~ History of India ~

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Jainism

It is a common misconception among people that Jainism religion was started by Lord Mahavira. The truth is that Jainism existed long before Lord Mahavira was born. Lord Mahavira reformed Jainism and gave it more exposure. Thus, the history and origin of Jainism dates back to many centuries before Lord Mahavira was born. The religion of Jainism is based on philosophy and the concept of Dharma. Read on this section which is essentially an introduction to Jainism.

The Jains basically follow the teachings of 24 Tirthankaras or Enlightened spiritual leaders. Lord Mahavira was the 24th and last Tirthankara. He lived in approximately around 6th Century B.C. The Jains have influenced many cultures with their teachings and philosophies. They emphasize on non - violent form of living and treating all life forms with respect. They believe that self control is essential for the attainment of omniscience or infinite knowledge. The realization of infinite knowledge leads to Moksha or Nirvana.

The Jains are supposed to be the most educated religious community of India. Some of India's oldest libraries are of the Jains. The Jains are essentially of two types:
Digambaras: Jains who believed that monks should not wear clothes
Shwetambaras: Jains who believed that monks can wear only white clothes.

Beliefs and Practices
The Jains believe in reincarnation. To free themselves of the cycle of birth and death, they practice asceticism that is stringent in nature. They basically struggle to make their present birth the last one. Their professions are chosen carefully and revolve around the protection of lives or doing good deeds for others. The ethical code followed by the Jains is very strict in nature and the ethics are followed with much dedication and sincerity. The Jains believe in the following principles and ethics.

Ahimsa
The Jains believe in Ahimsa or non-violence. They adopt Ahimsa as a way of life. Non violence does not mean only being calm and letting others live peacefully. It means that one should be peaceful in thought as well as action. All monks are strict vegetarians and regard even the tiniest insect as a sacred form of life.

Satya
Jains believe in speaking the Satya or truth always. They believe that falsehood is a deterrent in the attainment of Nirvana and is not useful in one's life. Not speaking the truth or running away from it is worthless and does not change the nature of truth.

Asteya
Jains believe in not stealing from others. They believe in being content with whatever they have. According to the Jains, nothing is permanent, not even one's body. Materialistic pleasures only hamper spiritual growth and create only a temporary sense of satisfaction.

Brahmacarya
Jains believe in being loyal to just one spouse for the entire life span. They believe that monogamy is the best way of life and is also a respect to the person you are spending your life with.

Aparigraha
Aparigraha means detachment from materialistic possessions. It means to possess only a few or basic required materials for a lifetime. In the life of a monk, material pleasures have no importance and in fact cease to be of any importance as time goes by.

They are recommended to lead life in four basic stages. The first stage is called Brahmacharya - ashram which means the life of a student. The second stage is called Grihasth - ashram which means having a family or leading a family life. The third stage is known as Vanaprasth - ashram which means doing social services and finishing off family responsibilities. The last and final stage of life is known as Sanyast - ashram which means abandonment of family life and adopting the life of an ascetic or a saint.

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Lord Mahavira

The 24th and last Tirthankara of the Jains, Lord Mahavira is much revered among the Jains. His teachings and philosophies continue to inspire numerous people even today. He was born in a royal family and denounced his royal family life to attain spiritual knowledge like the Buddha. He was named Vardhamana Mahavira because when he was born his father, king Siddhartha prospered like anything. Vardhamana means increasing and the king credited his growing success and prosperity to the birth of his son. The life of Swami Mahavir is very interesting and is given here as a short story.

Lord Mahavira was born roughly around 599 B.C. He was born in the royal family of Kshatriyakund, a part of the republic of Vaishali. His father was King Siddhartha and his mother was Queen Trishala. It is said that when the queen conceived Lord Mahavira, she had fourteen auspicious dreams that were a premonition of the greatness of the child that was to be born. The prosperity of the King grew day by day. The king attributed his success to his new born child and named him Vardhamana, which means "ever increasing".

