India has a vast and colorful History. It has many poring of different rules, religions and culture. It has a complex and tumultuous past. Its climate and fertility has given rise to 9,000 years of countless dynasties and conflict as well as invasion from other countries. The earliest records of humans on the sub continent dates back to the late stone age (4000, 000-2000, 000BC). Taos and fossils have been found in Rajasthan and Gujarat to Bihar. Also along Pakistani peninsula and Normand valley rock painting of hunting scene has been found.
The first evidence of agriculture in the west Indus compares relatively with examples found in Egypt and Afghanistan. Over the next 5000 years stone ages began to develop and use copper, bronze, domesticate animals and make pottery. From the beginning of the 4th millennium BC early village culture began to develop and expand resulting in the first great Indian civilization. Cities where built all with uniform kiln fired bricks. The city had elaborated drainage system. This early society amazing has peace stability for 1000 years. The lack of evidence showing places, religious figurines suggest that perhaps this was a time for millennium BC, Barbarian Tribes invaded from the northwest and co mined with the Indus civilization.
The Vedic Age (1500-600BC)
Indo-European and Aryan tribes riding on chariots invaded the Indus valley, upspring the great Indus civilization. The peaceful Indus farmer and merchants were powerless against successive waves of Aryan warriors coming in from the Iranian border. Aryans were barbarian tribes coming from Poland to central Asia, whom would eventual, colonize Europe. These invaders were warriors, hunters as well as great worshipper of War gods. They had high priests and offer scarifies to secure prosperity and marital success. The Aryan began classify and divide society according to purity of blood and priests began to claim high privileges set down the foundation for philosophy that would developed in latter periods.
The Age of Buddha (600-321 BC)
Great spiritual agitation and the quest for greater intelligence spurred the Age of Buddha. India had become divided into many tribes and territories. Most rebellion and changing of opinion this movement arose from small republic with the need for trade growing. People became exposed to other country like Myan, Tibet, Juan and Sri Lanka. This influenced the Buddhist movement as well as coins and a form of script to India. After much fighting and power struggle the Magadha Empire prevailed and built a strong seat of power in the Ganges valley where good deposits of cooper, iron were found. Mid 40 BC the Nanda dynasty took power. This brought about the birth of the first and greatest Indian empire.
The Mauryan Empire (321-184 BC)
After the instability left by Alexander invasion and subsequent death Chandragupta Maurya took power to over throne the Nana dynasty. His 500,000 strong army threw out the remits of the Greek army. Maurya had the tight administrative bureaucratic state which firmly controlled life and employment with a very stringent secret service system. This era sported Asoka on the best known most noble ruler of India. Buddhist called him the universal ruler. He was a fair ruler with great humanity. He inspired social responsibility, human dignity well being and happiness. He also stopped animal sacrificed and encouraged vegetarian and herbal medicine. After his dead his kingdom began to fall apart.
The Age of Invasion (184 BC- 320 AD)
Prosperity and culture invaded for 500 years but slowly Indians political state began to fragment. Invasions persuade first from other states with in India and then the Greek again, the Iranians and the Kushans. In this turbulent period the first Sanskrit writing about Buddha are made and music and songs were developed. This was also a period of Great Trade with the Slue road being assesses and developed. The introductions of books saw great social liberalization in this period.
The Classical Age (320-650AD)
In this era, India was somewhat reunified under the leadership of the imperial Guptas. They established a power full kingdom and secured the east west trade routes as well as trading out of the western ports. Or though the northern tribes did not pay homage to the rulers, a strong, wealthy and successful empire was built, the second largest in Indian history. Patronage of art and literature under the Gopta facilitated the development of Classical idioms and became the base for future creative endeavors. Sanskrit Literature was perfected at this time and there was huge developments in poetry and drama. The re discovery of the cave paintings in Atlanta and Ellora inspired many Buddhist artists. During this period, also saw the development of the classic style Hindu temple.
