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Historical map · AD 1

Map of India and South Asia in AD 1

In AD 1, the historical border data behind our interactive map draws 11 states, empires and other polities in India and South Asia. By the land they held inside this region, the largest were the Satavahana Dynasty, Indo-Scythians and the Parthian Empire. The Alliance between Han Dynasty and Xiongnu reached well beyond India and South Asia: its whole territory measured about 11.3 million km².

See this map live. The interactive map opens on India and South Asia in AD 1. Zoom in, move the year slider to watch the borders change, or ask the history guide a question and it draws the answer on the map.

OPEN AD 1 ON THE MAP →Ask the history guide about AD 1

States and empires in India and South Asia in AD 1

StateIn this regionWhole stateIn the data
Satavahana Dynasty Wikipedia893,000 km²893,000 km²225 BC–AD 223
Indo-Scythians Wikipedia833,000 km²833,000 km²144 BC–AD 282
Parthian Empire Wikipedia802,000 km²2.7 million km²239 BC–AD 237
Indo-Parthians Wikipedia488,000 km²488,000 km²AD 1–90
Yuezhi Wikipedia251,000 km²458,000 km²404 BC–AD 42
Anurādhapura Wikipedia74,000 km²74,000 km²291 BC–AD 1017
Indo-Greeks Wikipedia74,000 km²74,000 km²126 BC–AD 13
Alliance between Han Dynasty and Xiongnu Wikipedia65,000 km²11.3 million km²202 BC–AD 1201
Early Pandyas Wikipedia33,000 km²33,000 km²291 BC–AD 305
Early Cholas Wikipedia29,000 km²29,000 km²291 BC–AD 305
Early Cheras25,000 km²25,000 km²291 BC–AD 305

"In the data" gives the first and last year the dataset draws the state under this identity; states often existed earlier or later in another form.

What changed since 100 BC

New on the map: Indo-Parthians, Alliance between Han Dynasty and Xiongnu.

Gone from the map: Shunga Empire.

What comes next: 100

Appear by 100: Kushan Empire, Western Satraps, Pyu City-States.

Gone by 100: Indo-Parthians, Yuezhi, Indo-Greeks.

Questions about this map

Which countries were in India and South Asia in AD 1?

The map data draws 11 states and other polities in India and South Asia in AD 1. The largest by land were the Satavahana Dynasty, Indo-Scythians, the Parthian Empire, Indo-Parthians and Yuezhi.

What was the largest empire in India and South Asia in AD 1?

Of the states on this map, the Alliance between Han Dynasty and Xiongnu held the most land in total: about 11.3 million km² in the reconstruction used here. Ancient and frontier borders are approximate, so treat areas as estimates.

Can I explore India and South Asia in AD 1 interactively?

Yes. Open the interactive map at AD 1, zoom into any region, move through the years, and ask the history guide questions: it answers in plain words and draws places, armies and borders on the map.

About these borders

The borders come from Cliopatria (v0.2.1, Seshat Global History Databank, CC BY 4.0), the dataset behind our interactive map, with our audited name and border corrections. It records each state's territory year by year from 3400 BC to 2024. Borders before modern surveys are reconstructions: the data draws a state where it held control, and frontier zones, nomadic realms and loose overlordships are approximate. Areas are measured on an equal-area projection. Read how we make our maps.

India in other years

Other regions in AD 1