Satavahana dynasty

Satavahana dynasty
c. 228 BCE–c. 224 CE
South-Asia 0-50 CE MAHAMEGHA- VAHANAS SAMATATAS INDO- SCYTHIANS INDO- GREEKS CHUTUS NORTHERN SATRAPS MITRAS WESTERN SATRAPS YUEZHIS INDO- PARTHIANS PANDYAS CHOLAS ◁ ▷ Approximate extent of the Satavahana Empire, in the early 1st century CE.[1]
Capital	Pauni[2] Junnar[3] Pratishthana Amaravati
Common languages	Maharashtri Prakrit[4][5](official, court, literature, inscriptions) Prakrit (court, literature) Sanskrit (literature)
Religion	Vaishnavism[6][7][8] Shaivism[9] Buddhism Jainism[10]
Government	Monarchy
Raja
• 228–205 BCE	Simuka (first)
• 217–224 CE	Pulumavi IV (last)
Historical era	Classical India
• Established	c. 228 BCE
• Disestablished	c. 224 CE
Preceded by Succeeded by Maurya Empire Kanva dynasty Western Kshatrapas Andhra Ikshvaku Chutu dynasty Vakataka dynasty Pallava dynasty Abhira dynasty
Today part of	India[11]

Satavahana kings 100 BCE–2nd c. CE
Simuka 100-70 BCE Kanha 70-60 BCE Satakarni I 70-60 BCE Satakarni II 50-25 BCE Sivasvati 1st c. CE Gautamiputra Satakarni 2nd c. CE Vasishthiputra Pulumavi 2nd c. CE Vashishtiputra Satakarni 2nd c. CE Shivaskanda Satakarni 2nd c. CE Yajna Sri Satakarni 2nd c. CE
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The Satavahanas (/ˌsɑːtəˈvɑːhənə/; Sādavāhana or Sātavāhana,^[12] IAST: Sātavāhana), also referred to as the Andhras (also Andhra-bhṛtyas or Andhra-jatiyas) 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 Kotalingala (Telangana), Pratishthana (Paithan) and Amaravati (Dharanikota).

The origin of the dynasty is uncertain, but according to the Puranas, their first king overthrew the Kanva dynasty. In the post-Maurya era, the Satavahanas established peace in the Deccan region and resisted the onslaught of foreign invaders. In particular their struggles with the Saka (Western Satraps) went on for a long time. The dynasty reached its zenith under the rule of Gautamiputra Satakarni and his successor Vasisthiputra Pulamavi. The kingdom had fragmented into smaller states by the early 3rd century CE.

The Satavahanas were early issuers of Indian state coinage struck with images of their rulers. They formed a cultural bridge and played a vital role in trade and the transfer of ideas and culture to and from the Indo-Gangetic Plain to the southern tip of India.