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• The Outer Himalayas (the Siwalik Range)
• The Lesser Himalayas
• The Great Himalayas
• Associated ranges and hills
• The Indo-Gangetic Plain
• The Western Ghats
• The Eastern Ghats
• Inland regions
• Coastal areas
• The Ganges-Brahmaputra river system
• Peninsular rivers
• Drainage into the Arabian Sea
• Lakes and inland drainage
• Red-to-yellow soils
• Black soils
• Alluvial soils
• The southwest monsoon
• Rainfall during the retreating monsoon
• Tropical cyclones
• Importance to agriculture
• Temperatures
• Reptiles, fish, and insects
• Conservation
• Ethnic groups
• Indo-European languages
• Dravidian and other languages
• Lingua francas
• Minor languages and dialects
• Population density
• Rural settlement
• Urban settlement
• Demographic trends
• Resources and power
• Manufacturing
• Labour and taxation
• Railways and roads
• Water and air transport
• Telecommunications
• Constitutional structure
• Executive branch
• Legislative branch
• Bureaucracy
• Foreign policy
• State and local governments
• Political process
• Health and welfare
• Cultural milieu
• Family and kinship
• Festivals and holidays
• Architecture
• Dance and music
• Theatre, film, and literature
• Cultural institutions
• Sports and recreation
• Media and publishing
• The Indian Paleolithic
• Mesolithic hunters
• Neolithic agriculture in the Indus valley and Baluchistan
• Developments in the Ganges basin
• Earliest settlements in peninsular India
• Earliest settlements in eastern India
• Extent and chronology of Early Harappan culture
• Principal sites
• Subsistence and technology
• Culture and religion
• Character and significance
• Planning and architecture
• Mohenjo-daro
• Other important sites
• Agriculture and animal husbandry
• Communications
• Craft and technology
• Trade and external contacts
• Language and scripts, weights and measures
• Social and political system
• Religion and burial customs
• The end of the Indus civilization
• The Post-Urban Period in northwestern India
• The appearance of Indo-Aryan speakers
• The late 2nd millennium and the reemergence of urbanism
• Peninsular India in the aftermath of the Indus civilization (c. 2000–1000 bce )
• Traditional approaches to Indian historiography
• Trends in early Indian society
• Early Vedic period
• Later Vedic period (c. 800–c. 500 bce )
• Political systems
• Magadhan ascendancy
• Campaigns of Alexander the Great
• Chandragupta Maurya
• Ashoka and his successors
• Financial base for the empire
• Mauryan society
• Mauryan government
• Ashoka’s edicts
• Mauryan decline
• The concept of the state
• Indo-Greek rulers
• Central Asian rulers
• Oligarchies and kingdoms
• The Shunga kingdom
• The Andhras and their successors
• Southern Indian kingdoms
• Contacts with the West
• Impact of trade
• Religious patronage
• Assimilation of foreigners
• Successor states
• Southern India
• Society and culture
• The tripartite struggle
• The Rajputs
• The coming of the Turks
• The Hoysalas and Pandyas
• The economy
• Social mobility
• Literature and the arts
• The Turkish conquest
• The early Turkish sultans
• Consolidation of the sultanate
• The Khaljīs
• Centralization and expansion
• Taxation and distribution of revenue resources
• Expansion and conquests
• The urban economy
• The Tughluqs
• Reversal and rebellion
• Society and the state under the Tughluqs
• Decline of the sultanate
• The rise of regional states
• Struggle for supremacy in northern India
• Bahmanī consolidation of the Deccan
• External and internal rivalries
• Vizierate of Maḥmūd Gāwān
• Bahmanī decline
• Successors to the Bahmanī
