Avanti

Avanti was a state in Rajasthan, Gujarat and Malwa (South Asia) that lasted from c. 600 to 350 BCE, about 250 years. Its people spoke Indo-Aryan languages (Vedic, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Sinhala).

One of the four great Mahajanapadas, ruled from Ujjain by the Pradyota dynasty. Chanda Pradyota was a rival of Magadha in the Buddha's time, and Magadha's Shishunaga dynasty later annexed Avanti.

See Avanti on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates: c. 600 to 350 BCE
Duration: 250 years
Type: State
Region: Rajasthan, Gujarat and Malwa, South Asia
Language family: Indo-Aryan
Capital: Ujjayini, Mahishmati

Events in South Asia during its time

483 BCE Death of the Buddha

Neighbours in South Asia

Anuradhapura Kingdom 377 BCE to 1017 CE
Kuru Kingdom c. 1200 to 500 BCE
Achaemenid eastern satrapies c. 535 to 330 BCE
Magadha (Haryanka dynasty) c. 544 to 413 BCE
Panchala c. 1100 to 350 BCE
Vajji confederacy c. 700 to 468 BCE
Kosala c. 700 to 475 BCE
Shakya republic c. 650 to 480 BCE
Gandhara c. 600 to 518 BCE
Shishunaga dynasty c. 413 to 345 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
Roman Republic 509 to 27 BCE, Europe
Greek city-states c. 800 to 338 BCE, Europe
Achaemenid Empire 550 to 330 BCE, Middle East
Athens 508 to 322 BCE, Europe

Questions

When did Avanti exist?

c. 600 to 350 BCE, about 250 years. These dates are approximate, because the evidence for its beginning or end is uncertain.

Where was Avanti?

Rajasthan, Gujarat and Malwa, in South Asia. Its capital was Ujjayini, Mahishmati.

What language did Avanti speak?

Indo-Aryan. This family includes Vedic, Sanskrit, Prakrit, Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Sinhala.