IGNOU HISTORY NOTES : India Earliest Times to the 8th Century A.D - Early State Formation in the Deccan

IGNOU HISTORY Study Notes for IAS, UPSC Exams

India Earliest Times to the 8th Century A.D

Early State Formation in the Deccan

Structure

27.0 Objectives
27.1 Introduction
27.2 Sources
27.3 About State Formation
27.4 Antecedents
27.5 Geographical Background
27.6 Outline History of Satavahana Dynasty
27.7 Settlement Pattern
27.7.1 West Coast
27.7.2 Inland Settlements
27.8 Administration
27.9 Society
27.10 Let Us Sum Up
27.11 Key Words
27.12 Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises

27.0 OBJECTIVES

After reading this unit you will be able to learn about:

the Satavahana dynasty which founded the earliest state in the Deccan,
the nature of administration under the Satavahanas, and
tho changes in the society at this time,

27.1 INTRODUCTION

In Black 76 you learnt about the expansion of trade in north India in tho port-Mauryan
period. This was arrociated with an increase in the number of cities and with
developments in art and architecture. In this Unit we shall study the changes in the
Deccan. Themajor power that rose in the Deccan around the first century B.C. was the
Satavahana dynasty, Here we shall concentrate on the political and social structure of
the Deccan under the Satavahanas.

27.2 SOURCES

The names of the Satavahana rulers, also known as the Andhras, occur in the lists of
kings found in the Puranas. There are many difficulties in using these lists as sources of
history without critically comparing them with other sources. For example the names '
of the kings and the duration of their rule vary in the different Puranas. Moreover,
information about the kings is interwoven with myths and legends, and one has to
carefully distinguish between facts and legendary stories. The Puranas are nevertheless
useful when studied with other sources such as coins and inscriptions. The Satavahanas
minted a large number of coins in lead, silver and an alloy of copper. Their silver coins - carry the portrait of the king and his name. The inscriptions are found in Buddhist caves
cut in the rock and record donations made by Satavahana kings and queens as well as
by a large number of ordinary people. By comparing the information available in these
different sources, scholars generally accept that the Satavahanas began theii rule
around the first cetury B.C. Their earliest record is found engraved on rock in a cave