Satavahanas - class-VIII

The Satavahana dynasty faced significant pressure and decline due to ongoing conflicts with the Sakas (Western Kshatrapas) and other regional powers.

The Aitareya Brahmana is one of the earliest texts that mentions the Andhras, who are associated with the Satavahanas.

Tagara was a major inland trade center and a prominent city in the Satavahana kingdom, facilitating trade between the Deccan and other regions.

The Western Satraps were eventually conquered by the Sassanian rulers of Persia during the 4th century AD.

The Nashik prashasti inscription states that Gautamiputra uprooted the Kshaharata (or Khagarata) family, to which Nahapana belonged. 

Puhar (also known as Kaveripattinam) was a major port of the Chola dynasty, not the Satavahanas, who primarily used ports on the western coast like Kalyan and Sopara.

The Satvahana Empire or Andhra Empire was a royal Indian dynasty based on Dharanikota and Amaravati in Andhra Pradesh as well as Junnar (Pune) and Prathisthan (Paithan) in Maharashtra. The territory of the empire covered much of India from 230 BCE onward. The Satavahanas were also the first rulers to make land grants to Brahmanas, although we find more instances of such grants being made to Buddhist monks. The Satavahanas adopted the policy of promoting immunities to Brahmanas and monks, mainly to promote agriculture.

Satavahana dynasty belonged to the Andhra jati and was the first Deccanese dynasty to build an empire in daksinapatha—i.e., the southern region. Their  rule began in the first century BCE and lasted until the second century CE. Simuka was the first king and ruled for about 23 yrs. Yagnasri Satakarni was the last important ruler of the dynasty after which the dynasty was soon extinguished following the rise of its feudatories.

Satavahana dynasty belonged to the Andhra jati and was the first Deccan region dynasty to build an empire in daksinapatha—i.e., the southern region. Their  rule began in the first century BCE and lasted until the second century CE. SImuka Satavahana was the founder of the dynasty with the capital at Srikakulam.

Satavahanas ruled over the Andhradesa including Deccan for about 400 years from the 2nd century B.C. to beyond the 2nd century A.D. The founder of the Satavahana dynasty was Simuka. The Kingdom was divided into the Janpadas and subdivided into Aharas. The ruler of each Ahara was an Amatya. The office of the Amatya appears for the first time in the Satavahana inscriptions.

• Satvahan Kings who were controlled by Emperor Ashok ruled Kondapur region between 3rd BCE to 3rd CE (Andhra Pradesh).
• Megasthenes was a Greek Ambassador who in his book “Indica” said that Satvahan(Andhras) had a might army and 30 forts.

The Satavahanas are well-regarded for their economic prosperity and the development of extensive trade networks, both inland and with foreign entities like the Roman Empire.

The Satavahanas established the first major empire in the Deccan region, south of the Vindhya mountains, following the decline of the Mauryas.

Gautamiputra Satakarni and his successor Vashishtiputra Pulumayi II are credited with expanding the Satavahana influence significantly, including towards the eastern coast.

Naganib (also known as Naganika) was a Satavahana queen, making her an Andhra queen as the Satavahanas are considered an Andhra dynasty. She was not a Gupta, Saka, or Pallava queen - these were different dynasties. Naganika is known from inscriptions at Nanaghat and was likely the wife of Satakarni I.

Srikakulam is historically identified as one of the early capitals of the Andhra (Satavahana) rulers.

Ptolemy (2nd century CE) mentioned Pratishthana (modern Paithan) as the capital of Pulumavi. 

Simuka is widely recognized as the founder of the Satavahana dynasty.

The Satavahanas were known for their patronage of Brahmanism, performing Vedic sacrifices and supporting the priestly class.

He expanded his kingdom to include not only Konkan, Birar, Saurashta and Malawa, but also many new areas. He had titles such as ‘Trisamudratoyapitavahana’ and ‘Shatavahana Kulayashapratishtapanakara’. 

Educational institutions during the Satavahana period were called ghatikas. Many scholars of Vedas and other scriptures were encouraged to teach the people. Satavahana dynasty belonged to the Andhra jati and was the first Deccanese dynasty to build an empire in daksinapatha—i.e., the southern region. Their  rule began in the first century BCE and lasted until the second century CE.

According to Burgess, there might have been an interval of as much as a century between the reigns of these two kings. 

The Junagadh rock inscription of Rudradaman, also known as the Girnar Rock inscription of Rudradaman, is a Sanskrit prose inscribed on a rock by the Indian Satraps ruler Rudradaman I. It is located near Girnar hill near Junagadh, Gujarat, India.

Gautami Balasri was the mother of Gautamiputra Satkarni. He was a ruler of the Satavahana Empire who ruled in the second cent. BCE. Satavahana dynasty belonged to the Andhra jati and was the first Deccanese dynasty to build an empire in daksinapatha—i.e., the southern region. Their rule began in the first century BCE and lasted until the second century CE.

The Satavahana dynasty emerged in the Deccan region, which is geographically situated to the south of the Vindhya mountain range.

The Vakatakas rose to power in the Deccan following the decline of the Satavahana dynasty in the 3rd century AD. They became the dominant political force in the region during the post-Satavahana period.

Simuka is historically recognized as the founder of the Satavahana dynasty, having overthrown the Kanva dynasty to establish his rule.

The Satavahans were mostly ruled in Andhra. They ruled over the Andhradesa including Deccan for about 400 years from the 2nd century B.C to beyond the 2nd century A.D. Satavahanas were also called Salivahanas and Satakarnis. In the 3rd century B.C , Simukha , the founder of the Satavahana dynasty , unified the various Andhra principalities into one kingdom and became its ruler.

• It was during the first half of the 2nd century A.D. that the Satavahana power once again rose into eminence in the South led by a king named Gautamiputra Satakarni. 
• He raised the prestige of the Satavahana Dynasty to a new height and came to be regarded as its greatest monarch.
• Gautamiputra was described in his inscriptions as the destroyer of the Sakas, Pahlavas and Yavanas. He was also mentioned as the ‘Lord of the Western Vindhyas’.
• For his valor and administrative qualities, he was given the title of Satavahana Kulayashapratishtapanakara.

The Naneghat inscription of Naganika suggests that Satakarni performed two horse sacrifices (Aswamedha), to proclaim his sovereignty.

He was a prominent king of this dynasty. He had done away with bitter enemies of the kingdom, the Sakas, beyond the borders of India. He expanded his kingdom to include not only Konkan, Birar, Saurashtra and Malawa, but also many new areas.

Pulomavi I was the fifteenth king mentioned in the Puranas'. He is said to have killed Susanna, the Kanva king of Pataliputra and annexed his kingdom by invading North India.

The coins of Satavahanas were excavated from Deccan, western India, Vidarbha, and were found in Kadalur in large numbers.

Satavahana dynasty belonged to the Andhra jati and was the first Deccanese dynasty to build an empire in daksinapatha—i.e., the southern region. Their  rule began in the first century BCE and lasted until the second century CE. Satavahanas were Hindus and claimed Brahmanical status. Buddhism also flourished during this period due to generous donations made by the kings.

The Satavahanas followed the administration guidelines of the Shastras. The inscriptions mention three types of settlements: nagara (city), nigama (market town) and gama (village). The town administration during the period of Satavahanas was in the hands of Nigama Sabha.