00:00History of Maharashtra before Marathas, ancient to early medieval period.
00:06Did you know the name Maharashtra is more than 1,500 years old
00:12and once described a land of nearly 99,000 villages ruled by powerful chiefs?
00:18But here's the mystery.
00:20Who actually named Maharashtra?
00:22Who ruled this land before the Marathas?
00:25And when did Marathi rise as a language of power?
00:28Let's go back in time, into the forgotten history of Maharashtra.
00:35This is the story of Maharashtra, a land shaped by empires, culture, language, and power.
00:42From ancient kingdoms to the rise of identity, this is part 1 of Maharashtra's history.
00:48What was the old name of Maharashtra?
00:51The word Maharashtra comes from Maha, meaning great, and Rashtra, meaning nation or region, meaning the great nation.
01:02But before this name became popular, the region was known by many identities.
01:07Aparanta, Vidarbha, Kuntala, and Asaka.
01:12These were not one kingdom, but multiple cultural regions are mentioned in the Puranas and early texts.
01:19Who named Maharashtra?
01:21The earliest clear mention comes from the 7th century CE, the Ahole inscription, by the great king Pulikation II.
01:30He described the region as Tri-Maharashtra, a land of 99,000 villages.
01:37The rulers were called Maharashtra-khas, powerful regional chiefs controlling vast territories.
01:45Who ruled Maharashtra?
01:47The Maurya Empire, 4th to 2nd century BCE.
01:52Under Ashoka, spread Buddhism and strong administration across the region.
01:57Sattvahana dynasty, 230 BCE to 2nd century CE, first major native rulers of the Deccan, capital Paitan.
02:08They promoted trade networks, Buddhism, early art, Ajanta beginnings, and the language Maharashtri-Prakrit.
02:18Vakataka dynasty, 250 to 470 CE, great patrons of art and culture, supported the Ajanta caves.
02:28Who ruled between 470 CE and the 6th century?
02:33After the decline of the Vakatakas, Maharashtra saw transitional regional powers.
02:39Kulchuris, 5th to 6th century CE, controlled parts of western India, played a key role in the political transition.
02:49Early Chalukia's rise, late 6th century, gradually expanded power in the Deccan, set the stage for a strong empire.
02:58Chalukia dynasty, 6th to 8th century CE, led by Pulakation II, defeated North India's Harsha, controlled large parts of the
03:10Deccan, court language, Sanskrit, and Kannada.
03:15Rashtrakuta Empire, 8th to 9th century CE, one of India's most powerful empires, built the Kailasa Temple at Elora.
03:25Known globally, even Arab travelers praised them.
03:29Who ruled between the 10th centuries?
03:32After the Rashtrakutas, power shifted again.
03:36Western Chalukias, 10th to 11th century CE, ruled major parts of the Deccan, continued strong administrative systems.
03:46Shilohara dynasty, regional rulers in Konkon and coastal Maharashtra, controlled trade routes and ports.
03:55Paramaras and Yedavas, early rise, began expanding influence toward the end of this period.
04:02Yedava dynasty of Devagiri, 12th to 14th century, a major turning point in Maharashtra's identity.
04:11Target, first rulers to use Marathi as the official court language.
04:16Before this, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Kannada-dominated administration.
04:22Impact, rise of Marathi literature, and strong regional identity.
04:28Culture and language.
04:30Language. Languages evolved.
04:32Prakrit, Sanskrit, Kannada, Marathi later.
04:36Cultural highlights?
04:38Ajanta and Elora caves.
04:40Trade and urban systems.
04:42And religious diversity.
04:44Buddhism and Hinduism.
04:46From scattered regions to powerful empires,
04:50Maharashtra slowly transformed into a land of identity, culture, and language.
04:55But this is just the beginning.
04:58In part two, we'll uncover the Delhi Sultanate, rise of the Marathas, British rule, and the formation of modern Maharashtra.
05:08Stay tuned.
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