It starts with the Vedic period followed by the Mahajanapadas in the 600 BC to the Nandas, the Mauryas, the Shungas and many other dynasties(like the Kushanas, Western Kshatrapas etc.,) and goes on till a time period just before the rise of the Imperial Guptas. In Deep South, I believe it starts with the Sangam Age, covers the entire Sangam Age (is said to end at around 300 AD) post which the Kalabhras take over, it also covers the mighty Satavahanas until smaller kingdoms(like the Kadambas, Western Gangas) rise post its decline.

One note is for a few dynasties/kingdoms, I was unable to find exclusive books written on them, instead, there are a few books which talk a lot of different kingdoms in a given time period and therefore talk about the less-known ones too.

1. Northern Kingdoms and Dynasties

  1. The Mahajanapadas (6th century BC to 4th century BC)
  2. The Nandas: Good amount of content is covered in books on Ancient India by various authors (Checkout the “Miscellaneous Texts” section). Update necessary.
  3. The Mauryas (~320 BC to 185 BC)
  4. The Shungas (~187 BC to 73 BC)
  5. The Kanvas (73 BC to 28 BC): The books in the “Miscellaneous Texts” section discuss this dynasty. But not much content is present. Within a few decades of their ascendance, they were defeated by the Satavahanas. Update necessary.
  6. The Kushanas (30 AD to 375 AD)
  7. TODO: Northern Kshatrapas, Western Kshatrapas, Indo-Scythians

2. Southern Kingdoms and Dynasties

  1. The Satavahanas (Late 2nd century BC to early 3rd century AD)
  2. The Pandyas
  3. The Cholas
  4. The Cheras

Not many resources are available in English on Sangam Age Southern kingdoms (Pandyas, Cheras, Cholas). Will update with time.

3. Miscellaneous Texts

  1. Ancient India by R. C. Majumdar, it has matter related to the time frame 600 BC to 300 AD.
  2. History of India from the Earliest Times to 300 AD
  3. Outline of Ancient Indian History by R. C. Majumdar, has matter from pre 600 BC to the time period of 600 BC to 300 AD and further.
  4. The Vedic Age by R. C. Majumdar
  5. The Age of Imperial Unity by R. C. Majumdar, has details about the entire Ancient Era (At 600 BC to 600 BC - 300 AD and pan-India coverage)
  6. Political History of Ancient India by Hemchandra Rayachaudari - covers from around 600 BC till the extinction of the Imperial Guptas.
  7. Provincial Administration in Ancient India - 600 BC to 550 AD by Arun K. Sinha
  8. State and Government in Ancient India by A. S. Altekar
  9. Cultural Contacts between the Aryans and Dravidians by K. A. Nilakanta Shastri
  10. Ancient India from the Earliest times to 1st century AD by E. D. Rapson
  11. Indigenous States of Northern India by R. C. Kajumdar
  12. Sangam Polity by N. Subramanian
  13. History of the Tamils - From the Earliest times to 600 AD by P. T. Srinivasa Iyengar
  14. The Chronology of the Early Tamils by K. N. Sivaraja Pillai
  15. A Tamil Reader - Introducing Sangam Literature
  16. The first seven chapters from History of South India by K. A. Nilakanta Shastri is of our interest here.

Coinage and Numismatics

  1. Lectures on Ancient Indian Numismatics by Bhandarkar, Devadatta Ramakrishna
  2. Catalogue of the coins of the Andhra dynasty, the Western Kṣatrapas, the Traikūṭaka Dynasty, and the “Bodhi” Dynasty by Edward James Rapson
  3. Early Indian Coins and Currency System by S. K. Maity