Saturday, July 31, 2010

TIME LINE OF INDIAN HISTORY

TIME LINE

FROM STONE AGE TO MODERN INDIA


Stone age

Stone Age

70,000–3300 BCE

• Mehrgarh Culture

• 7000–3300 BCE

Indus Valley Civilization

3300–1700 BCE

Late Harappan Culture

1700–1300 BCE

Iron Age

1200–1 BCE

• Maha Janapadas

• 700–300 BCE

• Magadha Empire

• 545–550 BCE

• Maurya Empire

• 321–184 BCE

• Chera Empire

• 300 BCE–1200 CE

• Chola Empire

• 300 BCE–1279 CE

• Pandyan Empire

• 250 BCE–1345 CE

• Satavahana

• 230 BCE–220 CE

Middle Kingdoms

1CE–1279 CE

• Kushan Empire

• 60–240 CE

• Gupta Empire

• 280–550

• Pala Empire

• 750–1174

• Chalukya Dynasty

• 543–753

• Rashtrakuta

• 753–982

• Western Chalukya Empire

• 973–1189

• Yadava Empire

• 850–1334

Hoysala Empire

1040–1346

Kakatiya Empire

1083–1323

Islamic Sultanates

1206–1596

• Delhi Sultanate

• 1206–1526

• Deccan Sultanates

• 1490–1596

Ahom Kingdom

1228–1826

Vijayanagara Empire

1336–1646

Mughal Empire

1526–1858

Maratha Empire

1674–1818

Sikh Confederacy

1716–1799

Sikh Empire

1799–1849

Company rule in India

1757–1858

British Raj

1858–1947

Partition of British India

1947




Mehrgarh Culture (7000-3300 BC)

7000 BC

Mehrgarh Culture (Period I) begins, which was one of the world's earliest Neolithic cultures

5500 BC

Period II of Mehrgarh begins

4800 BC

Period III of Mehrgarh begins

3500 BC

Period IV of Mehrgarh begins

3300 BC

Period IV of Mehrgarh ends


Bronze age

Indus Valley Civilization (2800-1900 BC)



3300 BC

antecedents of the Indus Valley Civilization begin with the Ravi phase, eventually becoming one of the world's three earliest urban civilizations, contemporary to Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt.

2800 BC

Kot Diji phase of the Indus Valley Civilization begins. The civilization used an early form of the Indus signs, the so-called Indus script.

2600 BC

Mature Harappan phase of the Indus Valley Civilization begins. The cities of Harappa, Lothal, Kalibangan and Mohenjo-daro become large metropolises and the civilization expands to over 2,500 cities and settlements across what is now Pakistan, much of northwestern and western India, and parts of Afghanistan and Iran. It covered a region of around one million square miles, which was larger than the land area of its contemporaries Egypt and Mesopotamia combined; it also had superior urban planning and sewage systems. The civilization began using the mature Indus script.

1900 BC

Late Harappan Phase of the Indus Valley Civilization begins.

1700 BC

Indus Valley Civilization comes to an end but is continued by the Cemetery H culture and other cultures.



Vedic Era (1500-500 BC)

2200-1600 BCE

Rigveda

1500-1000 BC

early Vedic period

1300 BC

Cemetery H culture comes to an end





Iron age

1000 BC

Iron Age India

600 BC

Sixteen Maha Janapadas ("Great Realms" or "Great Kingdoms") emerge. A number of these Maha Janapadas are semi-democratic "republics", rather than oligarchies.

600 BC

Vedic Civilization comes to an end after the Historical Vedic religion evolves into early classical Hinduism.

599 BC

Mahavira, 24th Tirthankar of Jainism is born.

563 BC

Siddhartha Gautama, founder of Buddhism is born as a prince of the Shakya tribe, which ruled parts of what is now Northern Bihar and Southern Nepal in Ancient India.

538 BC

Cyrus the Great, founder of the Persian Achaemenid Empire conquers northwestern parts of the Indian Subcontinent.

350 BC

Panini describes the grammar and morphology of Sanskrit in the text Ashtadhyayi. Panini's standardized Sanskrit is known as Classical Sanskrit.



Ancient India (500 BC - 550 AD)

333 BC

Persian rule in the northwest ends after Darius III is defeated by Alexander the Great, who establishes the Macedonian Empire after inheriting the Persian Achaemenid Empire.

326 BC

Ambhi king of Taxila surrenders to Alexander.

o Porus who ruled parts of the Punjab, fought Alexander at the Battle of the Hydaspes River.