• Consolidation
• Wars and rivalries
• Decentralization and loss of territory
• Reconsolidation
• Growth of power
• Renewed decentralization
• Relations with the Muslim states
• Military policies
• Loss of central control
• Breakup of the empire
• Administration of the empire
• The significance of Mughal rule
• Conquest of Hindustan
• Bābur’s achievements
• Sher Shah and his successors
• Restoration of Humāyūn
• The early years
• Struggle for firm personal control
• Subjugation of Rajasthan
• Conquest of Gujarat and Bengal
• The frontiers
• Central, provincial, and local government
• The composition of the Mughal nobility
• Organization of the nobility and the army
• Revenue system
• Fiscal administration
• Evolution of a nonsectarian state
• Akbar in historical perspective
• Loss of Kandahār
• Submission of Mewar
• Developments in the Deccan
• Rebellion of Khurram (Shah Jahān)
• Mahābat Khan’s coup
• The Deccan problem
• Central Asian policy
• War of succession
• Local and peasant uprisings
• Assessment of Aurangzeb
• The Sikh uprisings
• Cracks in the core
• Struggle for a new power center
• The emperor, the nobility, and the provinces
• Nādir Shah’s invasion
• The Afghan-Maratha struggle for northern India
• Political and economic decentralization during the Mughal decline
• Early history
• Rise of the peshwa s
• Subordinate Maratha rulers
• The case of Mysore
• Challenge from the northwest
• The Afghan factor in northern India, 1747–72
• From Banda Singh Bahadur to Ranjit Singh
• Rajasthan in the 18th century
• The south: Travancore and Mysore
• Politics and the economy
• Cultural aspects of the late precolonial order
• The Portuguese
• The British, 1600–1740
• The Anglo-French struggle, 1740–63
• European military superiority
• Revolution in Bengal
• The period of disorder, 1760–72
• The Company Bahadur
• The company and the state
• Relations with the Marathas and Mysore
• The government of Lord Wellesley
• The government of Lord Minto
• The government of Lord Hastings
• The settlement of 1818
• Organization
• The determination of policy
• The completion of dominion and expansion
• Political effects
• Economic effects
• Social effects
• Cultural effects
• Nature and causes of the rebellion
• The revolt and its aftermath
• Government of India Act of 1858
• Social policy
• Government organization
• Economic policy and development
• The northwest frontier
• The Second Anglo-Afghan War
• The incorporation of Burma
• Origins of the nationalist movement
• The early Congress movement
• The first partition of Bengal
• Nationalism in the Muslim community
• Reforms of the British Liberals
• Moderate and militant nationalism
• India’s contributions to the war effort
• Anti-British activity
• The postwar years
• Jallianwala Bagh massacre
• Gandhi’s strategy
• Constitutional reforms
• The Congress’s ambivalent strategy
• Muslim separatism
• The impact of World War II
• British wartime strategy
• The transfer of power and the birth of two countries
• Government and politics
• Economic planning and development
• The 1965 war with Pakistan
• Indira Gandhi’s impact
• The Bangladesh war
• Emergency rule
• The Janata interlude and the return of Indira Gandhi
• Sikh separatism
• The premiership of Rajiv Gandhi
• V.P. Singh’s coalition—its brief rise and fall
• Congress government of P.V. Narasimha Rao
• The BJP becomes the largest party in the Lok Sabha
• BJP gains in elections
• Divisiveness of BJP government
• Domestic policy
• Monetary and tax reforms
• BJP reelection bids and tensions in Kashmir
• Addressing COVID-19 and its economic impact
• Pre-Mughal Indian dynasties
• Prime ministers of India

