South Indian History –

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 The history of the southern part of India covers a span of over four thousand years during which the
region saw the rise and fall of a number of dynasties and empires. The period of known history of the
region begins with the Iron age (1200 BCE to 24 BCE) period until the 14th century CE.
 When the European powers arrived during the 16th century CE, the southern kingdoms resisted the new
threats, and many parts eventually succumbed to British occupation. The British created the Madras
Presidency which covered most of south India directly administered by the British Raj, and divided the
rest into a number of dependent princely states. After Indian independence South India was
linguistically divided into the states of AndhraPradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and TamilNadu.

Iron Age :

The earliest Iron Age sites in South India are Hallur, Karnataka and Adichanallur, Tamil Nadu at around 1200
BCE. Early epigraphic evidence begins to appear from about the 5th century BCE, in the form of Kannada-
Brahmi and Tamil-Brahmiinscriptions, reflecting the southward spread of Buddhism.

Ancient History :

Evidence in the forms of documents and inscriptions do not appear often in the history of ancient South India.
Although there are signs that the history dates back to several centuries BCE, we only have any authentic
archeological evidence from the early centuries of the common era.

Chera Dynasty :

The Chera kingdom was one of the Tamil dynasties who ruled the southern India from ancient times until
around the 12th century CE. The Early Cheras ruled over the Malabar
Coast, Coimbatore, Erode, Namakkal, Karur and Salem Districts in South India, which now forms part of the
modern day Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Pallava Dynasty :

The Pallavas were a great south Indian dynasty who ruled between the 3rd century CE until their final decline in
the 9th century CE. Their capital was Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. Their originsare not clearly known.
However, it is surmised that they were yadavas and they probably were feudatories of Satavahanas. Pallavas
started their rule from Krishna river valley, known today as Palnadu, and subsequently spread to
southern Andhra Pradesh and north Tamil Nadu. Mahendravarman I was a prominent Pallava king who began
work on the rock-cut temples of Mahabalipuram.

Chalukya Dynasty

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 South Indian History –
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One of the first kings of the Chalukyan dynasty was Pulakeshin I. He ruled from Badami, the present
day Bagalkot, Karnataka, in Karnataka. His son Pulakeshin II became the king of the Chalukyan empire in
610 CE and ruled until 642 CE. Pulakeshin II is most remembered for the battle he fought and won against
Emperor Harshavardhana in 637 CE. He also defeated the Pallava king Mahendravarman I.

British South India :

South India during the British colonial rule was divided into the Madras
Presidency and Hyderabad, Mysore, Thiruvithamcoore (also known as Travancore), Cochin, Vizianagaram and
a number of other minor princely states. The Madras Presidency was ruled directly by the British, while the
rulers of the princely states enjoyed considerable internal autonomy. British Residents were stationed in the
capitals of the important states to supervise and report on the activities of the rulers.

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