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From the time of the epic Mahabharatha the region called Vidharba
is
one besides Marathwada which comprises Maharashtra today. This region was a
part of the Mauryan empire. After the fall of the Mauryan, Maharashtra was
ruled by diverse dynasties, each adding to the cultural flavour of the region
and each leaving behind its own distinctive marks. The Satavahanas administrated this area followed by
the -Vakatas, the Rashtrakutas, Kalachuris, Chalukyas and the Yadhavas. In about the 11th
century AD the Delhi Sultanate established their rule. This was overthrown by
the Bahmani dynasty which ruled till the end of the 15the century. The
17th century heralded the sudden rise in power of the Maraths-Marathi speaking
Hindu warriors of the region. The Marathas
emerged as a strong power under Shivaji who ruled from 1646 to 1680. The
Peshwas who succeeded Shivaji built up a Maratha empire which extended
from Gwalior in the north to Tanjore in the south, till the 18th century after which the British
exercised their influence in this region. From 1818 it became a part of the
Bombay Presidency. In the year 1960 Under the Bombay Re-organization Act,
Maharashtra and Gujarat were separated and Maharashtra attained statehood.
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