History of Goa

Goa - Early Recorded History

Goan history dates back to antiquity. Rock carvings and rock engravings founds at various places in Goa, indicate that Stone Age people had settled in this ancient land around 10000 - 8000 BC. These people were hunters and gatherers.

The Vedic Period

Goa is then referred to as Gomantak (in Sanskrit meaning the fertile land with plentiful water) around the period 1000 - 500 BC. This is considered to be the time when the epics of Mahabharat were written.

In this epic of Hindu mythology, the migration of Saraswat Brahmins from the north to the present day area of Goa is woven around the legend of Parashuram, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Goa finds its first mention as Gomantak in the Harivamsha part of the epic Mahabharat.

The Aryan Conquest

The oldest archaeological evidence of Goa's ancient history date back from this period. Excavations have unearthed copper plates, stone inscriptions, coins, manuscripts and temple inscriptions which throw some light on the history of this period. The Girnar rock-edict of the Mauryan King Ashok mentions the people of Goa as Peitinikas, Rashtrikas and Bhojas.

They administered the Konkan areas directly and appointed the Bhojas, related to them matrimonially, as their feudatories in the Goa. Goa flourished during the Satavahana period, becoming an international business trading centre having relations with Africa, the Middle East and even the Roman empire.

An important book entitled Geography, from the era of Roman Emperor Augustus (27 BC -14 AD), written by Strabo the Greek geographer, makes a reference to Konkan with the name of Komkvi describing it as a unique province of India.