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, 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 history of Native Americans, see History of
Native Americans in the United States.
Part of a series on the
History of India
Satavahana gateway at Sanchi, 1st century CE
Ancient[show]
Classical[show]
Early medieval[show]
Late medieval[show]
Early modern[show]
Modern[show]
Related articles[show]
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Outline of South Asian history
Palaeolithic (2,500,000�250,000 BC)[show]
Neolithic (10,800�3300 BC)[show]
Chalcolithic (3500�1500 BC)[show]
Bronze Age (3300�1300 BC)[show]
Iron Age (1500�200 BC)[show]
Middle Kingdoms (230 BC� AD 1206)[show]
Late medieval period (1206�1526)[show]
Early modern period (1526�1858)[show]
Colonial states (1510�1961)[show]
Periods of Sri Lanka[show]
National histories[show]
Regional histories[show]
Specialised histories[show]
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The history of India includes the prehistoric settlements and societies in the
Indian subcontinent; the advancement of civilisation from the Indus Valley
Civilisation to the eventual blending of the Indo-Aryan culture to form the Vedic
Civilisation;[1] the rise of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism;[2][3] the onset of a
succession of powerful dynasties and empires for more than three millennia
throughout various geographic areas of the subcontinent, including the growth of
Muslim dominions during the Medieval period intertwined with Hindu powers;[4][5]
the advent of European traders and privateers, resulting in the establishment of
British India; and the subsequent independence movement that led to the Partition
of India and the creation of the Republic of India.[6]

Considered a cradle of civilisation,[7] the Indus Valley Civilisation, which spread

and flourished in the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent from 3300 to
1300 BCE, was the first major civilisation in South Asia.[8] A sophisticated and
technologically advanced urban culture developed in the Mature Harappan period,
from 2600 to 1900 BCE.[9] This civilisation collapsed at the start of the second
millennium BCE and was later followed by the Iron Age Vedic Civilisation. The era
saw the composition of the Vedas, the seminal texts of Hinduism, coalesce into
Janapadas (monarchical, state-level polities), and social stratification based on
caste. The Later Vedic Civilisation extended over the Indo-Gangetic plain and much
of the subcontinent, as well as witnessed the rise of major polities known as the
Mahajanapadas. In one of these kingdoms, Magadha, Gautama Buddha and Mahavira
propagated their Srama?ic philosophies during the fifth and sixth century BCE.

Most of the Indian subcontinent was conquered by the Maurya Empire during the 4th
and 3rd centuries BCE. From the 3rd century BCE onwards Prakrit and Pali literature
in the north and the Tamil Sangam literature in southern India started to flourish.
[10][11] Wootz steel originated in south India in the 3rd century BCE and was
exported to foreign countries.[12][13][14] During the Classical period, various
parts of India were ruled by numerous dynasties for the next 1,500 years, among
which the Gupta Empire stands 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 civilisation, administration, culture, and religion
(Hinduism and Buddhism) spread to much of Asia, while kingdoms in southern India
had maritime business links with the Middle East and the Mediterranean. Indian
cultural influence spread over many parts of Southeast Asia which led to the
establishment of Indianised kingdoms in Southeast Asia (Greater India).[15][16]