User:Arunendra Singh/sandbox
== Bargahi ==
Hindustan is derived from the Old Persian word Hindu, which in turn is derived from Sindhu, the Sanskrit name for the Indus River.[3] Old Persian refers to the people living beyond the Indus as Hinduš. This combined with the Avestan suffix -stān (cognate to Sanskrit "sthān", both meaning "place")[4] results in Hindustan, as the land on the other side (from Persia) of the Indus. The term came into common use under the rule of the Mughals who referred to their dominion, centred on Delhi, as 'Hindustan'. A similar term, Indostan, was in common use during the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries to denote the countries of South Asia. Today "Indostan" is regarded as an archaism. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search This article is about the history of the Indian subcontinent 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, see History of Pakistan and History of Bangladesh. "Indian history" redirects here. For other uses, see Native American history. Page semi-protected Part of a series on the History of India Ajanta Padmapani.jpg Chronology of Indian history Ancient India
Prehistoric India and Vedic India
Religions, Society, Mahajanapadas Mauryan Period Economy, Spread of Buddhism, Chanakya, Satavahana Empire The Golden Age Discoveries, Aryabhata, Ramayana, Mahabharata Medieval India The Classical Age Gurjara-Pratihara Pala Empire Rashtrakuta Empire Art, Philosophy, Literature Islam in India Delhi Sultanate, Vijayanagara Empire, Music, Guru Nanak Mughal India Architecture, Maratha Confederacy Modern India Company Rule Zamindari system, Warren Hastings, Mangal Pandey, 1857 British Indian Empire Hindu reforms, Bengal Renaissance, Independence struggle, Mahatma Gandhi Subhas Chandra Bose
v t e
Outline of South Asian history History of Indian subcontinent
Stone age (7000–3000 BC)
Mehrgarh Culture (7000–3300 BC)
Bronze age (3000–1300 BC)
Indus Valley Civilization (3300–1700 BC)
– Early Harappan Culture (3300–2600 BC)
– Mature Harappan Culture (2600–1900 BC)
– Late Harappan Culture (1700–1300 BC)
Ochre Coloured Pottery culture (from 2000 BC)
Swat culture (1600–500 BC)
Iron age (1200–26 BC)
Vedic period (2000–500 BC)
– Black and Red ware culture (1300–1000 BC)
– Painted Grey Ware culture (1200–600 BC)
– Northern Black Polished Ware (700–200 BC)
– Maha Janapadas (700–300 BC)
– Magadha Kingdom (500–321 BC)
Haryanka Kingdom (684–424 BC)
Shishunaga Kingdom (413–345 BC)
Ror Kingdom (450 BC–489 AD)
Nanda Empire (424–321 BC)
Pandya Empire (300 BC–1345 AD)
Chera Kingdom (300 BC–1102 AD)
Chola Empire (300 BC–1279 AD)
Maurya Empire (321–184 BC)
Pallava Empire (250 BC–800 AD)
Sunga Empire (185–73 BC)
Kanva Empire (75–26 BC)
Maha-Megha-Vahana Empire (250s BC–400s AD)
Satavahana Empire (230–220 BC)
Kuninda Kingdom (200s BC–300s AD)
Indo-Scythian Kingdom (200 BC–400 AD)
Indo-Greek Kingdom (180 BC–10 AD)
Classical period (1–1279 AD)
Indo-Parthian Kingdom (21–130s AD) Western Satrap Empire (35–405 AD) Kushan Empire (60–240 AD) Indo-Sassanid Kingdom (230–360 AD) Vakataka Empire (250s–500s AD) Kalabhras Empire (250–600 AD) Gupta Empire (280–550 AD) Kadamba Empire (345–525 AD) Western Ganga Kingdom (350–1000 AD) Kamarupa Kingdom (350–1100 AD) Vishnukundina Empire (420–624 AD) Maitraka Empire (475–767 AD) Huna Kingdom (475–576 AD) Rai Kingdom (489–632 AD) Chalukya Empire (543–753 AD) Shahi Empire (500s–1026 AD) Maukhari Empire (550s–700s AD) Harsha Empire (590–647 AD) Eastern Chalukya Kingdom (624–1075 AD) Gurjara Pratihara Empire (650–1036 AD) Pala Empire (750–1174 AD) Rashtrakuta Empire (753–982 AD) Paramara Kingdom (800–1327 AD) Yadava Empire (850–1334 AD) Solanki Kingdom (942–1244 AD) Western Chalukya Empire (973–1189 AD) Lohara Kingdom (1003-1320 AD) Hoysala Empire (1040–1346 AD) Sena Empire (1070–1230 AD) Eastern Ganga Empire (1078–1434 AD) Kakatiya Kingdom (1083–1323 AD) Kalachuri Empire (1130–1184 AD)
Late medieval age (1206–1596 AD)
Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526 AD)
– Mamluk Sultanate (1206–1290 AD)