Vardhamana had a lavish childhood and lived like a proper prince. He did many great things in his childhood like saving his friend from a poisonous snake, fighting a monster, etc. that proved that he was no ordinary child. This earned him the name "Mahavira". He was born with all worldly pleasures and luxuries but somehow he was never attracted by them. When he was in his late 20's his parents died. That is when he decided to become a monk. He left all his worldly possessions including clothing and went into seclusion to become a monk.

After 12 years of strict meditation and ascetic lifestyle, he finally gained enlightenment and spiritual knowledge and came to be known as Lord Mahavira. He gave up food and learnt to control his desires and wants. After gaining enlightenment, he preached what he had learnt to all those who needed it. He traveled far and wide barefoot spreading his divine knowledge and words of wisdom for thirty years. Numerous people were inspired by him and converted to Jainism. He left his mortal form around 527 B.C at the age of 72. The Jains celebrate this day as Diwali the day when Lord Mahavira attained liberation is the last day on the Hindu calendar that is celebrated as Diwali.

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Pallava Dynasty

The Pallavas were essentially a pastoral tribe who ruled the southern parts of India for almost 500 years. They were great conquerors and left a huge impact in the field of art and architecture. Initially, the Pallava dynasty conquered the region of Thondaimandalam that was located at Pallavapuri, India. However, this region was washed by the sea due to some unforeseen natural disaster. Thus they moved further south and established the powerful Pallava Empire. Their territory extended from Northern Orissa to Tanjore and Trichi in far south. Their new capital was Kanchipuram.

An excavation in the region where the Pallavas ruled revealed much information about the Pallava dynasty. The coins that were found belonged to the period when the Pallavas ruled and dated back to the 1st and 2nd century. Around 4th century A.D, the Pallavas defeated the Ikshvakus and spread their territory as far as the River Krishna. Thereafter, the Pallavas started spreading their territory at a very rapid pace. Simha Vishnu is often known as the founder of Pallava dynasty and is considered to be a very efficient and strong conqueror.

After the death of Simha Vishnu, his son Mahendravarman became the king. Mahendravarman was a very efficient ruler and a learned man. He initiated the construction of the famous cave temple at Mahabalipuram. However, the tales of prosperity reached far and wide and Chalukya Pulakesi-II learnt about the richness and abundance of the kingdom. He attacked the kingdom and defeated Mahendravarman. The defeat in the battle was the main cause of the death of Mahendravarman. He was succeeded by his son Narasimhavarman.

Narasimhavarman vowed to take revenge for the death of his father. He was a well built man who was also very intelligent. With much planning and tact, he virtually destroyed the kingdom of Chalukya Pulakesi. Then, he continued the continued the construction of the cave temple which was stalled temporarily. He got the title of "Mamalla", which could be the reason why Mahabalipuram is also known as Mamallapuram. Apart from this temple, he also got many temples constructed all over his kingdom. His successors managed to retain the power of the empire but finally lost to the Cholas, who put an end to this dynasty.

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Prehistoric India

The Indian prehistoric era is one of the most fascinating and intriguing eras to read about. Though there is speculation about when it originated, historians quote the approximate period from 200000 B.C to about 3500 - 2500 B.C. It is estimated that the first humans to set their foot in the Indian sub continent between 200000 B.C and 40000 B.C. Pre historic India has been divided into four major eras. These are: Stone Age, Paleolithic Era, Mesolithic Era and Neolithic Era. The Bronze Age is also mentioned here though it comes after these four eras. Further information about Indian prehistory is given below.

Stone Age
The Stone Age was the era when early man used stones for functional and useful purposes. The Stone Age is further classified into three categories which are the Paleolithic Age, Mesolithic Age and Neolithic Age. These divisions have been made on the basis of the kind of stone tools that were used during these times.

Paleolithic Age
The Paleolithic Age lasted till about 8000 B.C. In this age, man was essentially a food gatherer. He learnt to make weapons out of stones and also mastered the skill of hunting animals. The crude weapons were slowly carved properly and were made sharp and pointed. These special weapons were made by shredding the sides of a stone with a heavier stone. Man also learnt how to create fire and make use of it.

