The early history of Chhattisgarh region is known only through cave paintings and architectural remains, but some of the written documents state that from the 14th century onwards, this region was under the control of the Mughals. It was later taken over by the Marathas in the 18th century and most forts that stand today date back to this period. It is during Maratha rule that the name 'Chhattisgarh' was coined, literally meaning the land of thirty-six forts. In the 19th century, it was annexed by the British and became a part of the Central Provinces. Leaders from this region were active during the revolt of 1857 and rallied the tribals against the oppressive forest policy of the British. After independence, Chhattisgarh was merged with Madhya Pradesh and granted statehood in 2000, when it became the 26th state of India.