India
A civilizational subcontinent whose religions, mathematics and dynasties have shaped Eurasia for four millennia.
Overview
India's recorded history begins with the planned brick cities of the Indus Valley around 3300 BCE. From the Vedic age through the Mauryan and Gupta empires, the Delhi Sultanate, the Mughal Empire and the British Raj, the subcontinent has been a laboratory of religions, philosophies and political forms.
Basic Information
History Timeline
- c. 3300 – 1300 BCEIndus Valley Civilization
- c. 1500 – 500 BCEVedic period; composition of the Vedas
- 563 BCETraditional birth of the Buddha
- 322 – 185 BCEMauryan Empire; reign of Ashoka
- 320 – 550 CEGupta Empire — 'Golden Age' of science and art
- 1206Delhi Sultanate established
- 1526Babur founds the Mughal Empire
- 1757Battle of Plassey; British East India Company ascendant
- 1858British Crown assumes direct rule (the Raj)
- 1947Independence and Partition
Ancient Peoples
- Harappans
- Indo-Aryans
- Dravidians
Ancient Kingdoms
- Magadha
- Kosala
- Cholas
- Pandyas
- Cheras
Empires
- Mauryan Empire
- Gupta Empire
- Chola Empire
- Delhi Sultanate
- Mughal Empire
- Maratha Confederacy
- British Raj
Religions
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- Jainism
- Sikhism
- Islam
- Christianity
Culture
Indian culture spans classical dance and music traditions, temple and mosque architecture, an enormous corpus of Sanskrit literature and one of the world's richest cinema industries.
Language
The subcontinent's linguistic diversity spans Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Sino-Tibetan and Austroasiatic families. Sanskrit, Tamil and Prakrit are among the world's oldest literary languages.
Important Battles
- Kalinga Warc. 261 BCE
Ashoka's conversion to Buddhism
- First Battle of Panipat1526
Babur founds Mughal rule
- Battle of Plassey1757
Beginning of British dominion
Historical Figures
Mauryan emperor and Buddhist patron
Gupta emperor at height of the golden age
Mughal emperor known for religious tolerance
Leader of the independence movement
Archaeological Sites
- Mohenjo-daro
- Harappa
- Sanchi
- Hampi
- Ajanta Caves
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Taj Mahal
- Ajanta Caves
- Ellora Caves
- Hampi
- Khajuraho Group of Monuments
- Red Fort Complex
Dynasties
- Maurya
- Gupta
- Chola
- Chalukya
- Mughal
- Maratha
Colonial Period
British rule (1757–1947) restructured Indian agriculture, law and railways, extracted enormous wealth, and provoked a mass independence movement led by the Indian National Congress.
Modern History
Independent India is the world's largest democracy and, since the 1991 liberalization, one of its fastest-growing major economies.