Mesolithic Age
The Mesolithic Age lasted from 8000 B.C - 4000 B.C. In this age the size of the groups grew to form small communities. The number of mouths to feed increased and needed constant nurturing for continuation. The tools improved and became more refined and sharp. There was a drastic change in the food and clothing of man. The tools were modified and now the sharp stones were attached to strong tree branches using ropes and vines. These new weapons or hand axes could be flung on animals from a safe distance. Apart from this, farming techniques were developed and man began to grow crops. Man also learnt to draw and paint and the evidence is found in the form of cave paintings found in India.

Neolithic Age
The Neolithic Age lasted from 4000 B.C - 2500 B.C and is known as the last stage of the Stone Age era. The main features of this age were the finely flaked weapons and small tools made of stone that were used for day to day work. This age also saw domestication of cows, horses and other poultry and farm animals. Their products were used for dairy and meat items. The wheel, which was a very important invention, was created during this age. Shortly after this age around 1800 B.C, tools were made of copper and bronze and were used for many practical purposes.

Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is the era when metals were used and improvised for making tools and other weapons. This age came immediately after the Neolithic Age and aided in the development of the metallurgy industry. It came into being in 3500 B.C in the Middle East. The Bronze Age in India is roughly estimated to have begun around 3300 B.C. It almost coincided with the beginning of the Indus Valley Civilization. People living in Indus Valley produced bronze, copper and tin thus developing new techniques of metallurgy.

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Sangam Age

The Sangam Age in India witnessed the rapid development of literary works in the southern regions. The literature that was created during this time came to be known as Sangam literature. The great poets, writers, etc. of this age have left behind invaluable accounts of brilliant literature that continue to enthrall historians and scholars. The earliest literary work dates back to 200 B.C. Read more about the history of Sangham Age in India.

The word Sangam has most likely been derived from the Indo-Aryan word Sangha, which means an assembly. This word was usually used for Buddhist and Jain monks. Roughly around 470 C.E an academy called Dravida Sangha was established by a Jain called Vajranandi. The members of this academy had much interest in literature and Tamil language. In early Sangam age poems, one finds the mention of Jain cosmology and mythology.

During the Sangam Age, the three empires that ruled the South of India were that of Pandyas, Cholas and Cheras. Though there were constant wars among the different kings for dominion of states and territory, they were all promoters of literature and other classical literary works. Under their rule, Indian art and culture flourished like anything. The early Sangam literature mentions the kingdom of the Pandyas. It is said that the kingdom became insignificant before emerging again during the 6th Century.

With the rise of the Chola dynasty, the dynasty of Pandyas again declined. They were in constant conflict with the Cholas and fought for their part of territory. However, the Pandyas found reliable allies in the form of the Cheras and the Sinhalese and left no opportunity to disturb the Cholas with them. By the late 13th Century, the Pandyas were able to revive their position and gain back heir lost territories and riches.

One of the earliest written scriptures in Tamil grammar is known as Tolkappiyam. Another work known as Ettutogai or Eight Anthologies is considered to be a fantastic product of the Sangam Age. Many poems were composed during this age and some of the famous ones are Manimekhalai, Shilpathikaram, Akananuru, Purananuru, etc. These poems speak about the political, social, cultural and traditional aspects of life during the Sangam age. Some poems also mention the fact that the Cheras formed a vital trading center with Rome. Some of the great poets who deserve a mention are Avvaiyar, Kapilar, Mamulanar, Paramer, Gautamanar, etc.

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Tripartite Struggle

The Tripartite struggle was a struggle for power and control over the central Gangetic valley among three major empires in India during the 8th Century. These three empires were the Pratiharas, the Rastrakutas and the Palas. The Pratiharas were settled in western India in the Avanti - Jalaor region. The Rastrakutas who were essentially from the Deccan region were interested in Kannauj due to the fact that it formed an important center for trade and commerce. The Palas occupied the eastern parts of India (present day Bengal) and were very strong contenders in this struggle.

