Goa History

Early history (until the 10th century AD)
Goa’s history stretches back to the 3rd Previous century BC, when the local rulers, including in Chandrapura in southern Goa were subservient to the Mauryan Empire. At that time it was already known to the Greeks. The Greek geographer Ptolemy described the coastal region of present-day Goa in the 2nd Century AD, under the name Nelkinda. Evidence of relationships go back even further, such as the assumption that the Sumerians are said to have driven 4000 years before trading in Goa.

After the disintegration of the Mauryan Empire after the death of Ashoka in 232 BC, Goa came under the domination of Shatavahanas who ruled for four centuries large parts of the Deccan, including Goa.  Around 250 AD, the Abhira dynasty were rulers of the entire Konkan.  About 580 Goa fell to the Chalukyas, who built a powerful empire for about 550 in central and southern India. The Chalukyas followed by the middle of the 8th Century. Under their vassal kings, the Silharas, reached the sea trade with Arabia, giving them an unprecedented prosperity.

Independence among the Kadambas (973 to 1237/38)
973 succeeded the Chalukyas, their old enemy, to eliminate the Rashtrakutas, and to restore their rule.  The redistribution of forces in the Deccan, however, used the Kadambas to seize Goa itself. King Shastadeva I (r. ca 960-1008) moved his capital to Chandrapura.

His kingdom is known by the name Gopakkapattana. So that Goa for the first time in its history, the center of an independent kingdom.  I. Shastadevas successors made 1054 Govapuri at the site of the capital of Velha Goa.  The trade continues to flourish, and new trade relations, including to East Africa, Ceylon, Bengal, and Southeast Asia, led to prosperity and cultural flowering.

The climax came under the domination of Kadambas Jayakeshi II (1104-1148).  He aimed to replace the Chalukyas, who still controlled the Deccan.  Instead, the Yadavas sat until the end of the 12th Century, the decaying Chalukya kingdom came to an end and now the threat was from Kadambas.  Even with the southern Hoysala Empire warfare occured in the early 13th Century.

Struggles for dominance (1310 to 1510)
With the advance of General Malik Kafur on behalf of the Deccan Sultanate of Delhi in 1310, the Yadavas were significantly weakened, and some years later extinguished. In 1312 Goa also succumbed to the northern Indian Sultanate. After a brief occupation by the forces of the Sultanate and the destruction of the Govapuris Kadambas, they again achieved their independence.

For capital, they reiterated Chandrapura. The kingdom was granted only a brief period of peace, for even under Muhammad Shah II (r. 1325-1351), the Delhi Sultanate led to war again and destroyed Chandrapura and sealed the final destruction of the Kadambas.

The Sultanate of Delhi was able to maintain his power in the Deccan, but not for long. In 1347 Goa came under the rule of the Bahmani Sultanate, which had briefly split before. For Goa there began a time of intolerance and persecution.  At the same time in the south of the Hindu Vijayanagar empire they gained strength, rising to the chief opponent of the Bahmaniden.

Also, at Goa, the two warring countries were at war until it was conquered by Vijayanagar in 1380.  For several decades peace and prosperity prevailed.  On the ruins of the old Govapuri they built the new capital, Ela.

It was not until 1471 that they managed the Bahmaniden reconquest, but only a few years later the disintegration of the sultanate began and in 1490 the five Deccan sultanates emerged.  In the western part of the former Bahmanidenreiches, including Goa, they built in 1490, the Adil Shahi dynasty of the Sultanate of Bijapur.