Madhyadesha or the "middle country" was one of the five sub-divisions of ancient India that extended from the upper reaches of the Ganga and the Yamuna to the confluence of the two rivers at Prayaga. The territory of middle region constitutes a cogent entity — geographically as well as culturally. Inside northern India (ancient Aryavarta) this region has been instrumental in guiding the main currents of history and the spread of civilization from a very early age.[1]

From sixth century BCE, the history of this region can be properly recovered. The entire region is considered sacred in Hindu mythology as gods and heroes mentioned in the two epics — Ramayana and Mahabharata — lived here. Its subsequent history became mingled with the Puranas and other Hindu scriptures. The region saw the rise and fall of several Mahajanapadas such as the Kurus, Panchalas, Kosala and the dynasties of Kushans and Guptas. After the fall of Gupta Dynasty in the 6th century CE, this region was ruled by region powers — the Maukharies of Kannauj and Harsha of Thaneshwar. The Gurjara Pratiharas and Gahadvalas held sway over the region during 9th and 10th centuries.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Mukhopadhyay, Mihir Mohan (1984). Sculptures of Ganga-Yamuna Valley. Abhinav Publications. p. 5. ISBN 9788170171898.
  2. ↑ Singh, Pitam (2003). Women Legislators in Indian Politics. Concept Publishing Company. p. 62. ISBN 9788180690198.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.