Ancient History of Karnataka

That contact between the territory that constitutes the present-day state of Karnataka and the Harappan Civilization existed in earlier times can be ascertained from the fact that gold discovered in Harappa was found to be imported from mines of Karnataka.

Before coming under the sway of the Mauryan Empire, Karnataka formed part of the Nanda dynasty whose last ruler Dhana Nanda was dethroned by Chandragupta Maurya, the founder of the Mauryan empire. Dhana Nanda is referred to as Xandrames or Aggrammes in ancient Greek accounts.

Chandragupta Maurya had breathed his last in Shravanbelgola in Hassan District around 298 BCE where he spent last days of his life as a Jain ascetic.

The edicts of Chandragupta Maurya’s grandson and greatest Mauryan emperor Asoka have been found in various places in Karnataka including Maski (Raichur district), Brahmagiri (Chitradurga district), Siddapura (Uttara Kannada district), Jatinga Rameshwara, Udegolam and Nittur in Bellary district, Gavimutt and Palkigundu in Koppal district.

After the decline of the Mauryan rule the northern part of Karnataka passed into the hands of the Satavahanas who ruled for well-neigh four centuries. When the Satavahana period came to an end, the land came under the control of Pallava of Kanchi, which in turn was disintegrated into Kadamba Dynasty and Western Ganga Dynasty. Banavasi (in Uttara Kannada District) and Talakad (in Mysore district) were the capitals of the Kadambas and the Western Gangas respectively.

The Halmidi inscription (dated 450 AD) in the Hassan district in Karnataka and a copper coin belonging to fifth-century found at Banavasi suggest that Kannada language began to be used in administration. Halmidi inscription was discovered by historian M.H. Krishna in the 1930s.

After the collapse of Kadamba Dynasty and Western Ganga Dynasty the land of Karnataka was ruled by Chalukyas of Badami, the Rashtrakutas and the Western Chalukyas. Known for their excellent work in the field of art and architecture, the Chalukyas of Badami are credited with bring the whole of Karnataka under a single rule. 

The wonderful monuments found at Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole in the Bagalkot district are mute spectator of the glory of the Chalukyas of Badami.  

The first great ruler of the Chalukya dynasty was Pulakeshin I (c. 543-66 A.D) who performed the ashwamedha (horse sacrifice) after vanquishing many rulers including those of the Kadamba dynasty. He made Vatapi (modern Badami in Bagalkot district) his capital. His grandson, Pulakeshin II (609-42) built a vast empire which extended from Narmada in the north to the Cauveri in the south. He is credited with checking the southern march of Harshvandhana of Kanauj.

The contribution of the Rashtrakuta rulers to the Kannada language is immense.  Amoghavarsha I , the greatest ruler of the Rashtrakuta dynasty authored Kavirajamarga (“The Royal Road of Poets”), one of the most famous literary compositions in the Kannada language. Manyakheta (modern Malkhed in Gulbarga district) served as the capital of the Rashtrakutas.

Under the rule of the Western Chalukyas, a unique style of architecture made its appearance. Coastal Karnataka came under the control of Chola Empire in the 9th century. Inscriptions dated 890 AD refers to the contributions of Aditya I to the construction of the Ranganatha Temple at Srirangapatnam (now in Mandya district of Karnataka).