An Overview of Indian History : Introduction & Timelines

Indian History covers thousands of years and includes many different civilizations, empires and cultures. From ancient times to present day, India has witnessed significant social, political and economic development.

Chronologically, Indian history can be classified into three periods :

(a) ANCIENT INDIA (Pre-historic to AD 700)
(b) MEDIEVAL INDIA (AD 700 to AD 1857 )
(c) MODERN INDIA (AD 1857 - Present)

(1) Ancient India (Pre-historic to AD 700)

Ancient India can be studied under three heads : Paleolithic Period (2 million BC-10,000 BC), Mesolithic Period (10,000 BC - 8,000 BC), and Neolithic Period (8,000 BC - 4000 BC). This classification is based on the types of stone/metal tools people used.

There were activities of Homoerectus (proto-humans) in the Indian subcontinent 20 lakh years (2 million years ago), and of Homosapiens since 70,000 BC. During Paleolithic period, humans lived as hunter-gatherers, using stone tools and cave paintings as evidence of their presence. Fire was discovered.

During the Mesolithic and Neolithic period, humans began practicing agriculture, domesticating animals and forming settled communities.

The Indus Valley Civilization (2600 - 1900 BC) was one of the world's earliest urban civilizations. Vedic culture emerged around 1500 BC, laying the foundation of Hinduism. In the early 6th century BC, Jainism and Buddhism emerged as influential religious movements.

The Mauryan Empire (321-185 BC), under leadership of Emperor Ashoka, unified much of the Indian subcontinent. Ashoka embraced Buddhism and spread its teachings. Following the Mauryas, Gupta Empire (300 AD- 800AD) marked a period of remarkable advancements in art, science and literature, often referred to as a 'Golden Age'.

(2) Medieval India (AD 700 - AD 1857)

The medieval period saw the rise of various dynasties including the Cholas, Pallavas, Rajputs, Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire. Islam arrived in India in the 7th century with the advent of Arab traders. The Delhi Sultanate (1206 AD - 1526 AD ) ruled for several centuries, with prominent dynasties such as Slave dynasty, Khilji dynasty, Tughlaq dynasty and the Lodi dynasty.

Mughals ( AD 1526 - AD 1857 ) created a vast empire led by emperors like Babur, Akbar and Shah Jahan. Mughals left a lasting impact through architecture , administration and cultural synthesis of Islamic and Indian tradition. Mughals from Babur (1526) to Aurangzeb (1707) were more powerful and hence known as 'Great Mughals'. Mughals who ruled from 1707 to 1857 were known as 'Later Mughals'.

Later Marathas and Sikhs rose as regional powers in India during the decline of Mughal Empire. This period also witnessed arrival of Europeans, including the Portuguese, Dutch, French and British, established trading posts in India. The British East India company gradually gained control and ultimately became the ruling power.

(3) Modern India (AD 1857 - Present)

The period begins with the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which marked a turning point in India's struggle against British Colonial rule. This led to the direct rule of India by the British Crown.

The Indian National Congress (INC) was formed in 1885 with the aim of representing the interests of the people of India and advocating for their rights. In the early 20th century, the INC under the leadership of leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru spread the non-violent movement for the independence. The struggle gained momentum with campaigns such as Salt March and Quit India movement, which demanded complete independence from British rule. The sacrifices of countless Indians eventually led to India gaining independence on August 15, 1947, and the subsequent partition of Indian and creation of Pakistan.

After Independence, India adopted a democratic constitution. It made significant progress in sectors like technology, space exploration and healthcare. Today, India stands as the world's largest democracy, actively participates in global affairs and aims to become a developed nation.

Throughout its history, India has been a land of diverse religions, languages and cultural practices. The legacy of the past continues to shape the present and future of the country.