Pre-History:

2500-700 BC: Indian mythology has it that the coastline along Nothern Karnataka and Goa, popularly called the Konkan coastline, was created by Lord Parashuram, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

Parashuram came down to the Sahyadri mountain ranges, which is now called the Western Ghats, in search of a pure piece of land in order to perform sacrifices. Below these mountains, Parashuram shot an arrow and ordered the waves to retreat to the point at which the arrow landed. And the arrow fell exactly at the point at which the small town of Benaulim now exists, in Goa.

The early settlers of Goa, according to acrchaelogical revelations were semi-nomadic and gathered in the valleys of the Western Ghats. As the lifestyle of these early Goans became more settled, agriculture commenced and villages evolved. The Goan society was profoundly altered when the Aryans from the Northern parts of India migrated to this region, who mainly consisted of the Bhoja, Chediya and Saraswat Brahmins, sometime during 700 BC.

Early History of Goa:

321-184 BC - During this period the Mauryan empire was ruling this region. The administrative area in to which Goa fell was called Kuntala. Punna, a famous monk, settled in Zambaulim (in present day Goa) and brought in with him Buddhism, although the religion never really caught on here.

250 BC - The Mauryan Empire declined, the Marathi's took over and ruled Goa for over two centuries, after which they were ousted out of power by Anand - Chuttus.

50 AD (1st Century) - Goa came in to the hands of the Satavahana Empire, who controlled the whole west coast of India.This was the period when international trade in Goa flourished. Business collaborations were established with the Arabs in Middle East, parts of Africa and also with Romans.

2nd Century AD - Goa was again taken over by the Bhojas, who ruled Goa for nearly 300 years. They operated from the city of Chandrapur, now called Chandor.

6th Century AD - The entire Konkan coastline was conquered by the Chalukya dynasty of Badami.

8th Century AD - The Chalukyas were defeated by the Shilaharas, who ruled for 200 years thereafter.

10th Century AD - The Shilaharas were again challenged by their old enemies, the Chalukyas. The leader of the Kadambas, Shastadeva, taking full advantage of the Shilahara's and Chalukya's pre-occupation with each other, took control of the region, and regained his position in the year 979 AD. The Chalukya's were rather content to let the Kadamba's rule, as they already had under them, most of the Indian west coast. This was the beginning of one of the most memorable and glorious periods in Goan History.