321 BC

Mauryan Empire is founded by Chandragupta Maurya in Magadha after he defeats the Nanda dynasty and Macedonian Seleucid Empire. Mauryan capital city is Patliputra [Modern Patna in Bihar)

305 BC

Chandragupta Maurya defeats Seleucus Nicator of the Seleucid Empire.

304 BC

Seleucus gives up his territories in the subcontinent (Afghanistan/Baluchistan) to Chandragupta in exchange for 500 elephants. Seleucus offers his daughter in marriage to Chandragupta to seal their friendship.

273 BC

Ashoka the Great regarded as the greatest ancient Indian emperor, grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, ascends as emperor of the Mauryan Empire.

266 BC

Ashoka conquers and unifies most of South Asia, along with Afghanistan and eastern Iran.

265 BC

Kalinga War takes place between Ashoka and the kingdom of Kalinga.

o After conquering Kalinga, Ashoka reportedly regrets what he had done, leading him to adopt Buddhism, which then became the quasi-official state religion of the Mauryan Empire.


260s

Ashoka begins displaying religious tolerance, grants animal rights, builds hospitals for people and animals, treats his subjects as equals regardless of caste or creed, and promotes non-violence and republicanism.Ashoka inscribes the Edicts of Ashoka, written down using Brahmi script.

232 BC

Ashoka dies and is succeeded by Kunala.

230 BC

Simuka declares independence from Mauryan rule and establishes the Satavahana Empire.

200 BC

Kuninda Kingdom established.

200-100 BC

Tholkappiyam describes the grammar and morphology of Tamil; it is the oldest existing Tamil grammar (dates vary between 200 BCE and 100 CE).

184 BC

The Mauryan Empire, which shrunk considerably, collapsed after its emperor Brihadrata was assassinated by his Brahmin general Pusyamitra Sunga who then established the Sunga dynasty.

180 BC

Establishment of the Indo-Greek kingdom.

80 BC

Establishment of the Indo-Scythian kingdom.

65 BC

The Pandyan king sends ambassadors to the Greek and Roman lands.

10

Establishment of the Indo-Parthian kingdom.

68

Establishment of the Kushan empire by Kujula Kadphises.

78

Gautamiputra Satkarni becomes Satavahana emperor and starts Shalivahana era calendar after defeating Scythian king Vikramaditya.

35

Western Satraps formed.

240

Sri-Gupta starts the Gupta Empire in Magadha, with its capital in Patliputra

320

Chandragupta I ascends to the Gupta throne.

335

Samudragupta ascends the Gupta throne and expands the empire.

380

Chandragupta II, Samudragupta's son becomes the Gupta Emperor.

450

Invasions by the Huna.







Medieval India (550-1526 AD)

606

Harshavardhana crowned king.

637

Badami Chalukya power at its peak. Pulakesi II pushes north up to the Narmada and defeats the invading Harshavardhana of Kanauj

761

First Muslim, Md. Bin Qasim defeats King Dahir

788

Adi Shankara born in Kalady, in central Kerala

814

Nripatunga Amoghavarsha I becomes Rashtrakuta king. Kannada literature flourishes.

1000

Invasion of Mahmud of Ghazni

1021

Mahmud Ghazni defeats Tarnochalpal and annexes Punjab

1030

Alberuni arrivies in India; blah of Ghazni

1058

Sumra Dynasty ends the Arab domination and establishes its own rule over Sindh.

1120

Kalyani Chalukya power at its peak. Vikramaditya VI ushers in Vikrama Chalukya era.

1134-1196

Life of Basaveshwara, Philosopher and social reformer.

1157

The Kalachuris under Bijjala II capture Kalyani

1191

"Victory of Prithviraj Chauhan". First battle of Tarain between Mohammed Ghori and Prithviraj III and Ghauri is defeated by Prithivi Raj Chauhan III.

1192

"Victory of Mohammed Ghauri". Second battle of Tarain fought between Ghauri and Prithivi Raj Chauhan III and Ghauri. Prithvi Raj Chauhan III is defeated by Mhammed Ghori.

1194

Battle of Chandawar fought between Ghauri and Jayachandra and Ghauri defeated Jayachandra and killed him.

1206

Gakhars kill Muhammad Ghori during a raid on his camp on the Jhelum River

1221

Genghis Khan invades Punjab

1310

Ala-ud-din Khalji's army under Malik Kafur occupies Devagiri ending the Seuna Yadava Kingdom

1323

Ulugh Khan defeats Prataparudra ending the Kakatiya dynasty

1336

Vijayanagara Empire established by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I

1343

Veera Ballala III killed at the Battle of Madurai.