The Pratihara ruler named Vatsaraja had a dire ambition to take control over the region of Kannauj. At the same time, the Pala ruler Dharmapala also had an eye over the same region. This brought the two rulers into a conflict. During this time the Rastrakuta king Dhruva attacked the two of them and claimed to have won. This is what led to the Tripartite Struggle. Dharmapala however somehow gained control over the territory and set his nominee on the throne. The Rastrakutas were busy with their own problems in their kingdom in south.

During the end of the 8th Century, the successor of Pratihara ruler Vatsaraja named Nagabhata II attacked Kannauj and established his rule, though it was short lived. In the beginning of the 9th Century he was defeated by the Rastrakuta ruler Govinda III. However, he was kept busy in internal politics by an alliance of different kingdoms in the south. The struggle for Kannauj became serious after the Pratiharas exercised control over it.

During the rule of Krishna III, there was successful campaign against the Cholas. The Rastrakutas also formed a matrimonial relationship with the Gangas and defeated the kingdom of Vengi. By the end of the 9th Century the power of the Rastrakutas started to decline along with the Palas. This was seen as an ideal opportunity by the feudal king Taila II who defeated the Rastrakuta ruler and declared his kingdom there. This came to be known the Later Chalukya dynasty. Their kingdom included the states of Karnataka, Konkan and northern Godavari. By the end of the tripartite struggle, the Pratiharas emerged victorious and established themselves as the rulers of central India.

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Ancient India Art

Art is an integral part of any civilization and ancient India flourished in this. The artifacts that have been discovered by archaeologists and historians reveal valuable facts about the lifestyle and mental patterns of that age. During ancient India various art forms developed at great pace. It is evident from the surviving art forms and literature that the ancient Indian art forms have great detailing and unique realistic style of their own.

According to the evidence found, it looks like people in ancient India were great admirers of different art forms. They loved fine arts and indulged in dancing, sculpting and painting. A very interesting aspect of ancient art in India is that it is highly realistic. Though bit crude, the anatomical detailing in their sculptures is worth applauding for. Animal and human figures have been carefully carved and chiseled to get a refined effect and portray the physical details in a very fine way.

The fine artistic sensibilities of the people are pretty much evident in their terracotta and bronze sculptures. From the artifacts another interesting aspect that has come to light is the fact that musical instruments were used at that point of time. Certain seals and sculptures have inscriptions marked like instrument that looks somewhat like the harp. The paintings and inscriptions basically reveal the mental patterns of the people.

As time progressed, the cruder forms were refined and a new kind of art form developed. This was the art form of rock cut caves and temple art. Rock cut art and architecture was a very important step taken towards the progress of ancient Indian art. The rock cut architecture was first initiated by the Buddhists and this inspired Hindus and the Jains who built similar structures at sites like Ajanta, Badami, Ellora, Elephanta, etc. The patterns varied according to different regions they were built in. The expression of mental attitudes in the form of ancient art is truly fascinating and helps us analyze the journey traveled from then to now.

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Ancient India Culture

The rich heritage of Indian culture can be traced back to ancient times. The practices, beliefs and customs that we follow today were established thousands of years back. In ancient India, culture was the determining factor of the Indian society. Though different beliefs were followed in different regions, the foundation base of ancient Indian culture remained the same. From every day dressing to elaborate rituals, every minute and major detail was decided centuries back. The root of Indian culture has existed since ancient times and that is what makes it so strong.

After the initial set up of the foundation by the Indus Valley Civilization, the coming of the Aryans further consolidated it. The Aryans had a particular social structure according to which administration was carried on. There was division of labor and each hierarchy had its own job to do. The merchants and the priestly class were considered very elite and were much respected and feared. There were certain symbols of worship like cows, bulls, the sacrificial fire, etc. The chanting of sacred hymns came into vogue with the Vedic age. Though agriculture was the main occupations, there was development of small scale industries and handicrafts.

