The Chalukyas of Badami and later the Rashtrakutas ruled over this region. The Kalacharis, Hoysalas, Yadavas, Kakatiyas exercised their control. Karnataka also witnessed the onslaught of the Muslims under Malik Kafur. The Hindu power established itself in 1336 at Vijayanagar by Harihara (Hakka) and Bukka.
Vijayanagar period was an age of glory and prosperity. The Bahamanis also established themselves in 1337. In 1565 the empire of Vijayanagar was shattered by the Sultans of the Deccan at the famous battle of Talikota. Meanwhile in AD 1399 the Wodeyar dynasty established itself in Mysore, a small principality and made Srirangapatnam its capital. Wodeyar's were overthrown by Hyder Ali. Mysore witnessed the strong rule of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. In 1799 the British controlled Mysore, the hub of Karnataka. And it remained as a princely state up to 1947. The state of Karnataka earlier called as Mysore became a state of the Indian Union in 1973.
The Vijayanagara empire with its capital at Hampi fell a victim to the marauding army of the Deccan Sultan in 1565 A.D. As a consequence of this, Bijapur became the most important city of the region. This city is a land of monuments and perhaps no other city except Delhi has as many monuments as Bijapur. The Bahmani Shahis and the Adilshahis of Bijapur have played a notable part in the history of Karnataka by their contribution to the field of art and architecture and also by their propagation of Islam in the state.
Hyder Ali and his valiant son Tipu Sultan are notable figures in the history of the land. They expanded the Mysore kingdom on an unprecedented scale and by their resistance against the British, became personages of world fame. Tipu was a great scholar and lover of literature. His artistic pursuits were also many and he made rich gifts to the Hindu temples. Tipu Sultan "Tiger of Karnataka" was killed in 1799 A.D., and the Mysore throne was handed over to the Wodeyar's. The whole of Karnataka came under the control of the British in the beginning of the 19th century. The new state was named as new Mysore and the Maharaja of Mysore was appointed Governor by Independent India. This unified state was renamed as Karnataka on November 1, 1973.
In short - About History
Karnataka's history takes us back to pre-historic times. The earliest find of the Stone Age period in India was an hand axe at Lingasugur in Raichur district. Chandra gupta Maurya, the great Indian emperor abdicated his throne to embrace Jainism at Shravanabelagola.In 1956, the Kannada-speaking areas were grouped along with the princely state of Mysore to form what we now call Karnataka in 1973. Karnataka has the imprint of many dynasties.
Prominent among them were the Chalukyas, the Hoysalas and the mighty Vijayanagara Empire.