The Satavahanas were one of the empire builders in ancient India. Their rule extended almost over the entire region south of Vindhyas and their reign is marked by considerable peace and prosperity which was due to flourishing trade with Roman empire. The artistic creations of Satavahana era are among the grandest, comparable in their monumental quality to such imposing buildings as Khajuraho and Chola temples. The book aimed at delineating the characteristic features of its regional varieties such as western and central India and southern Deccan. Satavahana art includes such imposing edifices as early Buddhist rock-cut caves of western India, the Gateways at Sanchi and the sculpture of the Mahastupa at Amaravati, the magnificent paintings in the Hinayana group at Ajanta, besides beautiful terracottas, bronzes and ivories. They constitute a link between the Maurya-Sunga art of the earlier period and the later that of the Golden Age of the Guptas.