In ancient India, fine arts formed an integral part of the culture. Music and dance evolved highly in ancient India and new forms of dances and music came into being. Music was usually accompanied by instruments to provide bass and rhythm. Dances required elaborate costumes, jewelry and make-up and were usually performed in temples or royal courts. Theater also originated in ancient India and was an integral part of the daily culture. People enacted scenes out of daily life like wild animals hunting for food. Some people became small animals like cows, goats, etc. who were "preyed" upon by people playing the role of carnivores like lions, tigers, etc. The culture of ancient India has been refined and modernized over the ages; what we see today is a sophisticated version of what existed thousands of years back.

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Ancient India Facts

India is a country that will mesmerize you with its intriguing history and fascinating past. Though life has become very complex in modern times, the interesting facts of India continue to awe people all over the world. The country is no ordinary country. In fact, it had the components of a prosperous nation since ancient times only. The rich history of India is full of such interesting facts that one is bound to sit and analyze this fascinating country's history with much enthusiasm. For an amazing collection of facts on ancient India,see below:

Facts of Ancient India

Indians established Harappan culture in Indus Valley Civilization, at a time when many cultures comprised of nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago.

The game of chess was invented in India.

The birth of Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus happened in India.

The Decimal and Place Value system originated and developed in India.

In the 13th century, a poet saint named Gyandev introduced the game of Snakes and Ladders. Known as Mokshapat during those times, the game had a significant meaning. The snakes stood for vices, while the ladders represented good virtues. The essence of the game was that the ladders or good virtues take people to heaven while snakes or vices take people to a cycle of re-births.

In 700 BC, the world's first university was established in India, in Takshila. It was one of the biggest achievements in the field of education, as more than 10,500 students came from all over the world to receive education in over 60 different subjects. The University of Nalanda was another milestone that was achieved in the field of education in 4th century BC.

The earliest school of medicine known to mankind was Ayurveda and it originated in India. It was consolidated 2500 years ago by Charaka, the Father of Medicine.

As many as 6000 years back, the art of navigation was developed in the River Indus, which was known as Sindh then. In fact, the word 'navigation' is a derivation of the Sanskrit word, 'Navgatih'.

The correct time taken by the earth to revolve around the sun was calculated by the famous astronomer Bhaskaracharya. His calculation showed that the earth takes around 365.258756484 days to go around the sun once.

In the 6th century, the famous Indian Budhayana mathematician calculated the value of "Pi" and also explained the concept of Pythagoras Theorem.

In the 11th century, Quadratic Equations were introduced by Sridharacharya. Indians used numbers that were way too big than European numbers. While the latter limited themselves to 106, the Indians went a step ahead and used numbers as big as 1053.

Surgery existed in India even 2600 years ago, when Sushruta, known as the Father of Surgery, conducted many complex surgeries. The valuable ancient scriptures have detailed information on Cataract, Artificial Limbs, Cesareans, Fractures, Urinary Stone Surgery, Plastic Surgery and Brain Surgeries.

Anesthesia was used in ancient India and one finds detailed knowledge of the human anatomy and its functions.

Two major religions, Buddhism and Jainism were established in India in 500 and 600 BC.

The oldest city in the world that is inhabited even today is Varanasi or Benaras.

The art of Yoga that is now popular worldwide originated in India only and was performed by highly revered sages, in the ancient times.

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Ancient Indian Food

Early Indians ate food that was easily available from nature. Fruits, wild berries, meat, fish, etc. were the main food items of the nomadic dwellers. With the advent of civilization, people settled and started to do farming. This led to the discovery of food crops, pulses, etc. Food in ancient India was cultivated in the fertile river valleys. Rice was their staple food that was eaten with cooked lentils, vegetables and meat.

