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| History of India |
 India is one of the oldest civilizations in the world. The earliest known inhabitants of this ancient land can be traced back to the Paleolithic Age somewhere around 200,000 to 500,000 years ago. Indus Valley Civilization is the first Indian civilization that arose on the banks of the River Indus about 2,600 BC.
The farming was introduced in Indus Valley Civilization by 6,500 BC while pottery was invented by 5,500 BC.
It was an urban civilization where a prosperous farming society had grown up. The people during this period used bronze tools, spun cotton and traded with other cultures such as modern-day Iraq. The two largest cities of this culture were at Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa. However, the civilization declined after 1,700 BC due to unknown reasons. It was discovered only in the 1920s.
After the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization, a new wave of people called Aryans entered India from central Asia around 1500 BC. They entered India in several waves over a period of time rather than just one. The Aryans were a semi-nomadic race of pastoralists. They wandered about with their herds of cattle before settling down in one place. By 1,000 BC they had learned to use iron.
Gradually, an ordered and settled society came into existence where the tribes became kingdoms. The Aryans became the priests, rulers, warriors, free peasants and merchants. The subdued people became the slaves, laborers and artisans. Over the period of time, this stratified society crystallized into the caste system. Around this time, Hinduism evolved and the sacred literature called ‘The Vedas’ were created.
| Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, was born in about 483 BC. At around this time, the Persians conquered the extreme North-west India. Alexander, the Great destroyed the Persian Empire and penetrated the far North-west of India. All the same, the Greeks withdrew after his untimely death in 317 BC. The Persians and Greeks had a little affect on Indian civilization. |
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In 322 BC, Chandragupta Maurya, Aided by his able advisor Kautilya, became ruler of the powerful and highly centralized state of Magadha in the North India. After the death of Alexander, Seleucos took the eastern part of his empire and attempted to reclaim the Indian provinces one ruled by Alexander. However, his army was stopped by Chandragupta in 305 BC. Seleucos was forced to cede most of Afghanistan to Chandragupta, who also conquered parts of central India.
In 296, Chandragupta abdicated in favor of his son Bindusara who pushed the frontier of the empire further south. The greatest Mauryan ruler was Ashoka who ruled from 269-232 BC. After his death, the Mauryan Empire suffered economic decline and political instability and therefore collapsed. A general assassinated the last Mauryan ruler in 185 BC and took over the empire. He founded the Shunga dynasty. In 73 BC, the last Shunga ruler was assassinated and replaced by the Kanva dynasty that ruled from 73-28BC.
The Greek rulers of Bactria attempted to control Northwest India. Around 185 BC, King Demetrius invaded India and in 160 BC, one of his successors, King Menander conquered most of northern India. Though after his death, The empire broke up into separate states and Indian civilization developed without European influence.
Nomads from Central Asia invaded Bactria in about 120 BC and settled down giving up their nomadic lifestyle. They were split into 5 tribes and One of the tribes, the Kushanas conquered the others. Gradually, They then turned their attention to Northern India and conquered more territories. Successive kings from this tribe carved out bigger empire in Northern India
The Kushan Empire reached its peak under King Kanishka who ruled from 78 AD to 114 AD. During his reign, Northern India prospered and carried trade activities with the Roman Empire. nevertheless, after his death the empire declined and By the early 3rd century AD, India was once again split into small states.
 Gupta Empire was founded early in the 4th century AD by Chandragupta I. After his death in 335 AD, his son Samudragupta (335-375) conquered the whole of Northern India and much of Central India. India once again became prosperous and stable and enjoyed trade relations with China. Mathematics, astronomy, medicine and literature flourished during this period. The Gupta Empire reached a peak under Chandragupta II 375-415 AD. Gradually, it declined and broke up in the early 6th century.
In the mid 5th century AD, the Huns invaded Northwest India from Central Asia. they were driven back by Skandagupta (454-467) around 460 AD. Nevertheless the Huns returned at the end of the 5th century and conquered most of North-western India. However their rule lasted no more than about 30 years. in 528 AD, the Indians led by a ruler called Yashodharman defeated them in battle and drove them out.
The next great ruler in Indian history was king Harshavardhana who ruled from 606-647 AD. He began as ruler of the kingdom of Thanesar, north of India and slowly carved out an empire in Northern India. but in an attempt to conquer Southern India in 630, he was severely defeated by a king called Pulakesin (610-643). After his death, the empire quickly broke up and India once again became a land of several kingdoms. The 3 most important dynasties were the Rajputs, the Pallavas and the Chalukyas.
in the 9th century AD, a new empire arose in Southern India called the Cholas. In the late 10th century, the Chola king Rajaraja I began to expand his kingdom. He conquered his neighbors and took Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The next king, Rajenda I took more territory including the Ganges and the Andaman Islands. The Chola was a prosperous empire with many merchants organized into guilds to protect their interests. The trade with Southeast Asia as well as with the Arabs thrived during this period. The empire of the Cholas, although powerful, was less centralized than older empires such as the Gupta.
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