Mauryas to Yadavas: c.220 BC to AD 1310

The Mauryan empire expanded southwards to include the Konkan region of Maharashtra. The policies of the rulers led to flourishing trade and the development of Buddhist learning in that region. With the disintegration of the Mauryan Empire, Maharashtra came under the rule of the Satavahanas.

The first well-known rulers of Maharashtra were the Satavahanas (c.230 BC to AD 225), with Pratishthana (Paithan) as their capital. The dynasty, founded by Simmuk Satavahan, representsa significant phase in the political, cultural and social history of Maharashtra. Hala, the seventh ruler of the Satavahanas, composed the famous Gatha-Saptashati, a Maharastri-Prakrit kavya (poem). The Satavahanas inaugurated the Shalivahana Shaka of the Hindus. The empire crumbled because of internal feuds among its vassals.

The Vakatakas (AD 250 to 525) brought the Vidarbha region under their rule and, during that period, Maharashtra witnessed an overall development in the fields of learning, the arts and religion with their munificent patronage. The best-known of the Ajanta caves - 16, 17, and 19 - belong to the Vakataka period. Fresco painting reached its high-level mark during this time.

After the Vakatakas, there was a brief interlude when the Kalachuri dynasty ruled over parts of this region in the 6th century, from the dynastic capital at Mahishmati.

The next important dynasty of Maharashtra was that of the Chalukyas, from AD 550-760 and then again from AD 973-1180. Jai Sinha, the founder of the dynasty, made Badami (Bijapur District, Karnataka) his capital. Pulakesin II, the master of three Maharashtras and the greatest ruler of the Chalukyas, ruled from Nasik. The Chalukyas were devout Hindus, who extensively sponsored temple construction.

Dantidurga, the chief of the Rashtrakutas, defeated the Chalukyas by AD 753 and established his dynasty with Manyakheta (Karnataka) as his capital. Rashtrakuta rule came to an end in AD 973, when Tailap Chalukya of the Kalyani branch wrested power and restored Chalukyan supremacy for the second time. The famous Kailash cave-temple (Ellora, in Aurangabad district) was built under the patronage of the Rashtrakuta ruler, Krishna I. The Chalukyas of Kalyani continued to rule parts of Maharashtra up to AD 1189, when the Yadavas of Deogiri took over; their supremacy lasted till AD 1310. The Kadambas of Goa and the Shilaharas of South and North Konkan and Kolhapur served as vassals of the Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas, who were finally overthrown by the Yadavas.

The Yadavas extended their authority over a large territory, practised religious tolerance, patronised the Marathi language - which received the status of a court-language - and included in their clan the great saint-poet Dnyaneshwar - the pioneer of the bhakti cult in Maharashtra. In the 9th century, the Yadavas had their capital at Chandor (Nasik district); this was later transferred to Deogiri by Bhillam c.AD 1187.