The recorded history of Andhra Pradesh can be traced to the Andhra Kingdom of the Iron Age Maha-Janapada period, succeeded by the Satavahana Empire. Most of these accounts of Andhra people seem to be linked the arrival of a sage called Vishwamitra to the banks of Krishna-Godavari. Accounts of people in the region as descendants of Vishawamitra are littered in all versions of Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas and Jataka tales (Buddhist literature). The Satavahana Empire that followed the Maha-Janapada period built the great city of Amaravathi and reached its zenith under Satakarni. They were instrumental in ushering in the era of Ashokan Buddhism in Andhra. At the end of Satavahana Empire, a divided Telugu region was ruled by many of the Satavahana feudatories. The Andhra Ikshvakus ruled the eastern Andhra country along the Krishna river during the later half of the 2nd century. The Pallavas extended their rule from southern Andhra to Tamil regions and established their capital at Kanchipuram around the 4th century. They rose in power during the reign of Mahendravarman and Narasimhavarman and dominated the southern Telugu and northern parts of Tamil region until the end of the 9th century.

• published: 30 Jan 2012
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