1347

Governor Hasan Gangu revolts against Muhammad bin Tughluq founding the Bahmani Sultanate

1351

Samma Dynasty assumes rule over Sindh

1370

Bukka, the Vijayanagara ruler and his son Kumara Kamapna capture the entire Tamil speaking parts.

1398

Timur plunders Lahore

1401

Dilawar Khan establishes the Malwa Sultanate in present-day northern India

1407

Zafar Khan

1414

Khizr Khan, deputized by Timur to be the governor of Multan takes over Delhi founding the Sayyid dynasty

1424

Deva Raya II succeeded his father Veera Vijaya Bukka Raya as monarch of the Vijayanagara Empire

1443

Abdur Razzaq visits India

1446

Mallikarjuna Raya succeeds his father Deva Raya II

1451

Bahlul Khan Lodhi ascends the throne of the Delhi sultanate starting the Lodhi dynasty

1469

Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism is born

1485

Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya drives out Praudha Raya ending the Sangama Dynasty

1486

Sher Shah Suri (original name Farid Khan) born in Sasaram

1490

, Ahmadnagar declares independence, followed by Bijapur and Berar in the same year thus breaking up the Bahmani Sultanate.

1497–1499

Vasco da Gama's first voyage from Europe to India and back

1503

Kingdom of Kochi is taken over by the Portuguese creating the first European settlement in India..

1508

The Christian-Islamic power struggle, in Europe and the Middle East,spills over into the Indian Ocean as Battle of Chaul during the Portuguese-Mamluk War

1509

Battle of Diu marks the beginning of the dominance of the Europeans in the Asian naval theater.

1522

Portuguese land on the Coromandal coast















Post-Medieval Era (1526-1818)

1526

Sultan Ibrahim Lodi, of the Delhi Sultanate, angers local nobles, who respond by inviting Babur, the Mughal ruler of Kabul, to invade Delhi and Agra. The local population, plus the possession of artillery, assists Babur in killing the Sultan (whose soldiers desert him) at the Battle of Panipat.

1527

Babur makes secret pact with Mewar general Silhadi that he will give Silhadi a kingdom, if Silhadi betrays Mewar King Rana Sanga in Battle of Khanwa, thus leading to the annexation of Mewar.

1530

Babur completes his Baburnama, reflecting on society, politics, economics, history, geography, nature, flora and fauna, which to this day is a standard textbook in 25 countries. Babur dies, and is succeeded by his son Humayun.

1556

Humayun converts from Sunni Islam to Shia Islam, to gain the alliance of the Shah of Persia. Humayun dies, and is succeeded by his son Akbar.

1565

Battle of Talikota results in the rout of Vijayanagara empire.

1572

Akbar annexes Gujarat.

1574

Akbar annexes Bengal.

1586

Akbar annexes Kashmir.

1600

East India company is formed in England. Gets exclusive trading rights with India.

1605

Akbar dies, and is succeeded by his son Jehangir.

1628

Jehangir announces "Chain of Justice" outside his palace that anyone can ring the bell and get a personal hearing with the emperor. Jehangir dies, and is succeeded by his son Shah Jahan.

1630

Birth of Shivaji.

1644

Shivaji takes oath of Independence at Raireshwar.

1658

Shah Jahan completes Taj Mahal, Jama Masjid, and Red Fort. Imperial treasuries drained by architectural and military overexpenditures. Shah Jahan dies, and is succeeded by his son Aurangzeb.

1659

Shivaji's ill-equipped and small Maratha army defeat mighty Adilshahi troops at the Battle of Pratapgarh in a major upset in Indian history. Shivaji personally kills Adilshahi commander Afzal Khan (general).

1674

Forces led by Shivaji defeat Aurangzeb's troops, and establishes Maratha Empire.

1675

Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Guru of Sikhs is executed in Delhi by the order of Aurangzeb for his support for the Kashmiri Hindus to practice their religion.

1680

Shivaji dies of fever at Raigad.

1681

Aurangzeb invades the Deccan

1699

Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Guru of Sikhs creates KHALSA, the saint-soldier at Anandpur Sahib, Punjab.