Wheat was used to make flat breads known as "Chapatti". The food habits of nearby countries also affected the food in ancient India. Cooking of chicken came to India from Thailand and mutton came from West Asia. The food pattern did not change with the arrival of the Aryans. With complex religious rituals taking the center stage, animal sacrifices peaked and more and more people turned vegetarians.

Milk and milk products came much into use during ancient times. Rice was eaten with curd and yogurt. Cows were respected and worshipped hence people stopped eating beef. Most people in India became vegetarians and meat was consumed very rarely. Many spices were cultivated in India and were used in cooking for aroma and flavor. India flourished in the cultivation of spices and many of them were later exported to foreign lands.

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Ancient India Geography

The topography of India is very diverse constituting of various geographical features. This makes the geography of ancient India very unique due to the fact that people used to live in extremes. The geographical terrains were varied, ranging from rivers, to plains to mountainous terrains. Though extreme terrains, they provided the perfect cradle for civilization to develop in ancient India. The establishment of many small villages took place on the fertile river plains where agriculture was easier to practice.

The evidence of ancient Indian geography is found in the Holy Scriptures. The sacred chants and hymns in the Vedas praise the River Sindhu, which was a mighty river in the north of India. It is said that this river was the mightiest of all; though there are mention of rivers like Ganges, Yamuna, Saraswati, Satluj, Ravi, Chenab, Jhelum, etc. These rivers were the base for ideal flood plains and became among the first sites for civilization to flourish.

Though the topography was extreme and was prone to unwarned climatic changes like floods, thunderstorms, etc. they helped greatly in the growth and expansion of civilization. The mountains provided the much needed protection from foreign invaders, the rivers made transportation and navigation possible, the plains made agriculture possible, and so on. The geography ancient India was definitely an integral part in helping the development and growth of human settlements and start of one of the earliest civilizations.

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Ancient India Gods

Ancient India had very simple forms of worshipping. Idol worship was unheard of and there were no such Gods & Goddesses during the beginning phase of civilization in ancient India. Earlier, the various forces of nature were worshipped as the supreme power since they were unheard of. Natural elements like the Sun, Moon, Rain, Thunder, etc. were worshipped during the time civilization began. People were scared of these natural elements as there were no rational explanations for these natural elements. Nature was thus, the God/Goddess in ancient India.

Nature and its elements were regarded as female and were worshipped in the form of Mother Nature. Early archaeological excavations reveal a figurine shaped like a woman who was most likely to be worshipped as the main Goddess. The people in ancient India continued to worship a female form till the time the Aryans invaded the Indus Valley. They introduced a patriarchal form of worship and idol worship came into vogue. However, with the advent of Hinduism and inter racial marriages, the Aryans began to return to worshipping ancient Goddesses.

As time passed, the Vedas and other important scriptures were formed and much more Gods and Goddesses were worshipped. It is estimated that during the Vedic Period, there were 3000 Gods and Goddesses that were worshipped! The King of all Gods was Indra, who had the power to destroy cities with rain and thunder. The creator was known as Brahma, the preserver was known as Vishnu and the destroyer was known as Shiva. The Sun God was also much respected and worshipped. The spiritual world and beliefs were also revived and people started to believe in evil and good spirits.

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Ancient India Government

With the beginning of civilization, there arose a need for smooth administration and division of responsibilities. Since the population started to increase, people grew concerned about welfare and able ruling. This led to the rise of an organizational structure that dealt with the nuances of firm ruling and governance. The ancient Indian government was very simple in structure. There used to be a tribe chief who used to appoint helpers to look over the smooth functioning of the society and dealt with grievances of people.

With the coming of different empires, the government of ancient India took a more complex and elaborate form. The establishment of large kingdoms in India gave birth to the concept of having a King or a Maharaja who was the head of administration and the state. Everything worked under his command and no one dared to oppose him. He usually used to appoint a council of ministers who used to govern different areas of the state. During the 6th century B.C., 16 Mahajanapadas or 16 great kingdoms were established in India.

