Kingdom of Kashi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the ancient Mahajanapada Kingdom of Kashi, not about the modern Kashi Naresh kingdom that later became the Princely State of Benares State. Not to be confused with Kashi, the Chinese name for Kashgar.. For other uses, see .
Kingdom of Kashi
Kashi and other kingdoms of the late Vedic period.
Kashi and other kingdoms of the late Vedic period.
Kashi and other Mahajanapadas in the Post Vedic period.
Kashi and other Mahajanapadas in the Post Vedic period.
CapitalVaranasi
Religion
Hinduism
Buddhism
Jainism
GovernmentMonarchy
 Succeeded by
Kosala
Outline of South Asian history
South Asia (orthographic projection)
Palaeolithic (2,500,000–250,000 BC)
Madrasian Culture
Soanian Culture
Neolithic (10,800–3300 BC)
Bhirrana Culture (7570–6200 BC)
Mehrgarh Culture (7000–3300 BC)
Edakkal Culture (5000–3000 BC)
Chalcolithic (3500–1500 BC)
Anarta tradition (c. 3950–1900 BC)
Ahar-Banas Culture (3000–1500 BC)
Pandu Culture (1600–1500 BC)
Malwa Culture (1600–1300 BC)
Jorwe Culture (1400–700 BC)
Bronze Age (3300–1300 BC)
Indus Valley Civilisation(3300–1300 BC)
 – Early Harappan Culture(3300–2600 BC)
 – Mature Harappan Culture(2600–1900 BC)
 – Late Harappan Culture(1900–1300 BC)
Vedic Civilisation(2000–500 BC)
 – Ochre Coloured Pottery culture(2000–1600 BC)
 – Swat culture(1600–500 BC)
Iron Age (1500–200 BC)
Vedic Civilisation(1500–500 BC)
 – Janapadas (1500–600 BC)
 – Black and Red ware culture(1300–1000 BC)
 – Painted Grey Ware culture (1200–600 BC)
 – Northern Black Polished Ware (700–200 BC)
Pradyota Dynasty (799–684 BC)
Haryanka Dynasty (684–424 BC)
Three Crowned Kingdoms (c. 600 BC – AD 1600)
Maha Janapadas (c. 600–300 BC)
Achaemenid Empire (550–330 BC)
Ror Dynasty (450 BC – AD 489)
Shaishunaga Dynasty (424–345 BC)
Nanda Empire (380–321 BC)
Macedonian Empire (330–323 BC)
Maurya Empire (321–184 BC)
Seleucid India (312–303 BC)
Sangam period (c. 600 BC – c. 300 AD)
Pandya Empire (c. 300 BC – AD 1345)
Chera Kingdom (c. 300 BC – AD 1102)
Chola Empire (c. 300 BC – AD 1279)
Pallava Empire (c. 250 AD – AD 800)
Maha-Megha-Vahana Empire (c. 250 BC – c. AD 500)
Parthian Empire (247 BC – AD 224)
Middle Kingdoms (230 BC – AD 1206)
Satavahana Empire (230 BC – AD 220)
Kuninda Kingdom (200 BC – AD 300)
Mitra Dynasty (c. 150 – c. 50 BC)
Shunga Empire (185–73 BC)
Indo-Greek Kingdom (180 BC – AD 10)
Kanva Empire (75–26 BC)
Indo-Scythian Kingdom (50 BC – AD 400)
Indo-Parthian Kingdom (AD 21 – c. 130)
Western Satrap Empire (AD 35–405 )
Kushan Empire (AD 60–240)
Bharshiva Dynasty (170–350)
Nagas of Padmavati (210–340)
Sasanian Empire (224–651)
Indo-Sassanid Kingdom (230–360)
Vakataka Empire (c. 250 – c. 500)
Kalabhras Empire (c. 250 – c. 600)
Gupta Empire (280–550)
Kadamba Empire (345–525)
Western Ganga Kingdom (350–1000)
Kamarupa Kingdom (350–1100)
Vishnukundina Empire (420–624)
Maitraka Empire (475–767)
Huna Kingdom (475–576)
Rai Kingdom (489–632)
Kabul Shahi Empire (c. 500 – 1026)
Chalukya Empire (543–753)
Maukhari Empire (c. 550 – c. 700)
Harsha Empire (606–647)
Tibetan Empire (618–841)
Eastern Chalukya Kingdom (624–1075)
Rashidun Caliphate (632–661)
Gurjara-Pratihara Empire (650–1036)
Umayyad Caliphate (661–750)
Mallabhum Kingdom (694-1947)
Bhauma-Kara Kingdom (736-916)
Pala Empire (750–1174)
Rashtrakuta Empire (753–982)
Paramara Kingdom (800–1327)
Yadava Empire (850–1334)
Somavamshi Kingdom (882–1110)
Chaulukya Kingdom (942–1244)
Western Chalukya Empire (973–1189)
Lohara Kingdom (1003–1320)
Hoysala Empire (1040–1347)
Sena Empire (1070–1230)
Eastern Ganga Empire (1078–1434)
Kakatiya Kingdom (1083–1323)
Zamorin Kingdom (1102–1766)
Kalachuris of Tripuri (675-1210)
Kalachuris of Kalyani (1156–1184)
Chutiya Kingdom (1187–1673)
Deva Kingdom (c. 1200 – c. 1300)
Late medieval period (1206–1526)
Ghaznavid Dynasty (977–1186)
Ghurid Dynasty (1170–1206)
Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526)
 – Mamluk Sultanate (1206–1290)
 – Khalji Sultanate (1290–1320)
 – Tughlaq Sultanate (1320–1414)
 – Sayyid Sultanate (1414–1451)
 – Lodi Sultanate (1451–1526)
Ahom Kingdom (1228–1826)
Chitradurga Kingdom (1300–1779)
Reddy Kingdom (1325–1448)
Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646)
Bengal Sultanate (1352–1576)
Garhwal Kingdom (1358–1803)
Mysore Kingdom (1399–1947)
Gajapati Empire (1434–1541)
Ladakh Kingdom (1470–1842)
Deccan Sultanates (1490–1596)
 – Ahmadnagar Sultanate (1490–1636)
 – Berar Sultanate (1490–1574)
 – Bidar Sultanate (1492–1619)
 – Bijapur Sultanate (1492–1686)
 – Golkonda Sultanate (1518–1687)
Keladi Kingdom (1499–1763)
Koch Kingdom (1515–1947)
Early modern period (1526–1858)
Mughal Empire (1526–1858)
Sur Empire (1540–1556)
Madurai Kingdom (1529–1736)
Thanjavur Kingdom (1532–1673)
Bhoi dynasty (1541–1804)
Bengal Subah (1576–1757)
Marava Kingdom (1600–1750)
Sikkim Kingdom (1642–1975)
Thondaiman Kingdom (1650–1948)
Maratha Empire (1674–1818)
Sikh Confederacy (1707–1799)
Travancore Kingdom (1729–1947)
Sikh Empire (1799–1849)
Colonial states (1510–1961)
Portuguese India (1510–1961)
Dutch India (1605–1825)
Danish India (1620–1869)
French India (1759–1954)
Company Raj (1757–1858)
British Raj (1858–1947)
National histories
Regional histories
Specialised histories
  • v
  • t

