Pune is a historical city. History of Pune dates back to many centuries. Pune word is came from ‘Punya’ means holy place. Several empires have ruled Pune. Among them, Rashtrakootas was the first one who ruled Pune during 758 A. D. and 768 A. D. copper plates. At that time, Pune was known as Punya Vishaya and Punaka Vishaya. It was also referred as Punaka Desha and Punaka Wadi. Afterward, Pune was also mentioned as Kasabe Pune. After Rashtrakootas, Pune was ruled by Yadava family. Then Muslim empire dominated the region till the middle of seventeenth century.
Two great Sants of history were associated with Pune city. Sant Dnyaneshwar and Sant Tukaram were associated with Pune. 
During 12th century, Sant Dnyaneshwar wrote ‘Dnyaneshwari’ in Alandi near Pune. Sant Tukaram was from Dehu near Pune. They are from the ‘Warkari Sampraday’.
In the seventeenth century, era of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj has begun. Shivaji maharaj was born at Shivneri Fort in Pune. He along with his mother Jijabai had spent around a decade in ‘Lal Mahal.’ Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj has founded and established Maratha Empire with Mavals. Dadaji Konddev was Shivaji’s mentor. During their presence in Pune, Dadoji Konddev has constructed the Pune city. He built a temple of Kasba Ganapati which is the ‘Grama Devata’ of Pune.
Pune was the capital of the Maratha empire. Shivaji Maharaj has built various forts around Pune city during his rule. Shivaji Maharaj was known to be ‘King of Poeple’. Shivaji Maharaj was dead in 1680. After his death, Aurangazeb killed Sambhaji Maharaj, son of Shivaji Maharaj and took charge of Maratha empire. He renamed Pune as Muhiyabad. 
In the eighteenth century, Peshawas ruled the Pune. Pune gained prime importance during the rule of the second Peshwa Thorala (senior) Bajirao. He ruled from 1720 to 1740. Various monuments in Pune like Shaniwarwada, several mahala, Parvati temple, Hazari Karanje(fountains), Talyatala Ganpati (Sarasbaug) was developed during the Peshawe era. Nanasaheb Peeshwa rule Pune after Thorala Bajirao Pehwa during 1740 to 1761. He developed Pune city by setting up Peths (wards) in Pune. Water supply line from Katraj to Shaniwarwada was existed in his tenure. He handled Nizam in order maintain peace in the region
Maratha Empire came to an end in 1818 after the family dispute. British Raj was established in the region when Mount Stuart Elphinstone defeated Marathas. In the nineteenth century, Delhi and Pune was the power centers in the country. Deccan College was started in 1851 in Pune. Lokmanya Tilak, Gopal Ganesh Agarkar and other leaders of the nineteenth century studied in the Deccan College. They had taken their education in the English language.
However, first Marathi literature conference was organized n 1878 by Justice Mahadev Govind Ranade, V. K. Chiplunkar and others. 
In 1885, Lokmanya Tilak, Nam Joshi, Agarkar, Nam Joshi and Principal Apte had founded the Deccan Education Society in Pune and started its Fergusson College. The New English School, the Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya, and the MES Society’s High School were the prime education centers during that period. Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule stated a school for girls.
Pune city has played a big role in the freedom fight of India. Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak stated two news papers Kesari and Mahratta in order to educate people about freedom fight. He also started to celebrate festivals like Shivjaynti and Ganeshotsav publicly. His slogan was ‘Freedom is my birthright’ (Swarjya ha maza janmasiddha hakka ahe).
Other luminaries are Gopal Krishna Gokhale who is the political guru of Mahatma Gandhi, Maharshi Dhondopant Karve, Wrangelar R.P. Paranjape and others. Shrimati Anadibai Joshi completed her medical education in U.S. She was the first lady who did so. Thus, Pune city has witnessed numerous historical movements including educational, social, political, religious, economic and literary.
