TIME LINE INDIAN HISTORY

TIME LINE
FROM STONE AGE TO MODERN India

Stone ageStone 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 ageIndus 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