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4600 BCE
Creation of the World
4.6 billion years the world was created by Gods and the world was created at the start of the endless cycle of the recreation of everything. -
2500 BCE
The indus river valley begins developing
The first evidence points to the Indus River Valley civilization developing around 2500 BCE. Archaeological evidence suggests that early hinduism started here -
1600 BCE
The Aryan invasion begins
The Aryans invade the Indus River Valley around 1600 BCE. This brings the Sanskrit language to the region and drastically influences Hinduism. -
1500 BCE
The Verdic Age Begins
The Vedic period, or Vedic age is the period in the history of the northern Indian subcontinent between the end of the urban Indus Valley Civilization and a second urbanization which began in the central Indo-Gangetic Plain c. 600 BCE. -
800 BCE
The major Upanishads are written
The Upanishads are a collection of texts of religious and philosophical nature, written in India probably between c. 800 BCE and c. 500 BCE, during a time when Indian society started to question the traditional Vedic religious order. -
500 BCE
The Epics and Puranas are written
Puranas were written almost entirely in narrative couplets, in much the same easy flowing style as the two great Sanskrit epic poems, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The early Puranas were probably compiled by upper-caste authors who appropriated popular beliefs and ideas from people of various castes. -
320 BCE
The Maurya Empire is founded
The Maurya Empire was founded in 322 BCE by Chandragupta Maurya, who had overthrown the Nanda Dynasty and rapidly expanded his power westward across central and western India in order to take advantage of the disruptions of local powers in the wake of the withdrawal by Alexander the Great’s armies.
According to legend, the teacher Chanakya convinced his disciple, Chandragupta Maurya, to conquer the the kingdom of Magadha (the Nanda Empire) when he was insulted by its king Dhana Nanda. -
320
The Gupta Empire is founded
The Gupta Empire was an ancient Indian empire existing from the mid-to-late 3rd century CE to 590 CE. At its heights from approximately 319 to 550 CE, it covered much of the Indian subcontinent.[3] This period is called the Golden Age of India by some historians. -
500
The Gupta Empire falls
The Huna People, also known as Huns, invaded Gupta territory and caused significant damage to the empire. The Gupta Empire ended in 550 CE, when it disintegrated into regional kingdoms after a series of weak rulers and invasions from the east, west, and north. -
1498
Vasco de Gama arrives in southern Asia.
Vasco de Gama's arrival in southern Asia in 1498 signals the beginning of European's involvement in India. He is quickly followed by missionaries from Portugal. -
The Hindu Renaissance begins(c. 1600).
The Hindu Renaissance begins around 1600. Scholars focus on modernistic interpretations of the sacred texts and social reform. -
The British East India Company wins trading rights in the Mughal empire.
Hoping to make money trading with India, the British East India Company wins trading rights on the fringe of the Mughal empire in 1617. As the Mughal empire declines, the East India Company’s influence in India grows steadily. -
Parliament puts India directly under control of the British crown.
Parliament ends the rule of the East India Company and places India directly under control of the British crown on August 2, 1858. India is now governed by colonial rule, with British officials ruling in the name of the queen and holding top positions. Britain slows the reforms that so angered Hindus and Muslims, but continues to develop India for its own economic benefit. -
Mahatma Gandhi launches a campaign of noncooperation
Indian lawyer Mahatma Gandhi launches a two-year campaign of noncooperation beginning in 1920. He encourages Indians to leave British institutions, return British honors, and practice self-reliance. While Gandhi is forced to stop the campaign upon his arrest and imprisonment in 1922, he goes on to become the most recognized leader of the Indian nationalist movement. -
Partition of India
The partition of India in 1947 eventually accompanied the creation of two independent dominions, India and Pakistan. The Dominion of India became the Republic of India in 1950, and in 1957 the Dominion of Pakistan became the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
