In the 3rd century BC Chandragupta Maurya, India's first great emperor, retreated to Sravanabelagola after he renounced worldly ways and embraced Jainism. From then on the land has been a melting pot of religions, Cultures and kingdoms. In the 6th century, the Chalukyans built some of the earliest Hindu temples in India near Badami.

The Hoysalas ruled between the 11th and the 14th centuries and left the most vivid evidence of their presence in the beautiful Hoysala temples at Somnatpur, Halebid and Belur.

In 1327, Halebid fell to Muslim army of Mohammed Tughlaq, butlater in 1346 it was annexed by the Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar. This dynasty whose capital was at Hampi, peaked in the early 1550s, but in 1565 fell to the Deccan sultans and Bijapur became the most important city of the region.

The pre-historic culture of Karnataka, compares to the one that existed in Africa. Being distinct from the pre-historic culture of North India. The early inhabitants of Karnataka knew the use of iron far earlier than the North, and iron weapons, dating back to 1200 B.C have been found at Hallur in Dhaward district.

The early rulers of Karnataka were predominantly from North India. Parts of Karnataka were subject to the rule of the Nandas and the Mauryas.

The Shathavahanas (30 B.C to 230 A.D of paithan) ruled over extensive areas in Northern Karnataka. Karnataka fell into the hands of the Pallavas of Kanchi. Pallava domination was ended by indigenous dynasties, the Kadambas of Banavasi and the Gangas of Kolar, who divided Karnataka between themselves.