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• The Embassy of the Russian Federation in the Republic of India - October Revolution and the Indian Struggle (1986)
• National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Generic drugs – The Indian scenario
• Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - India
• Academia - Retable art in India: its importance, the empathic apathy and the future. Cultural aspects concerning conservation
• Official Site of the Embassy of India in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
• Academia - Al-Biruni's India
• India - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
• India - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
• Table Of Contents

What countries border India?

India shares borders with Pakistan to the northwest; with Nepal, China, and Bhutan to the north; and with Myanmar and Bangladesh to the east. The island country of Sri Lanka is situated some 40 miles (65 kilometres) off the southeast coast of India.

The expansive alluvial plains of the Indus and Ganges (Ganga) river basins in India provided the environment and focus for the rise of two great phases of city life: the civilization of the Indus valley, known as the Indus civilization, during the 3rd millennium BCE; and, during the 1st millennium BCE, that of the Ganges.

The major secular holidays are Independence Day (August 15) and Republic Day (January 26). The most popular religious festivals celebrated over the greater part of India are Vasantpanchami, in honour of Sarasvati, the goddess of learning; Holi, a time when traditional hierarchical relationships are forgotten and celebrants throw coloured water and powder at one another; Dussehra, when the story of the Ramayana is reenacted, and Diwali (Divali), a time for lighting lamps and exchanging gifts.

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India , country that occupies the greater part of South Asia . It is made up of 28 states and eight union territories , and its national capital is New Delhi , built in the 20th century just south of the historic hub of Old Delhi to serve as India’s administrative center. Its government is a constitutional republic that represents a highly diverse population consisting of thousands of ethnic groups and hundreds of languages. India became the world’s most populous country in 2023, according to estimates by the United Nations .

It is known from archaeological evidence that a highly sophisticated urbanized culture—the Indus civilization —dominated the northwestern part of the subcontinent from about 2600 to 2000 bce . From that period on, India functioned as a virtually self-contained political and cultural arena, which gave rise to a distinctive tradition that was associated primarily with Hinduism , the roots of which possibly can be traced to the Indus civilization. Other religions, notably Buddhism and Jainism , originated in India—though their presence there is now quite small—and throughout the centuries residents of the subcontinent developed a rich intellectual life in such fields as mathematics, astronomy, architecture, literature, music, and the fine arts.

Throughout its history, India was intermittently disturbed by incursions from beyond its northern mountain wall. Especially important was the coming of Islam , brought from the northwest by Arab, Turkish, Persian, and other raiders beginning early in the 8th century ce . Eventually, some of those raiders stayed; by the 13th century much of the subcontinent was under Muslim rule, and the number of Muslims steadily increased. Only after the arrival of the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama in 1498 and the subsequent establishment of European maritime supremacy in the region did India become exposed to major external influences arriving by sea, a process that culminated in the decline of the ruling Muslim elite and absorption of the subcontinent within the British Empire .

Direct administration by the British, which began in 1858, effected a political and economic unification of the subcontinent. As a result of the Indian Independence Movement , British rule came to an end on August 14-15, 1947, celebrated annually as Independence Day . The subcontinent was then partitioned along religious lines into two separate countries—India, with a majority of Hindus, and Pakistan , with a majority of Muslims; the eastern portion of Pakistan later split off to form Bangladesh . Many British institutions stayed in place (such as the parliamentary system of government); English continued to be a widely used lingua franca; and India remained within the Commonwealth . Hindi became the official language (and a number of other local languages achieved official status), while a vibrant English-language intelligentsia thrived .

India remains one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. Apart from its many religions and sects, India is home to innumerable castes and tribes, as well as to more than a dozen major and hundreds of minor linguistic groups from several language families unrelated to one another. Religious minorities, including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains, still account for a significant proportion of the population. Earnest attempts have been made to instill a spirit of nationhood in so varied a population, but tensions between neighboring groups have remained and at times have resulted in outbreaks of violence. Yet social legislation has done much to alleviate the disabilities previously suffered by formerly “ untouchable ” castes, tribal populations, women, and other traditionally disadvantaged segments of society. At independence, India was blessed with several leaders of world stature, most notably Mohandas Karamchand (Mahatma) Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru , who were able to galvanize the masses at home and bring prestige to India abroad. The country has played an increasing role in global affairs.

Contemporary India’s increasing physical prosperity and cultural dynamism—despite continued domestic challenges and economic inequality—are seen in its well-developed infrastructure and a highly diversified industrial base, in its pool of scientific and engineering personnel (one of the largest in the world), in the pace of its agricultural expansion, and in its rich and vibrant cultural exports of music, literature, and cinema. Though the country’s population remains largely rural, India has three of the most populous and cosmopolitan cities in the world— Mumbai (Bombay), Kolkata (Calcutta), and Delhi . Three other Indian cities— Bengaluru (Bangalore), Chennai (Madras), and Hyderabad —are among the world’s fastest-growing high-technology centers, and most of the world’s major information technology and software companies now have offices in India.

