Orissa was originally inhabited by the aboriginal tribes, the Buiyas and Gonds. They confined themselves to the forest and hills when the Dravidian race settled here. Orissa was known as Kalinga in the early period. Kalinga is related with the greatest Mauryan empire ruler Ashoka who on seeing the horrors of war in his battle with the Kalingan army abandoned warfare and, embraced Buddhism. In the second century AD Kharavela established a strong rule . The Guptas dominated over this region in about the 4th century AD. Till the 10th century Orissa witnessed the rule of the Bhaumakara dynasty, followed by the Soma dynasty. From the 11th to 12th century. The Gangas became prominent. The Muslims Sultanate their influence on Orissa during the 13th and 14th centuries. This continued till 1568. This was followed by the rule of the Mughals which lasted till the death of Aurangzeb. After his death the Mughal power which declined bringing in the influence of the Nawab off Bengal who ruled it till he ceded this territory over Orissa began in about 1803 AD when the Marathas were suppressed by the diplomatic treaty's of the East India Company. It was only in 1949 that the state of Orissa attained its present status.
