History of India

The History of India for times preceding 1947 is inseparable from that of the history of the Indian subcontinent as a whole. The neolithic Indus Valley civilization in the 3rd millennium BCE extended over much of what is now Pakistan and the western Republic of India. The Vedic civilization until the 1st millennium BCE spread over all of northern India, from the Punjab and the Gangetic plain to Bangladesh, so that with the beginning historical period of the Middle kingdoms, northern India was dominated by the Arya, while in the south Dravidian culture was prominent. From the 10th century, Islamic empires were established in northwestern India, culminating with the Mughal era. The history of Colonial India begins in the 17th century, leading up to British control after the revolt of 1857. The independence movement resulted in a split of the British Raj into the contemporary states of the Republic of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The Bronze age

Indus Valley Civilization

The transition of settlements from agricultural to complex urban communities occurred sometime between the early settlements at Mehrgarh, and 3000 BCE. This period marked the beginning of the earliest urban society in India, known as the Indus Valley Civilization, also called the Harappan civilization, which thrived between 2800 BCE and 1800 BCE. It was centred along the Saraswati and Indus Rivers and their tributaries, and extended into the Ganges-Yamuna Doab, Gujarat, and northern Afghanistan.

Related Topics:
3000 BCE - Indus Valley Civilization - Harappan - 2800 BCE - 1800 BCE - Saraswati - Indus River - Ganges-Yamuna Doab - Gujarat - Afghanistan

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The civilization is noted for its cities built of brick, road-side drainage system and multi-storey houses. The earliest historic references to India may be those to the Meluhha in Sumerian records, possibly referring to the Indus Valley civilization. When compared to the contemporary civilizations of Egypt and Sumeria, the Indus Civilization possessed unique urban planning techniques, covered the largest geographical area, and may have been a single state, as suggested by the amazing uniformity of its measurement systems.

Related Topics:
Meluhha - Egypt - Sumeria

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The Mohenjo-daro ruins were once the centre of this ancient society. Indus Civilization settlements spread as far south as Bombay, as far east as Delhi, as far west as the Iranian border, and as far north as the Himalayas. Among the settlements were the major urban centres of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, as well as Dholavira, Ganweriwala, Lothal, and Rakhigarhi. At its peak, some archaeologists opine that the Indus Civilization may have had a population of well over five million. To date, over 2,500 cities and settlements have been found, mainly in the general region to the east of the Indus River in Pakistan along what is said by many to be the Saraswati River of the Vedas, currently known as the seasonally active Ghaggar-Hakra River. It is thought by some that geological disturbances and climate change may have been responsible for the drying up of the Saraswati River, leading to a gradual aridization of the region, ultimately leading to the civilization's downfall.

Related Topics:
Mohenjo-daro - Bombay - Delhi - Iran - Himalaya - Harappa - Lothal - Vedas - Ghaggar - Hakra River

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Archaeological resources suggest that the diverse geography of ancient India was increasing in the amount and specialization of faunal remains around the era of 2400 and 1000 BCE. This specialization suggests that the Indus valley civilizations were dependent upon the alluvial soils of the Rivers, which produced high yields of cereal grains, and cultivated plant materials. By the time of 2700 BCE, the presence of a state level society is evident, complete with hierarchical rule and large scale public works (irrigation, etc.). Around the mid 2nd millennium BCE, the region of the River Basin in which approximately two-thirds of known sites were located dried, and the sites were abandoned.

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Vedic civilization

The Vedic civilization is the Indo-Aryan culture associated with the Vedas, which are the oldest extant Indo-European texts, composed in Vedic Sanskrit. The exact connection of the genesis of this civilization with the Indus Valley civilization on one hand, and a possible Indo-Aryan migration on the other hand, is the subject of disputes. Early Vedic society was largely pastoral. Later on, the society became agricultural, and was organized around four Varnas, or classes. Several small kingdoms and tribes merged to form a few large ones which were often at war with each other.

Related Topics:
Indo-Aryan - Veda - Vedic Sanskrit - Indo-Aryan migration - Pastoral - Agricultural - Varna

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In addition to the principle texts of Hinduism, (the Vedas), the great Indian epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata, the latter of which constitutes the longest poem in the world, are said to have been first written during this period, perhaps from a longer spoken tradition of unwritten recitation. The Bhagavad Gita, another primary text of Hinduism, is contained within the Mahabharata.

Related Topics:
Vedas - Ramayana - Mahabharata - Bhagavad Gita

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Early Indo-Aryan presence probably corresponds to Ochre Coloured Pottery, archaeologically. The kingdom of the Kurus marks flowering of the Vedic civilization, corresponding to the Black and Red Ware and the beginning of the Iron Age in Northern India begins, around 1100 BCE, likely also contemporary with the composition of the Atharvaveda. Painted Grey Ware spread over all of Northern India marks the late Vedic period, corresponding to a wave of urbanization occurred across the Indian sub-continent, spreading from Afghanistan to Bengal, in the 7th century BCE. A number of kingdoms and republics emerged across the Indo-Gangetic plain and southern India during this period. 16 Mahajanapadas (great kingdoms) are referred to in ancient literature of the period.

Related Topics:
Ochre Coloured Pottery - Kurus - Black and Red Ware - Iron Age - 1100 BCE - Atharvaveda - Painted Grey Ware - Afghanistan - Bengal - 7th century BCE - Kingdom - Republic - Indo-Gangetic plain - Mahajanapadas

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