The history section of the articles Pakistan and Bangladesh discuss those countries since their creation.

India’s frontier, which is roughly one-third coastline, abuts six countries. It is bounded to the northwest by Pakistan , to the north by Nepal , China , and Bhutan ; and to the east by Myanmar (Burma). Bangladesh to the east is surrounded by India to the north, east, and west. The island country of Sri Lanka is situated some 40 miles (65 km) off the southeast coast of India across the Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar .

The land of India—together with Bangladesh and most of Pakistan—forms a well-defined subcontinent, set off from the rest of Asia by the imposing northern mountain rampart of the Himalayas and by adjoining mountain ranges to the west and east. In area, India ranks as the seventh largest country in the world.

Much of India’s territory lies within a large peninsula, surrounded by the Arabian Sea to the west and the Bay of Bengal to the east; Cape Comorin (Kanniyakumari), the southernmost point of the Indian mainland, marks the dividing line between those two bodies of water. India has two union territories composed entirely of islands: Lakshadweep , in the Arabian Sea, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands , which lie between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea .

It is now generally accepted that India’s geographic position, continental outline, and basic geologic structure resulted from a process of plate tectonics —the shifting of enormous, rigid crustal plates over the Earth’s underlying layer of molten material. India’s landmass, which forms the northwestern portion of the Indian-Australian Plate , began to drift slowly northward toward the much larger Eurasian Plate several hundred million years ago (after the former broke away from the ancient southern-hemispheric supercontinent known as Gondwana , or Gondwanaland). When the two finally collided (approximately 50 million years ago), the northern edge of the Indian-Australian Plate was thrust under the Eurasian Plate at a low angle. The collision reduced the speed of the oncoming plate, but the underthrusting, or subduction, of the plate has continued into contemporary times.

The effects of the collision and continued subduction are numerous and extremely complicated. An important consequence, however, was the slicing off of crustal rock from the top of the underthrusting plate. Those slices were thrown back onto the northern edge of the Indian landmass and came to form much of the Himalayan mountain system. The new mountains—together with vast amounts of sediment eroded from them—were so heavy that the Indian-Australian Plate just south of the range was forced downward, creating a zone of crustal subsidence. Continued rapid erosion of the Himalayas added to the sediment accumulation, which was subsequently carried by mountain streams to fill the subsidence zone and cause it to sink more.

India’s present-day relief features have been superimposed on three basic structural units: the Himalayas in the north, the Deccan (peninsular plateau region) in the south, and the Indo-Gangetic Plain (lying over the subsidence zone) between the two. Further information on the geology of India is found in the article Asia .

Indian History Timeline

Indian timeline takes us on a journey of the history of the subcontinent. Right from the ancient India, which included Bangladesh and Pakistan, to the free and divided India, this time line covers each and every aspect related to the past as well as present of the country. Read on further to explore the timeline of India:

Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (9000 BC to 7000 BC)

The earliest records of the Indian history exist in the form of the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka. These shelters are situated on the southern edge of the central Indian plateau, in the foothills of the Vindhyan Mountains. There are five groups of rock shelters, each of them adorned with paintings that are believed to date from the Mesolithic Period right through to the historical period. 

Mehrgarh Culture (7000 BC to 3300 BC)

Mehrgarh is one of the most significant sites belonging to the Neolithic Age. At the same time, it is one of the oldest sites that indicate the introduction of the concept of farming and herding. Situated on the Kachi plain of Baluchistan (Pakistan), it lies to the west of the Indus River valley. The site of Mehrgarh, spread over an area of 495-acre, was discovered in the year 1974. 

