Ancient History Part -1

 The Timeline of Indian History is broadly divided into three categories – Ancient History, Medieval History, & Modern History. By studying the Indian History Timeline, the aspirants can have a good hold over the series of important events that took place in Ancient History to Modern History.

• The Indian Ancient History Timeline roughly tells us about the beginning of the earliest cultures, agriculture, and civilization in the country. It was during this period that the Pre-Aryans, the Indo-Aryans, the Greeks, the Hunas, the Scythians, etc invaded India and made it their homeland.
• The Indian Medieval History Timeline begins with the eighth century when there was political disunity in different parts of the country. Important dynasties such as Khaljis, Tughlaqa, and Mughals were established during this period.
• The Indian Modern History Timeline marks the arrival of Europeans one after the other and the beginning of their commerce on a large scale. The series of historic events, right from falling under British rule to achieving independence, comes under the modern history timeline.

Ancient History (Pre-History to 700 CE)

The Chronology of Ancient Indian History is explained in the points below:

Paleolithic Age (2 million BC – 10,000 BC)

• The Paleolithic Period had Limestone-based fire-starting tools.
• This Period also had Eggs from ostriches.
• The people of Paleolithic Age lived in the caves built out of natural rock shelters.
• Bhimbetka (MP), Hunsgi, Kurnool Caves, Narmada Valley (Hathnora, MP), and Kaladgi are all important Paleolithic sites.

Mesolithic Age (10,000–8,000 BC)

• Domestication of animals, i.e. cattle rearing began when the demand of animal among the population increased.
• The use of more refined and smaller stone tools was there in prevalence during the Mesolithic Period.
• Major sites of the Mesolithic Age are Brahmagiri (Mysore), Narmada, Vindya, Gujarat.

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Neolithic Age (8000 BC – 4,000 BC)

• Agriculture began when the wheel was discovered.
• An early settlement called Inamgaon.
• People began to live in urban areas during the Neolithic age.
• Burzahom (Kashmir), Gufkral (Kashmir), Mehrgarh (Pakistan), Chirand (Bihar), Daojali Hading (Tripura/Assam), Koldihwa (UP), Mahagara (UP), Hallur (AP), Paiyampalli (AP), Maski, Kodekal, Sangana Kaller, Utnur, and Takkala Kota) are important Neolithic sites.

 Chalcolithic Age (4000 BC – 1500 BC)

• It is known as the ‘Age of Copper’.
• Chalcolithic Age also contained the Indus Valley Civilization.
• Brahmagiri, Navada Toli (Narmada region), Mahishadal (West Bengal), and Chirand also have civilizations (Ganga region).

Empire of the Mauryans (321-185 BC)

• Chandra Gupta was a powerful emperor in the Mauryan Empire. 
• Ashoka and Bindusara are other important Mauryan rulers.
• Sunga (181-71 BC), Kanva (71-27 BC), Satavahanas (235-100 BC), Indo-Greeks, Parthians (19-45 AD), Sakas (90BC-150AD), Kushanas and Parthians were among the foreign powers that rose to power in the post-Mauryan period.

Gupta Era

• Important rulers under the Gupta dynasty are Chandragupta I, Samudra Gupta, Chandra Gupta II, Kumaragupta I.
• Vakatakas, Pallavas, Chalukyas, Harshvardana. Hunas, Maitrakas, Rajputs, Senas, and Chauhans were among the other dynasties that rose to power during the Gupta period.

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The Iron Age

• Vedic Period (Aryan Arrival, BC 1600–BC 600) – Nearly 1000 years from the arrival of the Aryans (Basic books of Hinduism, ie Vedas were composed, might have been written down later).
• Buddhism and Jainism are two different religions.
• On the banks of the Ganga, the Mahajanapadas were a major civilization after the Indus Valley.
• Bimbisara of the Haryanka Kula Sisunga dynasty – Kalasoka – Magadha empire (Kakavarnin)
• Mahapadma-Nanda and Dhana-Nanda were the rulers of the Nanda empire.
• Alexander the Great, Persian-Greek, 327 BC.

Empire of the Mauryans (321-185 BC)

• Chandra Gupta was a powerful emperor in the Mauryan Empire. Asoka, Maurya, Bindusara
• Sunga (181-71 BC), Kanva (71-27 BC), Satavahanas (235-100 BC), Indo-Greeks, Parthians (19-45 AD), Sakas (90BC-150AD), Kushanas, Parthians (78AD)
  Chola, Chera, and Pandya kingdoms in South India (BC 300)
• Classical Period: Gupta Kingdom (300 AD – 800 AD)
• Important rulers under the Gupta dynasty: Gupta, Samudra (Indian Napoleon)

Guptas of the Post-Gupta Era

• Harshvardana, Vakatakas, Pallavas, Chalukyas. Hunas, Maitrakas, Rajputs, Senas, and Chauhans are also among them.