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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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