– Khilji Sultanate (1290–1320 AD)
– Tughlaq Sultanate (1320–1414 AD)
– Sayyid Sultanate (1414–1451 AD)
– Lodi Sultanate (1451–1526 AD)
Ahom Kingdom (1228–1826 AD)
Reddy Kingdom (1325–1448 AD)
Vijayanagara Empire (1336–1646 AD)
Gajapati Kingdom (1434–1541 AD)
Deccan Sultanates (1490–1596 AD)
Early modern period (1526–1858 AD)
Mughal Empire (1526–1858 AD) Maratha Empire (1674–1818 AD) Durrani Empire (1747–1823 AD) Sikh Empire (1799–1849 AD)
Other states (1102–1947 AD)
Zamorin Kingdom (1102–1766 AD) Deva Kingdom (1200s–1300s AD) Chitradurga Kingdom (1300–1779 AD) Garhwal Kingdom (1358–1803 AD) Mysore Kingdom (1399–1947 AD) Keladi Kingdom (1499–1763 AD) Koch Kingdom (1515–1947 AD) Thondaiman Kingdom (1650–1948 AD) Madurai Kingdom (1559–1736 AD) Thanjavur Kingdom (1572–1918 AD) Marava Kingdom (1600–1750 AD) Sikh Confederacy (1707–1799 AD) Travancore Kingdom (1729–1947 AD)
Colonial period (1505–1961 AD)
Portuguese India (1510–1961 AD) Dutch India (1605–1825 AD) Danish India (1620–1869 AD) French India (1759–1954 AD) Company Raj (1757–1858 AD) British Raj (1858–1947 AD) Partition of India (1947 AD)
Kingdoms of Sri Lanka
Kingdom of Tambapanni (543–505 BC) Kingdom of Upatissa Nuwara (505–377 BC) Kingdom of Anuradhapura (377 BC–1017 AD) Kingdom of Ruhuna (200 AD) Polonnaruwa Kingdom (300–1310 AD) Kingdom of Dambadeniya (1220–1272 AD) Kingdom of Yapahuwa (1272–1293 AD) Kingdom of Kurunegala (1293–1341 AD) Kingdom of Gampola (1341–1347 AD) Kingdom of Raigama (1347–1415 AD) Kingdom of Kotte (1412–1597 AD) Kingdom of Sitawaka (1521–1594 AD) Kingdom of Kandy (1469–1815 AD) Portuguese Ceylon (1505–1658 AD) Dutch Ceylon (1656–1796 AD) British Ceylon (1815–1948 AD)
Nation histories
Afghanistan Bangladesh Bhutan India Maldives Nepal Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Regional histories
Assam Bihar Balochistan Bengal Himachal Pradesh Maharashtra Uttar Pradesh Pakistani Regions Punjab NWFP Orissa Sindh South India Tibet
Specialised histories
Coinage Dynasties Economy Indology Language Literature Maritime Military Pakistan Studies Science & Technology Timeline
v t e
The history of India begins with evidence of human activity of Homo sapiens as long as 75,000 years ago, or with earlier hominids including Homo erectus from about 500,000 years ago.[1] The Indus Valley Civilization, which spread and flourished in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent from c. 3300 to 1300 BCE in present-day Pakistan and northwest India, was the first major civilization in South Asia.[2] A sophisticated and technologically advanced urban culture developed in the Mature Harappan period, from 2600 to 1900 BCE.[3] This Bronze Age civilization collapsed before the end of the second millennium BCE and was followed by the Iron Age Vedic Civilization, which extended over much of the Indo-Gangetic plain and which witnessed the rise of major polities known as the Mahajanapadas. In one of these kingdoms, Magadha, Mahavira and Gautama Buddha were born in the 6th or 5th century BCE and propagated their śramanic philosophies.
Most of the subcontinent was conquered by the Maurya Empire during the 4th and 3rd centuries BCE. It became fragmented, with various parts ruled by numerous Middle kingdoms for the next 1,500 years. This is known as the classical period of Indian history, during which time India has sometimes been estimated to have had the largest economy of the ancient and medieval world, with its huge population generating between one fourth and one third of the world's income up to the 18th century. Much of northern and central India was united in the 4th century CE, and remained so for two centuries, under the Gupta Empire. This period, witnessing a Hindu religious and intellectual resurgence, is known as the "Golden Age of India". From this time, and for several centuries afterwards, southern India, under the rule of the Chalukyas, Cholas, Pallavas, and Pandyas, experienced its own golden age. During this period, aspects of Indian civilization, administration, culture, and religion (Hinduism and Buddhism) spread to much of Asia.
