How many South Asian states are in this glossary?

112 — every South Asian territory the atlas draws, from the Anuradhapura Kingdom (377 BC – AD 1017) to the states on the map today. Each entry lists its dates, its peak extent and the sources it was written from.

Which is the oldest South Asian state on the map?

The Anuradhapura Kingdom, 377 BC – AD 1017 — the first territory the atlas draws in South Asia. The most recent to appear is the Republic of Afghanistan (1973 – 1978).

Which South Asian state covered the most ground?

Of the territories mapped here, British Raj reached the largest area — about 5.0M km² at its peak, as drawn by the border data.

Glossary · South Asia

Every South Asian territory on the map

Anuradhapura, the Guptas, the Cholas, the Mughals.

Entries: 112
Span: AD 1 – today
Eras: 6

What this region covers

The Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka, Tibet and the Himalayan states — from the Anuradhapura Kingdom and the Tamil kingdoms of the Sangam age, through the Guptas, the Cholas, Delhi and the Mughals, to the republics on the map today.

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Ancient and classical

AD 1 – 600 25 entries

377 BC – AD 1017Monarchy Anuradhapura Kingdom Sinhalese kingdom of Sri Lanka founded in the wake of Prince Vijaya's landing, made capital by King Pandukabhaya in 377 BC.
c. 3rd century BC – 3rd century AD Early Cheras Early Tamil monarchy of Kongu country in Kerala, one of the three crowned kings alongside the Cholas and Pandyas.
c. 3rd century BC – 3rd century ADMonarchy Early Cholas Early Tamil monarchy of the Kaveri delta, one of the three crowned kings, ruling from the port capital Kaveripattinam.
c. 4th–3rd century BC – 3rd century ADMonarchy Early Pandyas Early Tamil monarchy of southern Tamilakam, among the oldest continuously attested dynasties, first ruled from the port of Korkai.
c. 200 BC – AD 10Monarchy Indo-Greeks Hellenistic monarchy founded when Demetrius I crossed the Hindu Kush into India after the Maurya Empire's collapse.
c. AD 19 – 90/226 Indo-Parthians Monarchy founded by Gondophares I, a Parthian governor of Drangiana who declared independence and ruled from Taxila.
2nd century BC – 4th century ADMonarchy and satrapies Indo-Scythians Monarchy and satrapies of Iranian nomads displaced by the Xiongnu, who seized Gandhara and Taxila under King Maues.
c. 1st century BC – AD 3rd centuryEmpire Satavahana Dynasty Deccan empire called Andhras in the Puranas, ruled from Pratishthana and later Amaravati under founder Simuka.
AD 35 – 405/415 Western Satraps Monarchy of Indo-Scythian satraps ruling western India from Ujjain, descending from Kshaharata settlers under Nahapana.
c. AD 238–346Monarchy (remnant kingdom) Eastern Kushans Remnant Kushan kingdom in Punjab ruled from Taxila after the empire split following Vasudeva I's death.
c. AD 225–259 remnant Western Kushans Remnant western half of the Kushan Empire in Afghanistan after its split following Vasudeva I's death in 225.
c. 230–360Sasanian sub-kingdom Indo-Sasanian Empire Sasanian sub-kingdom in Bactria and Gandhara ruled by governors styled Kushanshah after Ardashir I's conquest.
c. 250 – 500Kingdom Vakataka Kingdom Deccan kingdom founded by Vindhyashakti, the leading successor of the Satavahanas, later linked by marriage to the Guptas.
275–897Kingdom / ~308 Late Pallava Empire Kingdom of Tondaimandalam and the northern Tamil country risen after the Satavahanas, ruled from Kanchipuram.
5th c. BC – 4th c. ADMilitary ganasangha Yaudheya Republic Military ganasangha of warrior clans in Punjab and Haryana, occupying old Kuru lands and supplying troops to the Mauryas.
c. 320 – 550 Gupta Empire Northern Indian empire founded by Chandragupta I, ruled from Pataliputra, reaching its height under Samudragupta.
345 – 525/540Kingdom Kadamba Dynasty Kingdom of northern Karnataka founded by the Brahmin-turned-warrior Mayurasharma, ruled from the capital Banavasi.
c. 3rd–7th c.Kingdom Kalabhra Dynasty Little-known Tamil dynasty of uncertain origin that displaced the Three Crowned Kings and ruled from Madurai.
350 – 1140Kingdom Kamarupa First historical kingdom of Assam, founded by Pushyavarman in the Brahmaputra Valley as a Gupta ally.
475 – 776Kingdom Maitraka Dynasty Kingdom of Gujarat and Saurashtra founded by the Gupta military governor Bhatarka, ruled from Vallabhi.
543–753Empire Chalukya Dynasty Deccan empire founded by Pulakeshin I at Vatapi, native to Karnataka and once subordinate to the Kadambas.
c. 510 – c. 606 Maukhari Dynasty Kingdom of the Gangetic plains centred on Kannauj, claiming descent from Ashvapati of Madra and rising under Ishanavarman.
665–850Kingdom based at Kabul Turk Shahis Kingdom based at Kabul of Western Turk or Turco-Hephthalite origin, founded by Barha Tegin after the Nezak Huns fell.
625–855 Karkota Dynasty Kashmir valley kingdom founded by Durlabhavardhana, reaching imperial reach under Lalitaditya Muktapida.
6th–10th c.Kingdom Pandya Dynasty Tamil kingdom revived by Kadungon after Kalabhra rule, ruled from Madurai alongside the Pallavas of Kanchi.

The regional kingdoms

600 – 1200 28 entries

Sultanates and the south

1200 – 1526 25 entries

Mughals and successors

1526 – 1757 19 entries

Company and Raj

1757 – 1947 12 entries

The modern states

1947 – today 3 entries

Common questions

How many South Asian states are in this glossary?: 112 — every South Asian territory the atlas draws, from the Anuradhapura Kingdom (377 BC – AD 1017) to the states on the map today. Each entry lists its dates, its peak extent and the sources it was written from.
Which is the oldest South Asian state on the map?: The Anuradhapura Kingdom, 377 BC – AD 1017 — the first territory the atlas draws in South Asia. The most recent to appear is the Republic of Afghanistan (1973 – 1978).
Which South Asian state covered the most ground?: Of the territories mapped here, British Raj reached the largest area — about 5.0M km² at its peak, as drawn by the border data.