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The plateau of Karnataka is said to have been associated to the happenings in
the Epic Ramayana. It witnessed a horde of historical activities since the
ancient prehistoric civilization. Legends associate it to the Kingdom of
the grandfathers of Bhagirath and to the Lord Shiva. Having the Arabian Sea on
its west it is said to have been influenced by new cultures from the  west coast.
This region had a considerable influence of the Jain culture. The Magadhan ruler
Chandragupta Maurya, influenced this region till his death at Shravana Belagola.
Karnataka witnessed the rule of the Satavahanas for nearly 300 years, followed by the Kadambas and the
Pallavas. The Gangadikaras ruled till 11th century. The Chalukyas of Badami
and later the Rashtrakutas ruled over this region. The Kalacharis, Hoysalas,
Yadavas, Kakatiyas exercised their control. Karnataka also witnessed the
onslaught of the Muslims under Malik Kafur. The Hindu power established itself
in 1336 at Vijayanagar by Harihara (Hakka) and Bukka. Vijayanagar period was an
age of glory and prosperity. The Bahamanis also
established themselves in 1337. In 1565 the empire of Vijayanagar was shattered
by the Sultans of the Deccan at the famous battle of Talikota. Meanwhile in AD
1399 the Wodeyar dynasty established itself in Mysore, a small principality and
made Srirangapatnam its capital. Wodeyar's were overthrown by Hyder Ali. Mysore witnessed the strong rule of Hyder Ali
and his son Tipu Sultan. In 1799 the British controlled Mysore, the hub of Karnataka. And
it remained as a princely state up to 1947. The state of Karnataka earlier
called as Mysore became a state of the Indian Union in 1973.
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