervened in Vengi's affairs, installing one of the princes, Saktivarma, as ruler. Subsequently, the Eastern Chalukyas became subservient to the Cholas, although conflicts persisted with the Chalukyas of Kalyani, who supported rival claimants to the Vengi throne. In A.D. 1070, an Eastern Chalukya prince, Rajendra, assumed the Chola throne as Kulottunga I. Nonetheless, Vijayaditya VII, a cousin of Rajaraja, continued to reign over Vengi until his demise in A.D. 1076, marking the end of the Eastern Chalukya dynasty.
• The Eastern Chalukyas played a significant role in the history of Andhra Pradesh, despite their Kannada origins. They fostered Telugu language and literature, notably under Gunaga Vijayaditya and later under Rajaraja, who patronized the partial translation of the epic Mahabharata by his court poet Nannaya.
• During the Chalukya conquest, Buddhism, Jainism, and Hinduism coexisted, with Buddhism declining and Hinduism emerging as the dominant religion. Hindu temples, including those at Chalukya Bhimavaram and Draksharama, played a pivotal role in religious life.
• In the 12th century A.D., the Western Chalukyas of Kalyani initially ousted the Eastern Chalukyas but were later expelled by the Imperial Cholas with the aid of local chiefs. These chiefs, notably the Velanati Cholas of Tsandavolu, assumed nominal control over parts of Andhra Pradesh, with several minor dynasties recognizing their authority. Internal strife, exemplified by the 'Palnati Yuddham,' characterized this period of regional chaos.

Satavahanas

• Following the decline of the Mauryan Empire, the Satavahanas emerged as a prominent political force, marking the commencement of a significant chapter in the history of the Andhras. The Matsya Purana records 29 rulers of this dynasty, who governed the Andhradesa, including the Deccan, for approximately 400 years from the 2nd century B.C. to beyond the 2nd century A.D. Referred to interchangeably as Salivahanas and Satakarnis, the Satavahanas were instrumental in unifying various Andhra principalities into a single kingdom under the leadership of Simukha, the dynasty's founder, who ruled from 271 B.C. to 248 B.C. Initially, Dharanikota near Amaravati served as the capital, but it was later relocated to Pratishtana (Paithan in Aurangabad district).
• Satakarni II, the sixth ruler of the dynasty, ascended the throne in 184 B.C. and significantly expanded the kingdom's territory westward by conquering Malwa. Inscriptions suggest that he extended his dominion deep into central India, potentially reaching the river Ganges. His reign spanned an impressive 56 years. However, his successors, a line of eight rulers, did not achieve notable feats. The accession of Pulumavi I revitalized the kingdom, as he vanquished the last Kanva ruler, Susarman, in 28 B.C. and seized control of Magadha. This victory elevated the Satavahanas to a position of all-India significance, succeeding the Nandas, Mauryas, Sungas, and Kanvas as imperial rulers. Subsequent kings faced challenges from the Sakas, who drove them out of Maharashtra back to their homeland in Andhra. Amidst this turbulent period, the literary masterpiece Gathasaptasati was authored by Hala, the 17th Satavahana monarch, providing a silver lining in an otherwise tumultuous era.
• During the reign of Gautamiputra Satakarni, the 23rd ruler of the Satavahana dynasty, who came to power in A.D. 62, the kingdom experienced a significant resurgence, reclaiming territories previously lost to the western Kshatrapas. Described in a Nasik record as the restorer of the Satavahana glory, his realm encompassed vast territories including Asika, Assaka, Mulaka, Saurashtra, Kukura, Aparanta, Anupa, Vidarbha, Akara, Avanti, as well as numerous mountainous regions like Vindhya, Achavata, Pariyatra, Sahya, Kanhagiri, Siritana, Malaya, Mahendra, Sata, and Chakora, extending to the seas on both sides. Although some of the mentioned mountains cannot be identified today, it is evident that Gautamiputra's domain stretched across peninsular India, encompassing southern parts of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Orissa. His reign came to an end in A.D. 86, and his successors witnessed the gradual dissolution of their extensive empire.
• Pulumavi II succeeded Gautamiputra and ruled for 28 years, making earnest efforts to defend the frontiers of the empire. However, towards the end of his reign, the authority of the Satavahanas began to decline. Yajnasri Satakarni's accession to the throne in A.D. 128 exacerbated the situation, as he engaged in conflict with the Saka Satrap, Rudradamana, resulting in the loss of all western possessions. Despite his defeat, Yajnasri continued to rule over a diminished dominion until A.D. 157. His coins, marked with ship symbols, indicate significant maritime trade during his reign. With Yajnasri's demise, the era of the great Satavahanas came to an end, and by the conclusion of the 2nd century A.D., their rule had become a chapter of history. The capital of the Satavahanas remains a subject of debate, with some proposing Srikakulam in Krishna district, while evidence suggests that Dharanikota in Guntur district, Dharmapuri in Karimnagar district, and Paithan in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra were used as capitals during different periods.
• During this era, the Deccan emerged as a vibrant center of both inland and maritime trade, particularly in the region between the Godavari and Krishna rivers, which boasted numerous ports and bustling economic activity. The availability of currency facilitated trade, ushering in a period of significant industrial, commercial, and maritime ventures for the Telugu people.
• Despite the prevalence of Buddhism during this time, rulers remained devoted to Vedic rituals and constructed several Buddhist Stupas, Chaityas, and Viharas. Among these, the Stupa at Amaravati stood out for its exceptional architecture. The Satavahanas, besides being capable rulers, were also patrons of literature and architecture. Hala, the 17th ruler, was a notable poet, and his work "Gathasaptasati" in Prakrit received widespread acclaim. Gunadhya, Hala's minister, authored the "Brihatkadha."
• Following the decline of the Satavahana empire, the Andhra region fell into political turmoil, with local rulers and invaders vying for power and establishing small kingdoms and dynasties from A.D. 180 to A.D. 624. Notable among these were the Ikshvakus, who patronized Buddhism alongside Vedic rituals, the Brihatphalayanas ruled by Jayavarma, the Salankayanas with Vengi as their capital, and the Vishnukundins who occupied the territory between the Krishna and Godavari rivers.
• The Pallavas ruled over the area south of the Krishna from Kanchi, while the Vakatakas governed present-day Telangana. Buddhism persisted during this period, albeit in a diminished form, with Mahayanism gaining popularity. The Madhyamika School of thought, propagated by Nagarjuna, flourished within Mahayana Buddhism. Additionally, Sanskrit replaced Prakrit as the language of inscriptions, and the Vishnukundins were patrons of architecture and sculpture, as evidenced by the cave temples at Mogalrajapuram and Undavalli near Vijayawada, showcasing their artistic sensibilities.
• Between A.D. 624 and A.D. 1323, spanning seven centuries, Andhra history witnessed a profound transformation across various domains of human endeavor, including social, religious, linguistic, and literary spheres. This period marked the ascendancy of Desi, the indigenous Telugu language, as a literary medium, displacing the dominance of Prakrit and Sanskrit. Consequently, Andhradesa emerged with its own identity and distinction within the broader Indian cultural milieu.
• This linguistic and literary revolution was propelled by significant historical forces, notably the Eastern and Western Chalukyas, the Rashtrakutas, and the early Cholas. Subsequently, the Kakatiyas rose to power during the latter part of this period and extended their rule over the entire Telugu region, except for a small northeastern territory. Under their auspices, arts, crafts, language, and literature flourished, benefiting from their generous patronage.