Goa - History

The ancient history of Goa can be traced from Mauryan times before the Christian Era. In the 1st century of Christian era, Goa was a apart of satavahana empire. Under the Satavahanas, Kolhapur was the capital of this part of Konkan.

The Satavahanans of the Deccan were the rivals of the Kushanas of the north. The Kshatrapas considered themselves as the feudatories of the Kushanas. During this time, Ujjain was the capital. After the fall of satavahana by the end of 2nd century A.D., the Abhiras have established themselves in the terrritory during the early part of the 3rd century A.D.

The Kalachuris of Mahishmati near Indore succeeded the Abhiras followed by 416 A.D and extended their dominion over konkan by the middle of the 6th century A.D. and then Mauryas dynasty began during 6th, 7th century and then Chalukyas regime conquered and extended over about 200 years from 578 to 750A.D.

After the suppression of the sovereignty of the Chalukyas the Rashtrakutas monarch began in 753 A.D and ruled over 250years from 753 to 973 A.D. The Rashtrakutas were overthrown by the Kalyani Chalukyas about 980A.D and the supremacy of the Deccan again went into the hands of old masters. The Rashtrakutas and also later Chalukyas looked upon konkan as their feudatory province and only the silhasaras and later on the Kadamba of Goa ruled over konkan from 1020 A.D.

The empire of the yadavas at end of the 14th century, was displaced by the khiljis of Delhi and thus muslims rule came to Goa. After the discovery of the sea route to India by Vasco-Da-Gama in 1498, many Portuguese expeditions came to India.

In 1510, Alfonso de Albuquerque with the help of the emperor of Vijayanagar attacked and captured Goa. With the arrival of Jesus Priest Francis Xavier in 1542 proselytisation began in Goa. However, Portuguese continued to rule over the territory except for an interlude during the latter half of the 17th century when shivaji conquered a few areas in and around Goa.

Even after India's Independence, Goa continued to be in the hands of Portuguese. However, they could not fulfil the aspirations of the Goan people finally on 19th December 1961, Goa was liberated and Daman and Diu was made a composite Union Territory. On 30th may 1987 Goa was conferred statehood and Daman and Diu was made a separate Union Territory.