Around 230 BCE, the Satavahana dynasty came to power and its rule lasted nearly four centuries till the early 3rd century CE. The disintegration of the Satavahana dynasty led to the ascent of the earliest native kingdoms, the Kadamba Dynasty of Banavasi in modern Uttara Kannada district with Mayurasharma, a brahmin native of Talagunda in modern Shivamogga district as the founding king, and the Western Ganga Dynasty in southern Karnataka, marking the birth of the region as an independent political entity.

These were the first kingdoms to give administrative status to Kannada language as evidenced by the Halmidi inscription of 450, attributed to King Kakusthavarma of the Kadamba Dynasty.

Also, recent discovery of a 5th century copper coin in Banavasi, ancient capital of the Kadambas, with Kannada script inscription on it, further proves the usage of Kannada at an official level.

There were many kingdoms which are known for their the centuries of Dravidian architecture. In fact, architectural historians subdivide the period of Dravidian Architectural growth into five periods associated with different dynasties: 1. Pallava Period, 2. Chola Period, 3. Pandava Period, 4. Vijayanagara Period, 5. Nayakkar Period.

The Pallava dynasty (600-900) associated with the Pallava period, was one of the pioneers of Dravidian architecture. The Pallava period provided several buildings of the early stage of the development of this style. Earliest ones are rock-cut temples. Later the temples were carved in one stone and in the later stages, there were structured temples. The Pallavas introduced the technique of building in stone into Tamil Nadu.

The kings of the Chola dynasty (300s -1279) are associated with the Chola period. This was the golden age for Dravidian Architecture. This styled developed from the early 11th century. Under the rule of the great kings Rajaraja (985-1014) and his son Rajendra Chola (1012-1044) architectural activities got unprecedented royal patronage. It perfected the unique elements of the Dravidian style and combined them harmoniously with new forms in astonishingly diverse ways.

Pandava or Pandian dynasty (500 BC-16th century AD) associated with the Pandava period perfected the transition from the rock-cut cave temples and freestanding stone temples.

The Vijayanagara dynasty (1336-1646) associated with the Vijayanagara Period, developed a style which was a combination of the styles developed in South India in the previous centuries

The Rashtrakutas dynasty (753 - 973) built some of the finest Dravidian monuments at Ellora and Elephanta

The Nayak dynasty associated with the Nayak Period saw the culmination of the Dravidian style. It continued the building style and technique of the Pandyas and improved on it. The notable features of the Nayak architecture are the pillared mandapas, the gopurams embellished with figures with minute detail, the closed prakarams, and the corbel brackets and full-sized figures of animals and riders on rearing horses.

Besides these five dynasties, other dynasties developed their own styles:

The Chalukya dynasty (543-753) is associated with the Badami Chalukya style, which is also called the called the Vesara style and Chalukya style. It was a temple building style that evolved in the 5th - 8th centuries Karnataka state. Their earliest temples date back to around 450 when the Badami Chalukyas were vassals of the Kadambas of Banavasi. It established the foundations of cave temple architecture. The temples built out of sandstone cut into enormous blocks from the outcrops in the chains of the Kaladgi hills.

The Western Chalukyas (or Kalyani Chalukyas or Later Chalukyas) (973 - 1180) further refined the Chalukyan style, which is called the Western Chalukya architecture.

Hoysala dynasty (1100-1343) developed a unique style called the Hoysala architecture.

There were many kingdoms which are known for their the centuries of Dravidian architecture. In fact, architectural historians subdivide the period of Dravidian Architectural growth into five periods associated with different dynasties: 1. Pallava Period, 2. Chola Period, 3. Pandava Period, 4. Vijayanagara Period, 5. Nayakkar Period.

The Pallava dynasty (600-900) associated with the Pallava period, was one of the pioneers of Dravidian architecture. The Pallava period provided several buildings of the early stage of the development of this style. Earliest ones are rock-cut temples. Later the temples were carved in one stone and in the later stages, there were structured temples. The Pallavas introduced the technique of building in stone into Tamil Nadu.

The kings of the Chola dynasty (300s -1279) are associated with the Chola period. This was the golden age for Dravidian Architecture. This styled developed from the early 11th century. Under the rule of the great kings Rajaraja (985-1014) and his son Rajendra Chola (1012-1044) architectural activities got unprecedented royal patronage. It perfected the unique elements of the Dravidian style and combined them harmoniously with new forms in astonishingly diverse ways.

Pandava or Pandian dynasty (500 BC-16th century AD) associated with the Pandava period perfected the transition from the rock-cut cave temples and freestanding stone temples.

The Vijayanagara dynasty (1336-1646) associated with the Vijayanagara Period, developed a style which was a combination of the styles developed in South India in the previous centuries

The Rashtrakutas dynasty (753 - 973) built some of the finest Dravidian monuments at Ellora and Elephanta

The Nayak dynasty associated with the Nayak Period saw the culmination of the Dravidian style. It continued the building style and technique of the Pandyas and improved on it. The notable features of the Nayak architecture are the pillared mandapas, the gopurams embellished with figures with minute detail, the closed prakarams, and the corbel brackets and full-sized figures of animals and riders on rearing horses.

Besides these five dynasties, other dynasties developed their own styles:

The Chalukya dynasty (543-753) is associated with the Badami Chalukya style, which is also called the called the Vesara style and Chalukya style. It was a temple building style that evolved in the 5th - 8th centuries Karnataka state. Their earliest temples date back to around 450 when the Badami Chalukyas were vassals of the Kadambas of Banavasi. It established the foundations of cave temple architecture. The temples built out of sandstone cut into enormous blocks from the outcrops in the chains of the Kaladgi hills.

The Western Chalukyas (or Kalyani Chalukyas or Later Chalukyas) (973 - 1180) further refined the Chalukyan style, which is called the Western Chalukya architecture.

Hoysala dynasty (1100-1343) developed a unique style called the Hoysala architecture.