Archaeological evidence indicates that Maharashtra was inhabited since the Palaeolithic era. Not much is known about Maharashtra s early history, and its recorded history dates back to the 3rd century BC, with the use the Maharastri language, a Prakrit corruption of Sanskrit. Later, Maharashtra became a part of the Magadha empire, ruled by the Buddhist emperor Ashoka. The port town of Sopara, just north of present day Mumbai, was the centre of ancient India s commerce, with links to Eastern Africa, Mesopotamia, Aden and Cochin. With the disintegration of the Mauryan Empire, Maharashtra came under the rule of the Satavahanas between 230 BC and 225 AD. During the reign of the Vakatakas (250 AD–525 AD), Vidarbha, the eastern region of Maharashtra, come under their rule. During this period, development of arts, religion and technology flourished. By the 6th century, Maharashtra came under the reign of the Chalukyas. Later, in 753, the region was governed by Rashtrakutas, an empire that spread over most of peninsula India. In 973, the Rashtrakutas were overthrown by the Chalukayas, who ruled parts of Maharashtra until 1189 when it came under the hands of the Yadavas of Deogiri. Maharashtra came under Islamic influence for the first time after the Delhi Sultanate rulers Ala-ud-din Khalji, and later Muhammad bin Tughluq appropriated parts of the Deccan in the 13th century. After the collapse of the Tughlaqs in 1347, the Bahmani Sultanate took over, governing the region for the next 150 years. By the 16th century, central Maharashtra was ruled by numerous autonomous Islamic kingdoms that owed allegiance to the Mughals, while coastal region was annexed by the Portuguese, in their quest to seize control of the spice trade. By the early 17th century the Maratha Empire began to take root. The Marathas, native to western Maharashtra, were led by Shivaji Bhosle, who was crowned king in 1674. Under Shivaji, the Maratha Empire reached their zenith, encompassing almost the entire Deccan, central India and extending into parts of modern day Pakistan. After defeating the Mughals in 1707, the Marathas became the dominant rulers of India. In 1712, Bajirao I ascended to the Maratha throne, establishing the Peshwa (Prime Minister) dynasty with Pune as their capital. After suffering a heavy defeat to the Afghan chieftain Ahmad Shah Abdali, in the Third Battle of Panipat in 1761, the Maratha Confederacy was reduced to a regional kingdom. With the arrival and subsequent involvement of the British East India Company in Indian politics, the two were involved in three major battles, culminating in the annexation of Peshwa ruled territory in Maharashtra in 1819, which heralded the end of the Maratha empire. The British governed the region as part of the Bombay Presidency, which spanned an area from Karachi in Pakistan to most of the northern Deccan. The British rule was marked by social reforms, an improvement in infrastructure as well revolts due to their discriminatory policies. At the beginning of the 20th century, a non-violent struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi began to take shape. In 1942, the Quit India Movement was called by Gandhi which was marked by a non-violent civil disobedience movement and strikes. After India s independence in 1947, independent princely states in central India joined the Indian Union. In 1956, Bombay state came into existence which merged the princely states of central India into Bombay Presidency. On 1960-05-01, the state of Maharashtra came into existence, carved out of the Marathi-speaking territory of Bombay state. Favourable economic policies in the 1970s led to Maharashtra becoming India s leading industrial state.