Andhra Pradesh: A Tapestry of History, Culture, and Coastal Beauty

 Andhra Pradesh is a state in the southern coastal region of India.

The state capital is Amaravati, and the largest city is Visakhapatnam.

Andhra Pradesh shares borders with Telangana to the northwest, Odisha to the northeast, Chhattisgarh to the north, Karnataka to the southwest, Tamil Nadu to the south, and the Bay of Bengal to the southeast.

Archaeological evidence shows that Andhra Pradesh has had continuous human presence for over 247,000 years, from early hominins to Neolithic settlements.

Around 300 BCE, the Andhras in the Godavari and Krishna river deltas were known for their military strength, second only to the Maurya Empire.

The first major Andhra polity was the Satavahana dynasty (2nd century BCE–2nd century CE), which ruled over the Deccan plateau and parts of western and central India, establishing trade with the Roman Empire.

Later rulers included the Vishnukundinas, Eastern Chalukyas, Kakatiyas, Vijayanagara Empire, Qutb Shahis, and the British Raj.

Andhra Pradesh has one-third of India's limestone reserves and large deposits of baryte and granite.

The state contributes 30% of India's fish production and 35% of seafood exports.

The Amaravati School of Art, an ancient Indian art style that influenced South Indian, Sri Lankan, and Southeast Asian art, originated in this state.

Etymology: According to the Sanskrit text Aitareya Brahmana (800–500 BCE), a group of people named Andhras left North India and settled in South India.

The Satavahanas, the earliest rulers of this region, were mentioned as Andhra, Andhrara-jateeya, and Andhrabhrtya in Puranic literature.

The discovery of petroglyphs, pictographs, and dolmens near Boyalapalli village in the Yerragondapalem mandal area of Prakasam district indicates Neolithic-age human settlements in the region.

310 BCE) that the Andhras, living in the Godavari and Krishna river deltas, were known for their military strength, second only to the Mauryans in India.

Archaeological evidence from places like Bhattiprolu, Amaravathi, and Dharanikota suggests that the Andhra region was part of the Mauryan Empire.

After Emperor Ashoka's death, Mauryan rule weakened around 200 BCE and was replaced by smaller kingdoms in the Andhra region.

One of the earliest examples of the Brahmi script, from Bhattiprolu, was used on an urn containing the relics of Buddha.

The Satavahana dynasty dominated the Deccan plateau from the 1st century BCE to the 3rd century CE.

They had trade relations with the Roman Empire and made Dhanyakataka-Amaravathi their capital, which became the most prosperous city in India in the 2nd century CE.

The Amaravati School of Art, one of the three major ancient Indian art styles, greatly influenced South Indian, Sri Lankan, and Southeast Asian art.

The Andhra Ikshvakus, with their capital at Vijayapuri, succeeded the Satavahanas in the Krishna river valley in the latter half of the 2nd century CE.

The Salankayanas ruled the Andhra region between the Godavari and Krishna rivers with their capital at Vengi (modern Pedavegi) around 300 CE.

The Telugu Cholas ruled the present-day Kadapa region intermittently from the 6th to the 13th centuries.

The Vishnukundinas were the first dynasty in the 5th and 6th centuries to hold sway over South India.

The Eastern Chalukyas of Vengi, whose dynasty lasted for around five hundred years from the 7th century until 1130 CE, eventually merged with the Chola dynasty.

They continued to rule under the Chola dynasty's protection until 1189 CE.

The Kakatiyas ruled this region and Telangana for nearly two hundred years between the 12th and 14th centuries until they were defeated by the Delhi Sultanate.

Around the same time, the Musunuri and Reddi kingdoms ruled parts of this region in the early 14th century.

The Gajapatis ruled parts of this region before the Vijayanagara Empire, under Krishnadevaraya, took control.