SATAVAHANA DYNASTY

SATAVAHANA DYNASTY:

• Capital of this dynasty are Pratishthana, Amaravati
• Languages are Prakrit, Telugu, Tamil
• Religion :Hinduism, Buddhism
• This dynasty was founded by Simuka. (65 BC)
• Satakarni was an important king.
• They constructed many buddhist worshipping sites- the important ones being at Amaravati and
• Nagarjuna Konda.
• They issued the maximum number of lead coins.Sangam Literature relates primarily to Pandyan kingdom but also contains information about Cholas and Cheras.
• Tolkkapiyam is the oldest book of Tamil grammar.

ADMINISTRATION:

The Satavahana administration was very simple and was according to the principle laid down in Dharmashastras. The king laid no claim of divine right. They had only the most modest title of rajan. They had no absolute power. Their power was checked in practice by customs and shastras. The king was the commander of war and of threw himself into the thickest of the frays.

A peculiar feature of the Satavahana administration was the presence of feudatories of different grade. The highest class was that of petty princes bearing the kingly title raja and striking coins in their own names. Next in rank was the maharathi and mahabhoja. Both titles from the beginning were hereditary and restricted to a few families in a few localities. Probably mahabhoja ranked higher than that of maharathi.The mahabhojas were the feudatories of Satavahanas. They were primarily located in western Deccan. They were related by blood to the feudatory maharathi. It is definitely known that the maharathis were the feudatories of Satavahanas. 

Towards the close of the Satavahana period two more feudatories were created Mahasenapathi and them mahataralavara.

Categories: GENERAL AWARENESS