The modern state of Karnataka was created on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Find out detailed information on history of Karnataks.
History of Karnataka
Steeped in ancient history, Karnataka's history starts with the Mauryas. Later on the state was ruled by Satavahanas for 300 years. The modern state of Karnataka was created on 1 November 1956, with the passage of the States Reorganisation Act. Earlier the state was known as State of Mysore, it was renamed Karnataka in 1973.. The grandness of the state is due to the fact that many great empires and dynasties have ruled over Karnataka. These rulers enormously increased the wealth and property of Karnataka. The state is associated with a horde of historical activities since the ancient prehistoric civilization. The earliest of recorded history dates back more than two millenniums.
Interesting Facts About History of Karnataka
- Karnataka’s history dates back to Paleolithic era where some hand axes and cleavers in the shape of pebbles made with quartz and quartzite were found in many sites in Chikkamagaluru.
- Neolithic era evidence was found in Maski in Raichur district, Brahmagiri in Chitradurga district etc., that proved that cave man had started to domesticate animals such as cows, dogs and sheep and used copper and bronze weapons. They also found bangles, rings, necklaces of beads and ear-rings and many burial chambers.
- Megalithic age had the people in Karnataka make use of long swords, sickles, axes, hammers, spikes, chisels and arrows, all made of iron.
- It is also speculated that the gold found in the Harappan sites was imported from mines in Karnataka.
- The Satavahana dynasty ruled for around 300 years from 230 BCE till 3rd Century CE. This period led to the kingdom being given an independent stature and Kannada language given an administrative status.
- Other kings who reigned in Karnataka gave importance to Kannada and worked to propagate the language like the Badami Chalukyas, Rashtrakuta Dynasty and Western Chalukya Empire.
- The credit of uniting Karnataka goes to the Chalukyas of Badami. They also contributed to arts and monuments with many heritahe buildings at Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal.
- During the first millennium, the Hoysalas established the Hoysala Empire and led to many temples being built under their rule. Art and literature was given special emphasis leading to a lot of beautiful temples being constructed at Beluru, Helebidu and Somanathapura.
- The Vijaynagar empire established by Harihara I and Bukka Raya became one of the most powerful kingdoms in the south in 14th century.
- Krishnadevaraya was the greatest ruler of Vijayanagar empire He was also a great warrior, scholar and administrator who fought victory over Bidar, Bijapur and Cuttack.
- After Krishnadevaraya’s death the empire could not match the power of the Muslim dynasties and lost power at the at Talikota battle in 1565 to the Bijapur Sultanate.
- Then came the point in modern history where the Wodeyars of Mysore, of the Vijayanagara Empire, lost control of the empire after the death of Krishnaraja Wodeyar II to Haider Ali, the Commander-in-Chief of the Mysore Army.
- After the death of Haider Ali Tipu Sultan, famously known as the Tiger of Mysore fought four significant Anglo-Mysore Wars to stop European invasions on the kingdom.
- Karnataka came under British rule after Tipu, Haidar's son was defeated in 1799.
- After India gained independence the Wodeyar Maharaja allowed for the kingdoms to be declared as states of Union Territory Of India.
- Mysore became a state on November 1, 1956 and the Maharaja was declared as its Governor till 1975.
- But during the Ekikarana movement, parts of Coorg, Madras, Hyderabad, and Bombay states were incorporated into the state of Mysore. Then in 1973 Mysore state was renamed Karnataka in 1973.
- K Changalaraya Reddy was elected as the first Chief Minister of Mysore state. The Maharaja of Mysore H H Sri Jayachamarajendra Wadeyar was declared as the Rajapramukh or the Governor of the State.
