The Historical Inscriptions of Southern India (collected till 1923) and Outlines of Political History c7.54

c7.54

To return to the history proper--it has been shewn that Aśoka's Empire broke up after his death; and amongst other ruling dynasties that then come to the front were the Chētas of Kalinga, with whom South India had little to do, and the Āndhras of the Telugu country to their South. The Āndhras were Buddhists. They are known to have ruled from at least 250 B.C., but they came to great power about the year 220, and remained in a dominant position till the third century A.D.