1705

Mughal army besiege Sikhs at Anandpur Sahib fort, Guru's family is separated, two sons die in battle, two younger sons buried alive in a wall by the order of Mughal ruler of Sirhind

1707

Aurangzeb dies, and is succeeded by son Bahadur Shah I.

1707

Civil war breaks in Maharashtra between Maharani Tarabai and Shahu, Maratha Empire breaks into two divisions.

1708

Guru Gobind Singh survives an assasination attempt by Mughal assasins at Nanded, Maharashtra. Guru instruct Banda Singh to take charge of Khalsa army and liberate people. Guru Gobind Singh appoints Adi Granth as the eternal Guru of Sikhs before his death.

1710

Banda Singh Bahadur emerges in Punjab and sacks the Mughal establishments of Sirhind, Samana, Sadhaura, Kaithal, Sonepat, and Haryana

1715

Mughal army captures Banda Singh Bahadur. The Sikhs are brought to Delhi and executed after public torture.

1717

Pamheiba decrees Vaishnavism as the state religion of Manipur

1719

Bajirao I is appointed the Peshwa by Maratha Emperor Shahu.

1734

Pamheiba invades Tripura

1735

Annexation of Rajputana by Peshwa Bajirao

1737

Bajirao I conquers Delhi, Mughal Emperor is spared and kept as titular head.

1740

Bajirao I annexes Bengal and Orissa.

1740

Bajirao I dies, with the distinction of winning every battle he fought. He is succeeded by Balaji Bajirao

1746

First massacre of Sikhs by Mughal army led by Diwan Lakhpat Rai of Lahore

1757

The British East India Company's private army under Robert Clive annexes Bengal for the company in the Battle of Plassey. Edmund Burke has Robert Clive arrested for the act.

1760

Marathas comprehensively defeat the Nizam, Maratha Empire reaches its zenith.

1761

The Marathas are defeated in the Third battle of Panipat bringing an end to their expansion.

1761

Sikhs attack Afghan army of Ahmad Shah Abdali carrying exploits of Panipat and rescue 20,000 Indian women, mostly Maratha.

1762

Second massacre of Sikhs by Ahmad Shah Abdali of Afghanistan.

1766

Sikhs defeat Afghans army of Ahmad Shah Abdali and establish Sikh rule in Punjab.

1766

First Anglo-Mysore War begins.

1768

Ching-Thang Khomba and Suramphaa invade Manipur.

1769

First Anglo-Mysore War ends.

1772

Young Madhavrao Peshwa dies of tuberculosis.

1773

Narayanrao Peshwa is murdered by his uncle Raghunathrao's wife in front of Raghunathrao.

1774

Chief Justice of the Maratha Empire, Ram Shastri passes death sentence against the ruling Peshwa Raghunathrao for murdering his nephew.

1777

First Anglo-Maratha War begins.

1779

Maratha sardar Mahadji Shinde routs the British army at the Battle of Wadgaon.

1782

First Anglo-Maratha War ends with the restoration of status quo as per Treaty of Salbai.

1780

Second Anglo-Mysore War begins.

1784

Second Anglo-Mysore War ends with the Treaty of Mangalore.

1789

Third Anglo-Mysore War begins.

1790

The Marathas under Holkar and General de Boigne comprehensively defeat the Rajputs of Jaipur and their Mughal allies at the Battle of Patan, where 3000

1792

Third Anglo-Mysore War ends.

1796

Ching-Thang Khomba moves Manipur's capital to Kangla

1798

Fourth Anglo-Mysore War begins.

1799

Fourth Anglo-Mysore War ends with the death of Tipu Sultan and the restoration of the Wodeyar dynasty.

1801

Maharaja Ranjit Singh establishes Khalsa rule of Punjab from Lahore. Khalsa army liberates Kashmiri Pundits and invades Afghanistan through Khyber Pass, first time an Indian army goes west to conquer.

1803

Second Anglo-Maratha War begins

1805

Second Anglo-Maratha War ends

1807

East India Company signs treaty of Amritsar with Maharaja Ranjit Singh

1817

Third Anglo-Maratha War begins

1818

Third Anglo-Maratha War ends with the defeat of Bajirao II and the end of the Maratha Empire leaving the British with control of almost the whole of India







Colonial India

Portuguese India

1510–1961

Dutch India

1605–1825

Danish India

1696–1869

French India

1759–1954



British Empire in India

East India Company

1612–1757

Company rule in India

1757–1857

British Raj

1757–1947

British rule in Burma

1826–1948

British India

1612–1947

Princely states

1765–1947

Partition of British India

1947