Kingdoms in southern India had maritime business links with the Roman Empire from around 77 CE. Muslim rule in the subcontinent began in 8th century CE when the Arab general Muhammad bin Qasim conquered Sindh and Multan in southern Punjab in modern day Pakistan,[4] setting the stage for several successive invasions from Central Asia between the 10th and 15th centuries CE, leading to the formation of Muslim empires in the Indian subcontinent such as the Delhi Sultanate and the Mughal Empire. Mughal rule came from Central Asia to cover most of the northern parts of the subcontinent. Mughal rulers introduced Central Asian art and architecture to India. In addition to the Mughals and various Rajput kingdoms, several independent Hindu states, such as the Vijayanagara Empire, the Maratha Empire, Eastern Ganga Empire and the Ahom Kingdom, flourished contemporaneously in southern, western, eastern and northeastern India respectively. The Mughal Empire suffered a gradual decline in the early 18th century, which provided opportunities for the Afghans, Balochis, Sikhs, and Marathas to exercise control over large areas in the northwest of the subcontinent until the British East India Company gained ascendancy over South Asia.[5]
Beginning in the mid-18th century and over the next century, large areas of India were annexed by the British East India Company. Dissatisfaction with Company rule led to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, after which the British provinces of India were directly administered by the British Crown and witnessed a period of both rapid development of infrastructure and economic decline. During the first half of the 20th century, a nationwide struggle for independence was launched by the Indian National Congress and later joined by the Muslim League. The subcontinent gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, after the British provinces were partitioned into the dominions of India and Pakistan and the princely states all acceded to one of the new states. Contents
1 Prehistoric era
1.1 Stone Age
1.2 Bronze Age
2 Early historic period
2.1 Vedic period
2.2 Mahajanapadas
2.3 Persian and Greek conquests
2.4 Maurya Empire
3 Early Middle Kingdoms — The Golden Age
3.1 Northwestern hybrid cultures
3.2 Kushan Empire
3.3 Roman trade with India
3.4 Gupta rule
4 Late Middle Kingdoms — The Late-Classical Age
5 The Islamic Sultanates
5.1 Delhi Sultanate
6 Early modern period
6.1 Mughal Empire
6.2 Post-Mughal period
6.2.1 Maratha Empire
6.2.2 Sikh Empire (North-west)
6.2.3 Other kingdoms
7 Colonial era
7.1 Company rule in India
7.2 The rebellion of 1857 and its consequences
8 British Raj
8.1 Reforms
8.2 Famines
8.3 The Indian independence movement
9 Independence and partition
10 Historiography
11 See also
12 References
13 Sources
14 Further reading
14.1 Historiography
15 Online sources
16 External links
Prehistoric era Stone Age Main article: South Asian Stone Age Further information: Mehrgarh, Bhimbetka rock shelters, and Edakkal Caves Bhimbetka rock painting, Madhya Pradesh, India (c. 30,000 years old) Stone age (5000 BC) writings of Edakkal Caves in Kerala, India.
Isolated remains of Homo erectus in Hathnora in the Narmada Valley in central India indicate that India might have been inhabited since at least the Middle Pleistocene era, somewhere between 500,000 and 200,000 years ago.[6][7] Tools crafted by proto-humans that have been dated back two million years have been discovered in the northwestern part of the subcontinent.[8][9] The ancient history of the region includes some of South Asia's oldest settlements[10] and some of its major civilizations.[11][12] The earliest archaeological site in the subcontinent is the palaeolithic hominid site in the Soan River valley.[13] Soanian sites are found in the Sivalik region across what are now India, Pakistan, and Nepal.[14]
The Mesolithic period in the Indian subcontinent was followed by the Neolithic period, when more extensive settlement of the subcontinent occurred after the end of the last Ice Age approximately 12,000 years ago. The first confirmed semipermanent settlements appeared 9,000 years ago in the Bhimbetka rock shelters in modern Madhya Pradesh, India. Early Neolithic culture in South Asia is represented by the Bhirrana findings (7500 BCE)in Haryana, India & Mehrgarh findings (7000 BCE onwards) in Balochistan, Pakistan.[15][16] Traces of a Neolithic culture have been alleged to be submerged in the Gulf of Khambat in India, radiocarbon dated to 7500 BCE.[17] However, the one dredged piece of wood in question was found in an area of strong ocean currents. Neolithic agriculture cultures sprang up in the Indus Valley region around 5000 BCE, in the lower Gangetic valley around 3000 BCE, and in later South India, spreading southwards and also northwards into Malwa around 1800 BCE. The first urban civilization of the region began with the Indus Valley Civilization.[18] Bronze Age Main article: Indus Valley Civilization See also: Economic history of India and Timeline of the economy of India The docks of ancient Lothal as they appear today. "Priest King" of Indus Valley Civilization
The Bronze Age in the Indian subcontinent began around 3300 BCE with the early Indus Valley Civilization. It was centered on the Indus River and its tributaries which extended into the Ghaggar-Hakra River valley,[11] the Ganges-Yamuna Doab,[19] Gujarat,[20] and southeastern Afghanistan.[21]
The civilization is primarily located in modern-day India (Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan provinces) and Pakistan (Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan provinces). Historically part of Ancient India, it is one of the world's earliest urban civilizations, along with Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt.[22] Inhabitants of the ancient Indus river valley, the Harappans, developed new techniques in metallurgy and handicraft (carneol products, seal carving), and produced copper, bronze, lead, and tin.
The Mature Indus civilization flourished from about 2600 to 1900 BCE, marking the beginning of urban civilization on the subcontinent. The civilization included urban centers such as Dholavira, Kalibangan, Rupar, Rakhigarhi, and Lothal in modern-day India, and Harappa, Ganeriwala, and Mohenjo-daro in modern-day Pakistan. The civilization is noted for its cities built of brick, roadside drainage system, and multistoried houses.