The Kingdom of Kashi was an ancient Indian kingdom located in the region around its capital Varanasi, the latter bounded by the Varuna and Asi rivers in the north and south and named after them. It was one of the sixteen Mahajanapadas,[1] great states that emerged in northern India at the start of the 6th century BCE. The kingdom of Kashi was bigger than Varanasi. Its easternmost border was the Son River, which was also the western border of erstwhile Magadh. It would have covered much of the area of Eastern UP centered around today's Varanasi and the contemporary southwestern part of Bihar that was Arrah (Shahabad) district. Today this area comprises Bhojpur, Rohtas, Kaimur and Buxar districts. Technically, the territory of Kashi today would dominated by people of the Bhojpuri language and culture. Kashi Mahajanpad would still be larger than what is covered within the Panch Krosh Kashi, as defined in the Puranas.

At the time of Chanakya, Kashi was still the center of Vedic and secular education par excellence, despite the prominence of Magadh. It was known more for military prowess. While Varanasi came under Buddhist influence, Shahabad remained a dominion of Hindu Shaivite culture, as reported by Chinese pilgrims.

The Jataka tales indicate Varanasi was one of the richest cities in India, known for its prosperity and opulence.[2] These stories tell of a prolonged rivalry between the neighboring kingdoms of Kashi and Kosala, with also some occasional conflict with Anga and Magadha. Kashi once was one of the most powerful states in north India.[2] Although King Brihadratha of Kashi conquered Kosala, during Buddha's time Kashi was incorporated into Kosala by King Kansa.[3] The , along with the and , are peoples mentioned in Vedic texts and appear to have been closely allied.

Siddartha Gautama first started preaching Buddhism in Kashi territory.

  • Kashi coin, 400-300 BCE.

References[]

  1. ^ "16 Mahajanapadas". Cultural India. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2021.
  2. ^ a b Singh, Upinder (2008). A history of ancient and early medieval India: from the Stone Age to the 12th century. Pearson Education. pp. 258–262. ISBN 9788131711200.
  3. ^ "History of Kashi".


Flag of IndiaHourglass icon  

This Indian history-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by .

  • v
  • t
Retrieved from ""