Though the Gupta Empire remained relatively peaceful, in the latter stages of the period India was again threatened by invasion from central Asia. The Huns invaded time and time again and eventually wrestled Punjab out of Gupta control. It was a severe blow to the empire and was the beginning of its down fall. At this time northern India again split into smaller rival kingdoms, to be united under on feudal king Harsha Vardhane a very intelligent and energetic king with an excellent war record. However he died heirless and again India fragmented.
Kingdoms of central and South India (500-1250AD)
After the collapse of Harsh’a Empire, Aryan ideas were increasingly adopted in the upper class society and a distinctive Tamil culture emerged from the lower class. At the time three major kingdoms ruled in India. Pandyas, Chalukyas and Pallavas, there was much conflict between the three. Each had very evenly matched military strength which resulted in long and bloody conflicts lasting over 2 centuries. This conflict in central and southern India, left the borders open for invasion from the north. This period was a time of shifting boundaries and power and political conflict, despite this it was a very much a classical period where the development of Tamil culture and way of life was firmly installed.
The Delhi Sultanate 1206-1526
The Delhi sultanate was to be the major political force in the north of India for several centuries; although its power and territories fluctuated it still had huge influence, despite never being able to weld and all India Empire. During this age, Islam was introduced to India bringing with it a new pattern of life, far less easy for the xenophobic Hindu society to accommodate, never the less, the two cultures managed to live together in harmony. Also during this period the Urdu script was developed and a stylistic and unified architecture began to form. But all was not well the Mongols were stirring in the north and set for wholesale invasion into India.
The Moghul Empire (1526-1761AD)
Babur a decedent of Genghis Khan was a brilliant military campaigner and a skillful diplomat, soon he had power of Agra and Delhi and with the threat from the Afghans he declared Jihad-religious war, thus annihilating his foes from all sides. After Babur several successive kings battled and managed to secure the moghul empire. Many great kings ruled in this time, all talented with music and poetry. This period saw a century of political stability un seen for a long time in India
But like all thing the empire began to fade and its political strength fragmented. It was against this background that the European trading companies and the east India company in particular were able to establish their trading posts and develop their money rich ambitions.
The east India Company (1600-1857)
The prosperity of foreign trade in India attracted European interest. Dutch, English, Portuguese, French and Danish companies all set up trading posts in the area exporting textiles, sugar, spices, indigo and saltpeter. The east India company was established by 80 merchants form London and chartered by Queen Elizabeth the first. The company boomed very quickly. Soon England began to take an interest in politics in India and began establishing colonies with military posts. However it was a case of growing to big to fast and was soon on the brink of collapse and bankruptcy. But Warren Hastings managed to stabilize the situation and defend it against several attacks. During this period western education and culture was introduced to India and it conflicted with Muslim and Hindu beliefs. Also the British at this time were involved in many wars all over the place which weakened and fragment the military and parliament. Against this background of unease, discontent was growing in the army which was made up mostly of Indians. The use of pigs and cows grease on rifles and wagons among other things fueled this discontent as it was an insult to Hindus and Muslims. Finally a revolt was sparked and in 1857 the first war of independence took place. The British were caught by surprise and India became a fully fledge independent kingdom, but still under the politics of British imperialism.
The Raj and Indian nationalism 1857-1947
Still the Indian army remained an instrument of the British and was often deployed overseas to protect British interests, but as a British colony its economic condition improved and benefitted from trade. But still there was unrest in the ranks as the English began to insert themselves in high positions in society. There was much concern about the rights of Hindus and Muslims who were discriminated upon. It was at this time that Gandhi came along and took up the struggle for independence. Gandhi was perhaps the most famous and instrumental fighter for an independent India. In 1948, finally Britain handed over power to India and India was able to install its first prime minster who governor the country as a whole united nation for the first time. This was the point from which India began to grow and establish itself into the modern day India.
