The WWW Virtual LibraryHistory of India

This site is dedicated to information on various aspects of history of India. We have tried to cover most of the related topics and will greatly appreciate any other contribution in this respect.

Chronological

The chronological history of India dates back to about 34,000 years ago, when the first traces of human existence on the Indian subcontinent were found. Since then, it has hosted some of the greatest civilizations that have significantly shaped up human history. A chronological history of India spans the modern day geographical landscapes of countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. The Indus Valley Civilization began in 3300 BC, and flourished around 2600 BC, after which, the Aryans, a semi-nomadic tribe, is believed to have migrated from central Asia or Northern Iran. Though historians do not agree upon the origin of the tribe, its reasons for migration to the Indian subcontinent, and its existence in the very first place, some strongly contend that the Aryans spread the Indus Valley Civilization, which they consider to be based upon the Vedic civilization, to the European subcontinent. The Indian culture, as known to us today, is a jamboree of the Dravidian civilization (thought to be the descendant of the Indus valley civilization) and the Vedic culture. The birth of Mahavira and Buddha proved to be milestones in our history, after which India was host to the classic civilization that saw its rise to becoming the largest economy from the 1st to 15th century AD.

Timelines

  1. Timeline of India- Chronological display of events with illustrations
  2. Indian History- Detailed description of Indian History with pictures and maps
  3. Timeline of India on BBC News: From British India to Present Day
  4. Chronological Order of Events in Indian History
  5. Hindu Timeline- Old and New Models of the Hindu Timeline

 

Ancient India

  1. Timeline describing periods from Indus Valley Civilization to the Chauhan Rulers
  2. Timeline of Middle Kingdoms of India- Middle kingdoms of India refers to the political entities in India from the 2nd century BCE since the decline of the Maurya Empire. This period was marked by waves of invasions from Persia and Central Asia, to the spread of Buddhism from India, through to the Muslim conquest in the Indian subcontinent.
  5. Aryans in India : Aryan Civilization & Aryan People
  7. Story of Alexander's Invasion of India
  8. Mauryan Dynasty
  9. More Information on Mauryan Empire
  10. Important Mauryan Rulers:
  12. The Satavahana Empire-
    The Sātavāhanas (Marathi:सातवाहन Telugu:సాతవాహనులు), also known as the Andhras, were a dynasty which ruled from Junnar, Pune over Southern and Central India starting from around 230 BCE. Although there is some controversy about when the dynasty came to an end, the most liberal estimates suggest that it lasted about 450 years. The satavahanas are credited for establishing peace in the country from the onslaught of foreigners after the decline of Mauryan empire.
  13. Social Life and Costumes of Satavahana Empire-
    The people of the Deccan were a hybrid race, a mixture of the aboriginal Dravidians and foreign invaders. In the first century BC their costumes too were an interesting mixture of foreign and indigenous garments. All these clothes are represented in Caves IX and X in Ajanta...
  14. The Sunga Empire-
    The Sunga dynasty was established in 185 BCE, about 50 years after Ashoka's death, when the king Brhadrata, the last of the Mauryan rulers, was assassinated by the then commander-in-chief of the Mauryan armed forces, Pusyamitra Sunga, while he was taking the Guard of Honour of his forces. Pusyamitra Sunga then ascended the throne.
  16. The Chola Dynasty-The Cholas were at the height of their power during the tenth, eleventh and twelfth centuries. Under Rajaraja Chola I (Rajaraja the Great) and his son Rajendra Chola, the dynasty became a military, economic and cultural power in Asia
  17. Creativity during Chola Dynasty- The Chola rulers are remembered most for what they created rather than for what they conquered. Chola rulers were active patrons of the arts, and during their reign, poetry, drama, music, and dance flourished. They also constructed enormous stone temple complexes decorated inside and out with painted and sculpted representations of the Hindu gods. Some of the best-known artistic remains from this time period are the bronzes that were commissioned for each temple as well as the magnificent Dravidian temples of south India.

 

Medieval India

  1. The Gupta Empire
    The Gupta Empire was one of the largest political and military empires in ancient India. It was ruled by the Gupta dynasty from around 240 to 550 CE and covered most of northern India and what is now eastern Pakistan and Bangladesh.
  2. The Kuninda Kingdom
    The Kingdom of Kuninda (or Kulinda in ancient literature) was an ancient central Himalayan kingdom from around the 2nd century BCE to the 3rd century, located in the modern states of Himachal and Uttarakhand in northern India.
  3. The Kalinga Kingdom
    Kalinga was an ancient empire in central-eastern India. Its territory comprised of most of the modern state of Orissa, as well as some northern areas of the bordering state of Andhra Pradesh.
  4. The Kalabhras
    Kalabhras were the South Indian dynasty who between the 3rd and the 6th century C.E. ruled over entire Tamil country, displacing the ancient Chola, Pandya and Chera dynasties.
  5. Kalabhras Kingdom: The Dark Period
    An obscure dynasty, the Kalabhras, invaded the Tamil country, displaced the existing kingdoms and ruled for around three centuries.
  6. The Pallava Dynasty
    Pallavas (Pahlavis Old Persian) were a South Indian dynasty. Pallavas established their capital at Kanchipuram in the 4th century CE.
  8. The Chalukya Empire
    The Chalukya dynasty (Kannada: ಚಾಲುಕ್ಯರು) was an Indian royal dynasty that ruled large parts of southern and central India between the 6th and the 12th centuries.
  9. The Pala Empire
    Empire was a dynasty in control of the eastern Indian subcontinent, including the Bengal and Bihar regions, from the 8th to the 12th century. The name Pala (Modern Bengali পাল pal) means "protector" and was used as an ending to the names of all Pala monarchs.
  10. Pala Empire
    Pala Dynasty was the ruling Dynasty in Bihar and Bengal India, from
    the 8th to the 12th century.  Called the Palas because all
    their names ended in 'Pala', meaning 'protector'.
  12. The Rashtrakuta Dynasty, by Jyotsna Kamat
  15. Solanki Dynasty's Family Tree
  16. The Sena Dynasty- Bengal in the 11 th Century
  18. Islamic Empires in India
  20. Delhi Sultanate: Mughal India in later Middle ages

 

Mughal India & Maratha Empire

  1. The Mughal Era- Mughal and other co-existing Empires: Maratha, Nizam of Hyderabad, the Sikhs and coming of Europeans.
  2. Mughal Era in India- Brief Desciption of Mughal Rulers.
  3. Mughal Era & Southern Rivals- Information about Mughal Rulers with link to information on their Southern Rivals: The Marathas.
  4. The Maratha Empire- About the Maratha Empire and its famous rulers like Shivaji, also contains explanation about Decline of the Empire.

 

Modern India: Rise of British India

  1. History of the British Raj- Details of British Raj(Rule)in India and Indian Subcontinent, with insight on the struggle for independence.
  2. British Rule in India : Flags & Ensigns, Royal Indian Marine & Royal Indian Army.
  3. Detailed Chronology of British India with names of Viceroys & Governors.
  4. Strategy of Divide & Rule in India , pdf document.
  5. Karl Marx on British Rule in India , 1853 Article from New York Daily Tribune.
  6. Karl Marx on Future of British Rule in India , 1853 Article from New York Daily Tribune.
  7. The Colonial Legacy: Impact of British Rule on India.

 

Contemporary India

  1. Religious Liberty in Contemporary India, Article by Sathisnathan Clarke.
  2. The State of Rights in Contemporary India, Article by S.V. Jagannath.
  3. The Political History- Description of Politics of Contemporary India.
  4. Politics & SocietyStudy and criticism of Politics and its impact on Indian Society.