Satavahana Dynasty: Map & History
The Satavahanas, also referred to as the Andhras in the Puranas, were an ancient Indian dynasty.
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The Satavahanas, also referred to as the Andhras in the Puranas, were an ancient Indian dynasty. Most modern scholars believe that the Satavahana rule began in the late 2nd century BCE and lasted until the early 3rd century CE, although some assign the beginning of their rule to as early as the 3rd century BCE based on the Puranas, but uncorroborated by archaeological evidence. The Satavahana kingdom mainly comprised the present-day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. At different times, their rule extended to parts of modern Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. The dynasty had different capital cities at different times, including Pratishthana (Paithan) and Amaravati (Dharanikota).
Modern Countries Once Part of Satavahana Dynasty
At its mapped extent, Satavahana Dynasty covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Satavahana Dynasty's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Satavahana Dynasty in Depth
History
Information about the Satavahanas comes from the Puranas, some Buddhist and Jain texts, the dynasty's inscriptions and coins, and foreign (Greek and Roman) accounts that focus on trade. The information provided by these sources is not sufficient to reconstruct the dynasty's history with absolute certainty. As a result, there are multiple theories about the Satavahana chronology.
Simuka is mentioned as the first king in a list of royals in a Satavahana inscription at Naneghat. The various Puranas state that the first king of the dynasty ruled for 23 years, and mention his name variously as Sishuka, Sindhuka, Chhismaka, Shipraka, etc. These are believed to be corrupted spellings of Simuka, resulting from copying and re-copying of manuscripts.
Origins
The date and place of origin of the Satavahanas, as well as the meaning of the dynasty's name, are a matter of debate among historians. Some of these debates have happened in the context of regionalism, with the present-day Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra, being variously claimed as the original homeland of the Satavahanas.
Śātavāhana, Śālivāhana, Śātakarṇi seem to be Sanskritised versions of the indigenous name Sātakaṇi, which appear as Sālavāhaṇa in Prakrit vernacular.
According to one theory, the word "Satavahana" (Brahmi script: 𑀲𑀸𑀤𑀯𑀸𑀳𑀦 Sādavāhana or 𑀲𑀸𑀢𑀯𑀸𑀳𑀦 Sātavāhana, IAST: Sātavāhana) is a Prakrit form of the Sanskrit Sapta-Vahana ("driven by seven"; in Hindu mythology, the chariot of the sun god is drawn by seven horses).
Economy
The Satavahanas participated in (and benefited from) economic expansion through intensification of agriculture, increased production of other commodities, and trade within and beyond the Indian subcontinent.
During the Satavahana period, several large settlements emerged in the fertile areas, especially along the major rivers. The amount of land under agricultural use also expanded significantly, as a result of forest clearance and construction of irrigation reservoirs.
The exploitation of sites with mineral resources may have increased during the Satavahana period, leading to the emergence of new settlements in these areas. Such sites facilitated commerce and crafts (such as ceramic ware).
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Satavahana dynasty (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Satavahana Dynasty: Key Facts
| Capital | Amaravathi |
|---|---|
| Religion | Hinduism |
| Form of government | monarchy |
| Founded | 230 BCE |
| Dissolved | 220 CE |
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Facts from Wikidata Q5257 (CC0).
Satavahana Dynasty Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Satavahana Dynasty appears, with the other states of the time.
Satavahana Dynasty Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 890,254 km² in 116 CE.
Satavahana Dynasty: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Satavahana Dynasty exist?
The Satavahana Dynasty is dated to 225 BCE – 223 CE, in the Classical Antiquity era.
What was the capital of the Satavahana Dynasty?
The capital of the Satavahana Dynasty was Pratishthana, Amaravati, Pauni, Junnar.
How large was the Satavahana Dynasty at its peak?
At its peak in 116 AD the Satavahana Dynasty covered about 890,254 km².
How did the map of the Satavahana Dynasty change over time?
The Satavahana Dynasty appears on 5 dated world maps in the atlas, from 200 BCE to 200 CE. Each shows its borders in that year next to the other states of the time.