Madhyadesha or the "middle country" was one of the five sub-divisions of ancient India that extended from the upper reaches of the Ganga and the Yamuna to the confluence of the two rivers at Prayaga.
The territory of middle region constitutes a cogent entity — geographically as well as culturally.
Inside northern India (ancient Aryavarta) this region has been instrumental in guiding the main currents of history and the spread of civilization from a very early age.
The entire region is considered sacred in Hindu mythology as gods and heroes mentioned in the two epics — Ramayana and Mahabharata — lived here.
The region saw the rise and fall of several Mahajanapadas such as the Kurus, Panchalas, Kosala and the dynasties of Kushans and Guptas.