India History
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History[edit | edit source]
The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest infiltrated onto Indian lands about 1500 BC; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkish in the 12th were followed by those of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century.
By the mid- to late 18th century, Britain's Honourable East India Company had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. The Honourable East India Company controlled virtually all trade with India and performed all the functions of government until the Government of India Act of 1858, when full control was assumed by Queen Victoria as Empress of India.
Indian armed forces in the British army played a vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism led to independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan.
A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. Despite impressive gains in economic investment and output, India faces pressing problems such as the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife.
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Timeline[edit | edit source]
| 2500 - 1600 BC |
Indus Valley Culture |
| 1500 - 500 BC |
Migrations of Aryan-speaking tribes; The Vedic Age |
| 1000 BC |
Settlement of Bengal by Davidian-speaking peoples |
| 600 BC |
Territorial states emerge: Magadha, Kosala, Kuru, and Gandhara |
| 500 BC |
Most of northern India inhabited |
| 563 - 483 BC |
Life of Siddartha Gautama - the Buddha; founding of Buddhism |
| 320 BC − 550 AD |
Gupta Empire: Classical Age of a united India (confined mostly to the north) |
| 326 BC |
Alexander the Great's Indus Campaign, fusing several Indo-Greek elements |
| 326 - 184 BC |
Mauryan Empire; reign of Ashoka (269-232 BC); spread of Buddhism: First Indian imperial power |
| 180 BC - 150 AD |
Shaka dynastics in Indus Valley |
| 100 BC −300 AD |
Deccan Indian Kingdoms: Power decentralized in the hands of local chieftains |
| 606 - 47 AD |
North Indian empire of Harsha |
| 711 AD |
Arab invaders conquer Sindh, establish Islamic presence in India |
| 750 - 1150 AD |
Pala Dynasty |
| 1150 - 1202 AD |
Sena Dynasty |
| 997 - 1027 AD |
Mahmud of Ghazni raids Indian subcontinent from Afghanistan |
| 1202 AD |
Turkish conquerors defeat Sena Dynasty and overrun Bengal |
| 1206 - 1398 AD |
Delhi Sultanate |
| 1336 − 1527 AD |
Southern Dynasties in India establish rule |
| 1398 AD |
Timur sacks Delhi |
| 1414 - 1450 AD |
Sayyid Dynasty; renewal of Delhi Sultanate |
| 1451 - 1526 AD |
Lodi Dynasty |
| 1526 AD | Babur lays foundation of Mughal Empire; wins First Battle of Panipat |
| 1556 - 1605 AD |
Akbar expands and reforms the empire; Mughals win Second Battle of Panipat |
| 1600 AD | East India Company granted British Crown charter with exclusive rights to India |
| 1605 - 1627 AD |
Reign of Jahangir; in 1612 East India Company opens first trading post (factory) |
| 1619 AD |
English East India Company establishes outpost at Surat on the northwestern coast |
| 1628 - 1658 AD |
Reign of Shah Jahan |
|
1658 - |
Reign of Aurangzeb, last great Mughal ruler |
| 1707 - 1858 AD |
Lesser emperors; decline of the Mughal Empire |
| 1757 AD |
Battle of Plassey - British victory of Mughal forces in Bengal; British rule in India begins |
| 1835 AD |
Institution of British educaiton and other reform measures |
| 1857 - 1858 AD |
Revolt of Indian sepoys (soldiers) agains East India Company |
| 1858 AD |
East India Company abolished and Queen Victoria becomes Empress of India (the British Raj); begins with Government of India Act; formal end of Mughal Empire |
| 1869 AD |
The creation of the Suez canal radically reduces journey time from India |
| 1885 AD |
Indian National Congress formed |
| 1892 AD |
Dadabhai Naoroji first Indian to win a Parliamentary seat in England |
| 1897 AD |
Ayah's Home established in Aldgate, London |
| 1916 AD |
Congress-League Scheme of Reforms (Lucknow Pact) signed |
| 1935 AD |
Government of India Act of 1935 |
| 15 August 1947 AD |
Partition of British India; India achieves independence and incorporates West Bengal and Assam;Jawaharlal Nehru becomes prime minister of India. Pakistan is created and incorporates East Bengal and territory in the northwest. |
| 1962 AD |
Commonwealth Immigrants Act limits the migration of South Asians to England |
| 1968 AD |
"Rivers of Blood" Speech: Enoch Powell calls for forced return of immigrants settled in england |