The history of the state unfolds its vital links with the past and manifests itself triumphantly in many edifices, monuments and architectural ruins left behind by dynasties as old as 300 B.C. The Mauryas, Satavahanas, Pallavas, Cholas, Chalukyas, and Vijayanagar had a glorious emperorship over the state. The existence of the state is found from the epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana.
The word Andhra means “Leader in Battle”. Sanskrit writings reveal that the people of the state are Aryans. During the Mauryan reign, the state was a political power in the south eastern region. Between 624-1323 AD the state faced a significant change in the social, religious and literacy spheres. During these periods the language Telugu was emerged as a literary medium for the people and Sanskrit was less emphasized. This alteration in the literature was made by the east and west Chalukyas.
During the emperorship of the Mughals the state also built social status and communal relationship with the Muslims. The language Telugu was equally treated with the Deccani Urdu. During colonial era, the state had a great contribution to the Freedom movement. After independence the Telugu speaking portion of the Madras state demanded for a new state and it was fulfilled on 1, November 1956 when Andhra Pradesh acquired the full status of a state of the Indian Union.
