Āndhradeśa (Telugu: ఆంధ్రదేశ; transl. Country of Andhras) is a historical region in the Deccan Plateau of the Indian subcontinent, deriving its name from the ancient Andhras tribe, who inhabited and ruled the region since the Iron Age. The core territory of Andhradesha encompassed Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. At its zenith, the Andhradesha extended its influence over parts of present-day Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.^{[citation needed]}

The Andhras were an ancient non-Aryan tribe who lived around the deltas of the Godavari and Krishna rivers. Andhras were mentioned in the ancient Hindu scriptures such as the Aitareya Brahmana (c. 500 BCE), Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas. Greek historian Megasthenes reported in his Indica (c. 310 BCE) that Andhras were living in the Godavari and Krishna river deltas, and were famous for their military strength which was second only to Mauryans in all of India. They had 30 fortified towns along the Godavari River and an army of 100,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 1,000 elephants. They were also mentioned at the time of the death of the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka in 232 BCE.

Andhradesha, an ancient region, derived its name from the Andhra tribe that flourished along the Godavari and Krishna river deltas. The term Andhradesha is a compound word, derived from the words "Andhra" and "desha". "Andhra" refers to the ancient Andhras tribe, while "desha" denotes country or territory.

Other names are Andhra, Andhrapatha, Andhramandala and Andhrabhumi.

The heartland of Andhradesha lay in the fertile deltaic regions of the Godavari and Krishna rivers. These mighty rivers, carrying vast quantities of silt from the Western Ghats, formed expansive deltas that enriched the surrounding lands. The Kolanu lake (Kolleru Lake), situated between these deltas, played a significant role in the region's ecology and history. The deltaic region, with its rich alluvial soil and abundant water resources, supported a thriving agricultural economy, fostering the growth of prosperous cities and towns.

Historically, Andhapura serving as its earliest capital. Later, Dhanakataka gained prominence which was visited by the Chinese Buddhist pilgrim Xuanzang. Its core territory encompassed modern-day Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, as well as Ptolemy's writings, mention about Andhradesha.

At its zenith, the region extended its influence over parts of present-day Maharashtra, Odisha, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. Geographically, Andhradesha encompassed the eastern Deccan Plateau, bounded by the Balaghat Range to the west and the Eastern Ghats to the east. This region's diverse landscape, including fertile coastal plains and rugged plateaus, significantly influenced its historical trajectory and cultural development.

Buddhism spread rapidly among the non-Aryan tribes of the Andhra region, gaining wider acceptance there than in Aryan society. The number of Buddhist sites in the northern districts of the former Madras State, particularly within the Andhra region, greatly outnumbers those found in the southern districts. From Sālihunde in present-day Visakhapatnam district in the north to Chinna Ganjam in Guntur district in the south, and from Gooty in Anantapur district in the west to Bhattiprolu in the east, the Andhra region experienced remarkable growth in Buddhist culture and art during the three centuries before and after the birth of Christ. A study of various Buddhist sites across South India indicates the existence of five major ancient trade and pilgrimage routes, all converging at Vengi, located centrally in the Andhra region. Most Buddhist establishments were situated along these routes, which connected Vengi to Kalinga, Dravida, Karnata, Maharashtra, and Kosala.