Indus Valley Civilization (3300 BC to 1700 BC)

The Indus Valley Civilization was discovered in the 1920s. The major events in the timeline of the Indus Valley are given below: 

Early Harappan Phase (3300 BC to 2600 BC)

The early Harappan Phase lasted for approximately 700 years, starting with the Ravi Phase. It is one of the three earliest urban civilizations and made use of an early form of the Indus script, known as Harappan script, for writing purposes. Around 2800 BC, the Kot Diji phase of the Indus Valley Civilization started. 

Mature Harappan Phase (2600 BC to 1700 BC)

The Mature Harappan Phase started around 2600 BC. Large cities and urban areas started emerging and the civilization expanded to over 2,500 cities and settlements. Urban planning, excellent sewage and drainage system, system of uniform weights and measures, knowledge of proto-dentistry, etc are some of the other elements that characterize the mature phase. 

Late Harappan Phase (1700 BC to 1300 BC)

The Late Harappan Phase began around 1700 BC and came to an end around 1300 BC. However, one can find many elements of the Indus Valley Civilization in later cultures. 

Vedic Period/Age (1700 BC to 500 BC)

The Vedic Period or the Vedic Age refers to the time of the compilation of the sacred Vedic Sanskrit texts in India. Situated on the Indo-Gangetic Plain, the Vedic Civilization formed the basis of Hinduism and the sIndian culture. The Vedic Period can be divided into the following two phases: 

Early Vedic/Rig Vedic Period (1700 BC to 1000 BC)

Early Vedic Period represents the time period when the Rig Veda was compiled. During this period, the king was believed to be the protector of the people, who took an active part in the government. The caste system started becoming rigid and the families started becoming patriarchal. The major events of this time are:

• 1700 BC - Late Harappan and Early Vedic period coincide
• 1300 BC - The end of Cemetery H culture
• 1000 BC - Iron Age of India

Later Vedic Age (1000 BC to 500 BC)

The emergence of the later Vedic period was marked with agriculture becoming the dominant economic activity and a decline in the significance of cattle rearing. The political organization changed completely, with the reduction in the involvement of people in the administration. The major events are: 

• 600 BC - The formation of Sixteen Maha Janapadas (Great Kingdoms)
• 599 BC - The birth of Mahavira, founder of Jainism 
• 563 BC - The birth of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha), founder of Buddhism 
• 538 BC - Cyrus the Great conquered parts of Pakistan 
• 500 BC - Earliest written records in Brahmi
• 500 BC - Panini standardized grammar and morphology of Sanskrit, converting it 
• into Classical Sanskrit. With this, the Vedic Civilization came to an end. 

Ancient India (500 BCE - 550 AD)

Rise of Jainism and Buddhism

Jainism or Jain Dharma is the religious philosophy that originated in the Ancient India. The religion is based on the teachings of the Tirthankaras. The 24th Tirthankara, Lord Mahavira, is credited with propagating the religion in the various parts of the world. Buddhism is based on the teachings of Lord Buddha, who was born as Prince Siddhartha Gautama. After attaining Enlightenment, Lord Buddha set on a task of teaching others how to achieve nirvana. His teachings were later propagated throughout the world by Emperor Asoka. The other major events of the Ancient Indian period are: 

• 333 BC - Darius III was defeated by Alexander the Great. The Macedonian Empire was established 
• 326 BC - Ambhi, King of Taxila surrendered to Alexander, Battle of the Hydaspes River 
• 321 BC - Chandra Gupta Maurya established the Maurya Empire
• 273 BC - Emperor Ashoka took over the Maurya Empire
• 266 BC - Ashoka conquered most of South Asia, Afghanistan and Iran 
• 265 BC - The battle of Kalinga, after which Emperor Ashoka embraced Buddhism 
• 232 BC: Ashoka died and was succeeded by Dasaratha
• 230 BC - Satavahana Empire was established 
• 200 to 100 BC - Tholkappiyam standardized grammar and morphology of Tamil 
• 184 BC - Collapse of Maurya Empire with the assassination of Emperor Brihadrata, Establishment of the Sunga dynasty 
• 180 BC - Establishment of the Indo-Greek kingdom 
• 80 BC - Establishment of the Indo-Scythian kingdom
• 10 BC - Establishment of the Indo-Parthian kingdom
• 68 AD - Establishment of the Kushan Empire by Kujula Kadphises 
• 78 AD - Gautamiputra Satkarni took over Satavahana Empire and defeated Scythian king Vikramaditya 
• 240 AD - Establishment of the Gupta Empire by Sri-Gupta
• 320 AD - Chandragupta I took over the Gupta Empire 
• 335 AD - Samudragupta took over the Gupta Empire and started expanding it 
• 350 AD - Establishment of the Pallava Empire 
• 380 AD - Chandragupta II took over the Gupta Empire 
• 399 to 414 AD - Chinese scholar Fa-Hien traveled to India 