In ancient Indian government, one finds the different elements of modern government also. This means that the foundation of the modern day government was laid during the ancient times itself. The ancient Indian government had three major components in the hierarchy. They were: Legislative, Executive and the Judiciary. The chief head of the three departments was the King. Effective judiciary made sure that crime was under control and the offenders got the apt punishments for their crimes.

The ancient Indian government had an effective way of keeping tabs on what people thought of the administration. This was kept in check by a very secretive system of spies. The king used to be updated about what is happening in his kingdom regularly by these spies who used to roam around in the kingdom in disguise. There was effective military and the soldiers were well trained in the art of warfare. There were regular updates of population, birth rate, death rate, etc. Despite a huge empire, administration was controlled and highly effective in ancient India.

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Ancient India Religion

India has been a very religious country since time immemorial. The birth and growth of civilization paved the way for different religions to spring up. In pre-historic times, there were no religions as such but people worshipped various forces of nature like the Sun, Moon, Thunder, etc. As the society grew, complex religious practices came into existence. With the emergence of the priestly class, there were a multitude of changes in the religions in India.

Every region had its own religious practice and belief. The Holy Scriptures like Vedas, Upanishads and epics talk about the ancient religious practices of India. They talk about elaborate "Yagnas", sacrifices, importance of fire in a ritual, etc. that were an integral part of the religious practices. Hinduism was one of the earliest religions to be founded in India and it is also considered to be one of the world's oldest religions. Even today, Hinduism has the maximum number of followers in India and the beliefs and traditions have not changed since ancient times.

With time, Buddhism and Jainism came into being and new principles of spiritual knowledge came into being. People started to believe in re-birth, re-incarnation and the philosophy of Karma. New beliefs and practices came into being and the meaning of religion took an entirely new turn. Some customs went a bit far to implement themselves and were opposed by people. The society became oppressive of certain religious practices and many smaller religions and beliefs came into being. The ancient religions of India laid a strong foundation of religious practices that are followed till date.

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Ancient India Timeline

The ancient history of India is as old as the country itself. The ancient civilizations that were cradled in the rich lands of India laid a strong foundation for the present day cities. The civilizations started off with a crude and unrefined form of governance and lifestyle. With the arrival of big kingdoms, administration became organized and many new developments took place. Different important events slowly shaped up the country of India as we know it now. The rich historical legacy of ancient India is covered here in the form of a timeline. This Indian time line presents the ancient history in a summarized version.

2000 BC to 1000 BC
In this time period, the following developments took place:

The Harappa and Mohenjodaro Communities formed as well as prospered between 2500 and 1550 BC.
During this time, the Dravidian traditions were also established in the South


1000 BC - 600 BC
This time period saw:

The Aryans migrating to the Indian subcontinent
The composition of the Vedas
The composition of Indian epic Mahabharata
The expansion as well as propagation of Hinduism
The establishment of caste system


600 BC - 400 BC
The time of 600 to 400 BC recorded the following developments:

The birth, enlightenment and popularity of Gautama Buddha (563 to 483 BC)
The birth, enlightenment and popularity of Lord Mahavira (599 BC)
Rule of Bimbisara of Magadha (542 to 490 BC)
The rise of Jainism


400 BC - 0 BC
In this time period, history witnessed:

Invasion of India by the Great Alexander (326 BC)
Rule of Chandra Gupta Maurya (300 BC)
Establishment of the Indian Empire
Rule Emperor Ashoka (272 BC)
Spread of Buddhism
Rise of Mauryan Empire


0 BC - 1200 A.D
The final stage of Ancient India saw the following events:

Construction of Khajuraho Temples
Reign of Hoysala Dynasty
Construction of Belur and Halebid temples
Rule of the Gupta Empire (320 to 647 AD)
Reign by the Pallavas of Kanchi (300 to 888 AD)
Coming of Chinese Traveler, Fa-Hien to India (400 AD)
Coming of Chinese Traveler, Hiuen-Tsiang to India (630 AD)
Invasion of Somnath Temple by Mahmud Ghazni (1026 AD)