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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}
The '''Ancient history of Mumbai''' recounts the history of Mumbai from 300 BCE to 1348 CE.

==History==
[[File:Seven Islands of Bombay (mul).svg|thumb|150px|upright|The seven islands of Bombay.]]
The present-day Mumbai was originally an archipelago of [[Seven Islands of Bombay|seven islands]]. [[Pleistocene]] sediments found around [[Kandivali]], on [[Salsette Island]], north of the seven islands, by Todd in 1939, indicate that these islands were inhabited since the [[Stone Age]].<ref>{{harvnb|Ghosh|1990|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=PKw3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA25 25]|Ref=brill}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Khandekar |1977|p=18|Ref=k77}}</ref> The archipelago had been named after the [[Kolis|Koli]] Goddess [[Mumbadevi]].<ref>{{harvnb|Greater Bombay District Gazetteer|1986|p=[http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/greater_bombay/places.html#38 499]|Ref=bom3}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=132650
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060321214137/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=132650
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=21 March 2006
|title=Goddess Island
|date=2005-06-06
|access-date=2008-08-13
|publisher=Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Ltd.}}</ref><ref name="Of age">{{cite news
|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1165194
|title=Of age-old beliefs and practices
|author=Shubhangi Khapre
|date=2008-05-19
|access-date=2008-08-13
|newspaper=[[Daily News & Analysis]]}}</ref> The port of [[Sopara]] (present-day [[Nala Sopara]], near Mumbai) was an important trading centre during ancient times.<ref>{{harvnb| Thana — Places of Interest|2000|pp=[http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/pdf/gazeetter_reprint/Thane-III/places_Sopara.html 314–342]|Ref=tna}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Jain|1990|p=134|Ref=j1990}}</ref><ref name="When Emperor Ashoka rocked Nalla Sopara">{{cite news
|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/355276621.cms
|title=When Emperor Ashoka rocked Nalla Sopara
|author=Nina Martyris
|date=2001-11-18
|access-date=2008-08-14
|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref> In the 3rd century BCE, the islands were incorporated into the [[Maurya Empire]] under the expansion campaign of Emperor [[Ashoka]] of [[Magadha (Mahajanapada)|Magadha]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/cities/findStory.cfm?city_id=MBI&folder=Facts-History |title=Historical background (Mumbai) |access-date=2008-08-01 |newspaper=The Economist |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610063950/http://www.economist.com/cities/findStory.cfm?city_id=MBI&folder=Facts-History |archive-date=10 June 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Cavendish|2007|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=5ZBaVhmRvCkC&pg=PA449 449]|Ref=c449}}</ref> The empire's patronage gradually made the islands a centre of the [[Hinduism|Hindu]] and [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] religion and culture. Buddhist monks, scholars, and artists created the artwork, inscriptions, and sculpture of the [[Kanheri Caves|Kanheri]] and [[Mahakali Caves|Mahakali]] caves. The total number of Buddhist cave temples numbered 109, dating from the end of the 2nd century BCE.<ref>{{harvnb|Hirakawa|1998|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=XjjwjC7rcOYC&pg=PA238 238]|Ref=hg238}}</ref> After the decline of the Maurya Empire around 185 BCE, these islands fell to the Satvahanas.<ref>{{harvnb|Greater Bombay District Gazetteer|1986|p=129|Ref=bom}}</ref>