Medieval Period (550 AD to 1526 AD)

The medieval period can be divided into the following two phases: 

Early Medieval Period (Upto 1300 AD)

• 606 AD - Harshavardhana became the King
• 630 AD - Hiuen Tsiang traveled to India 
• 761 AD - First Muslim invasion by Mohammed Bin Qasim
• 800 AD - The birth of Shankaracharya 
• 814 AD - Nripatunga Amoghavarsha I became Rashtrakuta king 
• 1000 AD - Invasion by Mahmud of Ghazni 
• 1017AD - Alberuni traveled to India 
• 1100s AD - Rule of the Chandelas, Cholas, Kadambas, and Rashrakutas 
• 1120 AD - Kalyani Chalukya Empire attained peak, Vikramaditya VI introduced Vikrama Chalukya Era 
• 1191 AD - First battle of Tarain between Mohammed Ghori & Prithivi Raj Chauhan III 
• 1192 AD - Second battle of Tarain between Ghauri and Prithivi Raj Chauhan III 
• 1194 AD - Battle of Chandawar between Ghauri and Jayachandra 
• 1288 AD - Marco Polo came to India 

Late Medieval Period (1300 AD to 1500 AD)

• 1300 AD - Establishment of the Khilji Dynasty 
• 1336 to 1565 AD - Vijayanagar Empire
• 1498 AD - First voyage of Vasco-da-Gama to Goa 

Post-Medieval Era (1526 AD to 1818 AD)

The major events in the post medieval era are:

• 1526 AD - Babur, the Mughal ruler of Kabul, invaded Delhi and Agra and killed Sultan Ibrahim Lodi 
• 1527 AD - Battle of Khanwa, in which Babur annexed Mewar 
• 1530 AD - Babur died and was succeeded Humayun 
• 1556 AD - Humayun died and was succeeded by his son Akbar
• 1600 AD - East India company was formed in England 
• 1605 AD - Akbar died and was succeeded by Jehangir 
• 1628 AD - Jehangir died and was succeeded by Shah Jahan 
• 1630 AD - Shivaji was born 
• 1658 AD - Shah Jahan built Taj Mahal, Jamia Masjid and Red Fort. 
• 1659 AD - Shivaji defeated Adilshahi troops at the Battle of Pratapgarh 
• 1674 AD - Maratha Empire was established 
• 1680 AD - Shivaji died 
• 1707 AD - Aurangzeb died and was succeeded by Bahadur Shah I 
• 1707 AD - Maratha Empire broke into two divisions 
• 1734 AD - Pamheiba invaded Tripura 
• 1737 AD - Bajirao I conquered Delhi 
• 1740 AD - Bajirao I died and was succeeded by Balaji Bajirao
• 1757 AD - Battle of Plassey was fought 
• 1761 AD - Third battle of Panipat ended the expansion of Maratha Empire 
• 1766 AD - First Anglo-Mysore War 
• 1777 AD - First Anglo-Maratha War 
• 1779 AD - Battle of Wadgaon 
• 1780 AD - Second Anglo-Mysore War 
• 1789 AD - Third Anglo-Mysore War 
• 1798 AD - Fourth Anglo-Mysore War 
• 1799 AD - Tipu Sultan died, Wodeyar dynasty was restored 
• 1803 AD - Second Anglo-Maratha War 
• 1817 AD - Third Anglo-Maratha War begins 
• 1818 AD - End of the Maratha Empire and British control over most of India 

