Āndhradeśa (transl. Country of Āndhra) is a historical region in the Deccan Plateau of the Indian subcontinent, deriving its name from the ancient Andhras tribe, who inhabited and ruled the region since the Iron Age. The core territory of Andhradesa encompassed Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. At its zenith, the Andhradesa extended its influence over parts of present-day Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.
Andhradesa | |
|---|---|
Region | |
| Country | India |
| State | |
| Capitals | Andhapura, Dhanakataka |
The Āndhras were an ancient non-Aryan tribe who lived around the deltas of the Godāvarī and Kṛṣṇa rivers. Andhras were mentioned in the ancient Hindu scriptures such as the Aitareya Brahmana (c. 500 BCE), Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas. Greek historian Megasthenes reported in his Indica (c. 310 BCE) that Andhras were living in the Godavari and Krishna river deltas, and were famous for their military strength which was second only to Mauryans in all of India. They had 30 fortified towns along the Godavari River and an army of 100,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 1,000 elephants. They were also mentioned at the time of the death of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in 232 BCE.
Etymology
editAndhradesa, an ancient region, derived its name from the Andhras tribe that flourished along the Godavari and Krishna river deltas. The term Andhradesa is a compound word, derived from the words "Andhra" and "desa". "Andhra" refers to the ancient Andhras tribe, while "desa" denotes country or territory.
Other names[1]
- Andhra
- Andhrapatha
- Andhramandala
- Andhrabhumi
Extent
editThe heartland of Andhradesa lay in the fertile deltaic regions of the Godavari and Krishna rivers. These mighty rivers, carrying vast quantities of silt from the Western Ghats, formed expansive deltas that enriched the surrounding lands. The Kolanu lake (Kolleru Lake), situated between these deltas, played a significant role in the region's ecology and history. The deltaic region, with its rich alluvial soil and abundant water resources, supported a thriving agricultural economy, fostering the growth of prosperous cities and towns.[2]
Historically, Andhapura serving as its earliest capital. Later, Dhanakataka gained prominence which was visited by the Chinese Buddhist piligrim Xuanzang. Its core territory encompassed modern-day Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, as well as Ptolemy's writings, mention about Andhradesa.[3]
At its zenith, the region extended its influence over parts of present-day Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. Geographically, Andhradesa encompassed the eastern Deccan Plateau, bounded by the Balaghat Range to the west and the Eastern Ghats to the east. This region's diverse landscape, including fertile coastal plains and rugged plateaus, significantly influenced its historical trajectory and cultural development.
Subdivisions
editKingdoms
editVarious dynasties have ruled the region, including the Andhra (or Satavahana), Andhra Ikshvakus, Eastern Chalukyas, the Kakatiyas, the Vijayanagara Empire.
Culture and language
editThe Bhattiprolu script and the Telugu-Canarese script evolved in the Andhradesa.[4]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ A History of the Early Dynasties of AndhraDesa C. 200-625 A.D. : with a map of ancient Andhradesa and Daksinapatna. V. Ramaswami Sastrulu & sons (Madras). 1942. p. 3.
- ^ A History of the Early Dynasties of AndhraDesa C. 200-625 A.D. : with a map of ancient Andhradesa and Daksinapatna. V. Ramaswami Sastrulu & sons (Madras). 1942. pp. 3–4.
- ^ Casson, Lionel (2012-05-05). The Periplus Maris Erythraei: Text with Introduction, Translation, and Commentary. Princeton University Press. ISBN 978-1-4008-4320-6.
- ^ Gopalachari. K. (1941). Early History Of The Andhra Country.