The Satavahanas and the early kingdoms
This path covers the first kings of the Telugu land, their Buddhist stupas and the dynasties that came after them. It has 15 pages and takes about 3 and a half hours to read.
- ErasMauryas & Satavahanas
The big picture: how the Telugu lands enter written history, and the age of the Satavahanas.
- DynastiesMauryas
The Mauryan empire that held part of the Telugu country, and its edicts in Kurnool district.
- PeopleAsoka
The emperor whose edicts are among the oldest written records found in Andhra Pradesh.
- DynastiesSatavahanas
The dynasty the Puranas call the Andhras, and why its dates are still debated.
- PeopleSimuka
The founder of the Satavahana dynasty, and the Telugu tradition about its first capital.
- PeopleGautamiputra Satakarni
The Satavahana king known from the Nasik cave inscription set up by his mother.
- PeopleVasishthiputra Pulumavi
The earliest Satavahana king named in an inscription from the lower Krishna valley.
- MonumentsBhattiprolu stupa
The brick stupa in the Krishna delta whose core held three inscribed relic caskets.
- MonumentsAmaravati Mahachaitya
The great Buddhist stupa of Amaravati, now known mainly from its scattered sculptures.
- ErasIkshvakus, Vishnukundins & early kingdoms
The four centuries between the Satavahanas and the Eastern Chalukyas, in one overview.
- DynastiesIkshvakus of Vijayapuri
The kings of Vijayapuri, who made Vedic sacrifices while their queens endowed Buddhist monasteries.
- PlacesNagarjunakonda
The valley of the Ikshvaku capital, dug up before the Nagarjunasagar dam was to cover it.
- MonumentsNagarjunakonda Mahachaitya
The Great Stupa of Vijayapuri and the inscriptions of its royal women donors.
- DynastiesSalankayanas of Vengi
The kings of Vengipura between the Krishna and the Godavari, known from seven copper-plate grants.
- DynastiesVishnukundins
The dynasty of the Krishna–Godavari country before the Eastern Chalukyas, and the debate over its dates.