Colonial Era (1818 AD to 1947 AD)

The Colonial Era started with the British taking control over almost all the parts of India and ended with the freedom of India in 1947. The major events that took place during the Colonial Era are: 

• 1829 AD - Prohibition of Sati 
• 1857 AD - First Indian war of Independence, known as Indian Mutiny 
• 1885 AD - Indian National Congress was formed 
• 1930 AD - Dandi Salt March, Simon Commission, First Round Table Conference 
• 1915 AD - Home Rule League was founded by Annie Besant 
• 1919 AD - Massacre at Jallianwalabagh 
• 1931 AD - Bhagat Singh was hanged by the British, Second Round Table Conference, Gandhi-Irvin Pact 
• 1919 AD - Khilafat Movement, Jalianwala Bagh Massacre, Rowlat Act 
• 1937 AD - Congress won power in many states, World War II broke out 
• 1921 AD - Civil Disobedience Movement 
• 1928 AD - Murder of Lala Lajpat Rai 
• 1942 AD - Quit India Movement, Rise of Subhash Chandra Bose 
• 1922 AD - Quit India Movement suspended after the Chauri-Chura violence 
• 1946 AD - Muslim League adamant about the formation of Pakistan 
• 1947 AD - India gained independence and witnessed partition 

Free and Modern India (1947 onwards)

In 1947, India became independent and from that year onwards, started India's struggle to become one of the leading nations of the world. Today, the country is regarded as one of the fastest growing economies of the world.

India is part of the continent of Asia. Most of India forms a peninsula, which means it is surrounded by water on three sides.

India is part of the continent of Asia. Most of India forms a peninsula, which means it is surrounded by water on three sides. The world's highest mountain range, the Himalaya, rises in the north. The southeast is bordered by the Bay of Bengal, and the southwest is bordered by the Arabian Sea.

India's terrain varies widely, from the Thar Desert in the west to jungles in the northeast. A fertile area called the Ganges Plain covers much of northern India. This formation was created from soil that was deposited by rivers running from the Himalaya. In some places, this layer of silt is over 25,000 feet (7,620 meters) deep.

Map created by National Geographic Maps

PEOPLE & CULTURE

Society throughout India is divided into social ranks, called castes. Caste is determined by birth and there is almost no way to change it. High castes include priests, landowners, and soldiers. So-called Untouchables have no caste and do the most menial jobs.

India is a very spiritual country. It has no official religion, but more than 80 percent of Indians are Hindu. About 13 percent are Muslim. Other religions include Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, which all began in India.

For thousands of years, since the Hindu religion first evolved, respect for animal life has been an important part of Indians' beliefs. Cows in particular are sacred and cannot be harmed. They are even allowed to wander through city streets, which often causes traffic jams!

India's varied climate zones support about 65,000 animal species, including elephants , pythons, river dolphins, and rhinos, and 12,000 types of flowering plants. It is the only country in the world with both lions and tigers . It's also a bird watcher's paradise.

On the coast of the Bay of Bengal is the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest. Here, tigers swim in the same rivers as dolphins, sea turtles, sharks, and saltwater crocodiles. This unique landscape is constantly under threat as sea levels rise and humans hunt illegally and clear trees for firewood.

The Himalaya mountains provide a home for some of India's rarest animals and plants. The most elusive animal is the snow leopard. Bears and black buck live lower down, and in the northeast, the tiger and one-horned rhinoceros can be found.

GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY

India's parliamentary government was inherited from the British. After independence in 1947, one party, the Congress Party, and one family, the Nehru family, dominated politics in India for decades. Now, however, many parties compete for elected positions.

India's economy is growing so fast that experts predict it will soon become one of the world's leading markets. Indians are hard workers. And though many are poorly educated, there are many others who are highly trained college graduates.

India's earliest known civilization arose about 5,000 years ago on the Indus River in what is now Pakistan. Archaeologists uncovered the remains of two huge cities with brick houses, piped water, and sewer systems. Nobody knows why, but these cities, called Harappa and Mohenjo Daro, were abandoned in 1700 B.C.