[[File:Ancient Statues Walkeshwar.JPG|200px|thumb|left|Ancient statues of the [[Silhara dynasty]] around the [[Walkeshwar Temple]]]]
The islands were known as [[Seven islands of Bombay|Heptanesia]] ([[Ancient Greek]]: ''A Cluster of Seven Islands'') to the Greek geographer [[Ptolemy]] in 150 CE.<ref>{{harvnb|Greater Bombay District Gazetteer|1986|p=3|Ref=bom}}</ref> After the end of the Satvahana rule in 250 CE, the [[Abhira tribe|Abhira]]s of Western [[Maharashtra]] and [[Vakataka]]s of [[Vidarbha]] held dominion over Bombay. The Abhiras ruled for 167 years, till around 417 CE. During the 5th century, Bombay was ruled by the [[Kalachuris of Mahishmati|Kalachuri]]s.<ref>{{harvnb|David|1973|p=11|Ref=dav}}</ref> These islands were then acquired by the [[Mauryas of Puri|Mauryas of Konkan]], who were feudatories of Kalachuris. The [[Jogeshwari Caves]] were constructed during the Mauryan regime between 520 and 550. The Mauryan presence ended when the [[Chalukya dynasty|Chalukyas]] under [[Pulakeshin II]] invaded Bombay in 610.<ref>{{harvnb|David|1973|p=12 |Ref=dav}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/bombay/history1.shtml
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123180631/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/bombay/history1.shtml
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=23 November 2007
|title=Beginnings
|access-date=2008-08-12
|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]}}</ref> During 749–750, [[Dantidurga]] of the [[Rashtrakuta Dynasty]] conquered Bombay. The [[Silhara dynasty]] ruled the region between 810 and 1240.<ref name="sil">{{cite news
|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=&id=3a3276f2-9146-4812-8aa0-4b74885e4ac4&&Headline=Mumbai%27s+picture+perfect+places&strParent=strParentID
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130208082945/http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=&id=3a3276f2-9146-4812-8aa0-4b74885e4ac4&&Headline=Mumbai's+picture+perfect+places&strParent=strParentID
|url-status=dead
|archive-date=8 February 2013
|title=Mumbai's picture perfect places
|author=Abodh Aras
|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]]
|date=2007-05-28
|access-date=2008-08-12}}</ref> The [[Banganga Tank]], [[Walkeshwar Temple]], and [[Elephanta Caves]] were constructed under the patronage of the Silhara rulers.<ref name="sil"/><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://theory.tifr.res.in/bombay/architecture/building/walkeshwar.html
|title=The Walkeshwar Temple
|publisher=Department of Theoretical Physics ([[Tata Institute of Fundamental Research]])
|access-date=2008-08-15}}</ref> The Italian explorer [[Marco Polo]] had sailed through the islands of Bombay during the 13th century.<ref>{{harvnb|Yule|1870|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=YtnglhJEI7wC&pg=PA653 653]|Ref=yule}}</ref> In the 13th century, [[Bhima of Mahikavati|King Bhimdev]] had built his capital in ''Mahikawati'', present day [[Mahim]] and [[Prabhadevi]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://theory.tifr.res.in/bombay/history/
|title=History of Mumbai
|publisher=Department of Theoretical Physics ([[Tata Institute of Fundamental Research]])
|access-date=2008-08-15}}</ref> After his death in 1303, he was succeeded by his son Pratapbimba, who had built his capital city at [[Marol]] in Salsette, which he named Pratappur.<ref>{{harvnb|Greater Bombay District Gazetteer|1986|p=156|Ref=bom}}</ref> The islands were wrested from Pratapbimba's control by Mubarak, the emperor of [[Old Delhi|Delhi]], who had occupied Mahim and Salsette under his expansion campaign in 1318. But it was later reconquered by Pratapbimba, which he ruled till 1331. Later, his brother-in-law Nagardev reigned for 17 years till 1348. In 1348, the islands came under the control of the [[Muzaffarid dynasty of Gujarat|Muzaffarid dynasty]] of Gujarat, thus ending the sovereignty of Hindu rulers over the islands of Bombay.<ref>{{harvnb|Greater Bombay District Gazetteer|1986|p=157|Ref=bom}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{History of Mumbai}}
{{reflist}}

==References==
*{{cite book
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PKw3AAAAIAAJ
|title=An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology
|last=Ghosh
|first=Amalananda
|publisher=BRILL
|year=1990
|isbn=9004092641
|access-date=2008-08-19
|ref=brill}}
*{{cite book
|title=History of Bombay, 1661-1708: 1661-1708
|last=David
|first=M. D.
|publisher=[[University of Mumbai|University of Bombay]]
|year=1973
|ref=dav}}
*{{cite book
|title=Maharashtra, a Profile
|last=Khandekar
|author-link=Vishnu Sakharam Khandekar
|first=Vishnu Sakharam
|author2=A. K. Bhagwat |author3=Acyuta Kesava Bhagavata
|publisher=V. S. Khandekar Amrit Mahotsava Satkar Samiti
|year=1977
|ref=k77}}
*{{cite book
|url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/greater_bombay/volume1.html
|title=Greater Bombay District Gazetteer
|series=Maharashtra State Gazetteers
|volume=I
|year=1986
|access-date=2008-08-13
|publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]]
|ref=bom
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906220718/http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/greater_bombay/volume1.html
|archive-date=2008-09-06
}}
*{{Citation |url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/greater_bombay/volume3.html |title=Greater Bombay District Gazetteer |series=Maharashtra State Gazetteers |volume=III |year=1986 |access-date=15 August 2008 |publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]] |ref=bom3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309072556/http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/gazetteer/greater_bombay/volume3.html |archive-date=9 March 2008}}
*{{cite book
|title=Thana — Places of Interest
|url=http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/pdf/gazeetter_reprint/Thane-III/home.html
|series=Gazetteers of the Bombay Presidency
|publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]]
|volume=XIV
|orig-year=1882
|year=2000
|access-date=2008-08-14
|ref=tna}}
*{{cite book
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5ZBaVhmRvCkC
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|first=Marshall
|publisher=Marshall Cavendish Corporation
|year=2007
|isbn=978-0-7614-7637-5
|access-date=2008-08-17
|ref=c449}}
*{{cite book
|title= History of Indian Buddhism: from Śākyamuni to Early Mahāyāna
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XjjwjC7rcOYC
|last=Hirakawa
|first=Akira
|editor=Paul Groner
|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers
|year=1998
|access-date=2008-08-15
|isbn=81-208-0955-6
|ref=hg238}}
*{{cite book
|title=Trade and Traders in Western India, A.D. 100-1300
|last=Jain
|first=Vardhman Kumar
|publisher=Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers
|year=1990
|isbn=81-215-0470-8
|ref=j1990}}
*{{cite book
|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YtnglhJEI7wC
|title=The Travels Of Marco Polo
|last=Yule
|first=Henry
|publisher=Plain Label Books
|year=1870
|isbn=978-0-7614-7637-5
|volume=1
|access-date=2008-08-15
|ref=yule}}

[[Category:History of Mumbai]]

History of Mumbai under Hindu rule - Revision history

WardDrayton2 at 07:20, 12 March 2026