History of India

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the history of the Indian subcontinent with India in focus prior to the partition of India in 1947. For
the modern Republic of India(post 1947), see History of the Republic of India. For Pakistan and Bangladesh in focus,
see History of Pakistan and History of Bangladesh.
"Indian history" redirects here. For other uses, see Native American history.
Part of a series on the

History of India

Chronology of Indian history

Ancient India
Prehistoric India and Vedic India
Religions, Society, Mahajanapadas

Mauryan Period
Economy, Spread of Buddhism,
Chanakya, Satavahana Empire

The Golden Age

Discoveries, Aryabhata,
Ramayana, Mahabharata

Medieval India
The Classical Age
Gurjara-Pratihara
Pala Empire
Rashtrakuta Empire

Art, Philosophy, Literature

Islam in India
Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagara Empire,
Music, Guru Nanak

Mughal India
Architecture,
Maratha Confederacy

Modern India
Company Rule
Zamindari system, Warren Hastings,
Mangal Pandey, 1857

British Indian Empire

Hindu reforms, Bengal Renaissance,
Independence struggle, Mahatma Gandhi, Subhas Chandra Bose

Outline of South Asian history

History of Indian subcontinent
Soanian people (500,000 BP)[show]

Stone Age (70003000 BC)[show]

Bronze Age (30001300 BC)[show]

Iron Age (120026 BC)[show]

Classical period (211279 AD)[show]

Late medieval period (12061596)[show]

Early modern period (15261858)[show]

Colonial period (15101961)[show]

Other states (11021947)[show]

Kingdoms of Sri Lanka[show]

Nation histories[show]

Regional histories[show]

Specialised histories[show]

The history of India begins with evidence of human activity of Anatomically modern humans, as long as 75,000
years ago, or with earlier hominids including Homo erectus from about 500,000 years ago.[1]
The Indus Valley Civilization, which spread and flourished in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent from c.
3300 to 1300 BCE in present-day Pakistan and northwest India, was the first major civilization in South Asia.[2] A
sophisticated and technologically advanced urban culture developed in the Mature Harappan period, from 2600 to
1900 BCE.[3] This civilization collapsed at the start of the second millennium BCE and was later followed by the Iron
Age Vedic Civilization, which extended over much of the Indo-Gangetic plain and which witness the rise of major
polities known as the Mahajanapadas. In one of these kingdoms, Magadha, Mahavira andGautama
Buddha propagated their Shramanic philosophies during the fifth and sixth century BCE.
Most of the subcontinent was conquered by the Maurya Empire during the 4th and 3rd centuries BCE. From the 3rd
century BC onwards Prakrit and Pali literature in the north and the Sangam literature in southern India started to
flourish.[4][5] The famous Wootz steel originated in south India in the 3rd century BC and was also exported to foreign
countries.[6][7][8]
Various parts of India were ruled by numerous Middle kingdoms for the next 1,500 years, among which the Gupta
Empire stand out. This period, witnessing a Hindu religious and intellectual resurgence, is known as the classical or
"Golden Age of India". During this period, aspects of Indian civilization, administration, culture, and religion
(Hinduism and Buddhism) spread to much of Asia, while kingdoms in southern India had maritime business links with
the Roman Empire from around 77 CE. During this period Indian cultural influence spread over many parts
of Southeast Asia which led to the establishment of Indianized kingdoms in Southeast Asia (Greater India).[9]
The most significant event between the 7th and 11th century was the Tripartite struggle between the Pala
Empire, Rashtrakuta Empire, and Gurjara Pratihara Empire centered on Kannauj that lasted for more than two
centuries. Southern India saw the rule of theChalukya Empire, Chola Empire, Pallava Empire, Pandyan Empire,
and Western Chalukya Empire. Seventh century also saw the advent of Islam as a political power, though as a fringe,
in the western part of the subcontinent in modern day Pakistan.[10] The Chola dynasty conquered southern India and
successfully invaded parts of Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka in the 11th century.[11][12] The early medieval period Indian
mathematics influenced the development of mathematics and astronomy in the Arab world and the Hindu
numerals were introduced.[13]