The Aryan people were farmers from Central Asia who arrived in India around 1500 B.C. They spoke Sanskrit, one of the world's oldest known languages. The Vedic Scriptures, writings that form the basis of the Hindu religion, were written during the Aryan reign.

In the 200-year reign of the Gupta Empire, starting in the fourth century A.D., arts, crafts, and sciences flourished. During this time, the Indian astronomer Aryabhatta determined that the Earth revolved around the sun. This was long before the Western world accepted the theory.

Beginning in the 16th century, following a series of invasions by Muslim forces, a Mongol leader named Babur founded the Mongol Empire. The Mongols oversaw a golden age of art, literature, and architecture in India between 1527 and 1707. They built roads, mosques, gardens, and enormous tombs, including the grand Taj Mahal.

In the late 1400s, Europeans arrived in India and began setting up trading companies. In 1757, Britain gained control over most of the country. Uprisings against British rule began in 1856. In 1920, the famous Mahatma Gandhi began nonviolent protests to push the British out. In 1947, India had independence.

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This area of the world is one of the oldest inhabited regions of the world. Its history traces back to over 250,000 years! What is now known as India, was then known as Bharatavarsha, in honor of its founder Bharata, and has been the starting point of lots of cultures, religions, scientific advances and art. Speak about the traditions of Ancient India with this vintage template full of elegant decorations and resources!

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History of India

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History of India

Apr 11, 2013

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History of India. History of India. Divided in 10 Periods Indus Valley Civilization: led by the city states of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa Aryans (2500BC – 322BC) ‏ Hinduism and regional kingdoms develop The Mauryan Empire (322BC – 188BC) ‏

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• indus valley civilization economy
• indus valley civilization
• city states
• muslims turks
• regional kingdoms

Presentation Transcript

History of India • Divided in 10 Periods • Indus Valley Civilization: led by the city states of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa • Aryans (2500BC – 322BC)‏ • Hinduism and regional kingdoms develop • The Mauryan Empire (322BC – 188BC)‏ • Spread of Buddhism and the first Indian Empire started by Chandragupta • Gupta Period (320AD – 480AD)‏ • Golden Age of India • Muslim Invasions (1175AD – 1300AD)‏ • Muslims Turks from Afghanistan invade and begin to re-unite India into small kingdoms

Indian Civilization (cont) • Delhi Sultanate is the largest of these kingdoms ruled by Muslim Turks • Mughals – most powerful of Indian dynasties controlled most of today’s India, Pakistan and Bangladesh • Europeans begin to Rule (1500AD – 1850AD)‏ • Portuguese, French, Dutch, and English centers of rule dominated by Corporations not countries • English Imperialism – ruled as an English colony for almost 100 years • Independence and Democratic India – Muslim and Hindu political groups push for and eventually gain independence from European Imperialism. Today India is one of the most important, powerful countries in the world and is rapidly growing in influence

Indus Valley Civilizations

Indus River Valley Civilization 3500-1500 BCE • Two City States and many smaller villages • Harappa • Mohenjo-daro Both had • centrally planned cities • city walls • Public buildings • grainaries • toilets, wells, drainage system • brick lined sewers in the streets

Politics • City states • Governed by Priest Kings • The Indus Valley script has never been translated • so we know very little about their lifestyle or belief system beyond what architecture tells us

Indus Valley Civilization Economy • Agricultural • cotton and food crops • Industry = textiles • Irrigation Canals • Craft workers made beautiful clay figurines • Made jewels from gold, silver and copper.

Social/Religion • Polytheist nature gods; fertility goddess important • Priests/kings in villages had high importance • Some merchants but mostly farmers

End of the Indus Valley • Repeated Floods caused the course of the Indus River to shift away from the cities • The Indus Valley script has never been translated so we know very little about their lifestyle or belief system beyond what architecture tells us • New cultural group called Aryans migrate/invade and merge with the Indus Valley peoples

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