Ancient Indian History

Ancient Indian History

Ancient India, also known as the Pre-Mauryan period, spans from the establishment of the Indus Valley Civilization to the fall of the Mauryan Empire in 185 BC. This era laid the foundations for Indian civilization and its cultural, religious, and intellectual traditions, which continue to influence the modern world.

Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization, established around 3000 BC, was one of the earliest urban societies in the world. It was located in modern-day Pakistan and comprised thousands of small cities. The Indus Valley Civilization was known for its advanced urban planning, with wells, underground drainage systems, and public baths. Although much about its culture remains unknown, archaeologists believe that the society was egalitarian and worshipped polytheistic deities. Their language is not fully understood but is believed to be related to the modern-day Dravidian languages in southern India.

Arrival of Indo-Europeans

Around 1500 BC, the Indo-Europeans, or Aryans, arrived in India from Central Asia. They mixed with the people of the Indus River and came to dominate northern India. The Indo-Europeans documented their cultural and religious practices in the Vedas, which marked the beginning of Vedism, a polytheistic religion that believed in moksha, or the release of the cycle of reincarnation through enlightenment. Vedism is the precursor to modern Hinduism, making Ancient India the birthplace of Hinduism.

The Vedic Age

By around 500 BC, the center of Indian civilization had moved to the Ganges River, where new cities sprung up. These cities eventually developed into the Mahajanapadas, or the Sixteen Great Kingdoms. The Vedic Age, which lasted from 1500 BC to 500 BC, was a period of social, religious, and political changes. It saw the rise of the first monarchies and the emergence of early Hinduism as the foundational religion of India, along with the social/religious phenomenon known as caste.

Maurya Empire

The most powerful and longest-lasting of these empires was the Maurya Empire, founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 322 BC. This empire wiped out the Nanda Empire and conquered control of northern India. In later years, the Mauryas seized control of much of southern India too, marking the first continental Indian empire. India entered a golden age during the Maurya period, facilitated by the Mauryans' protection of trade and sponsorship of art. The most famous Mauryan emperor was Ashoka, who sponsored Buddhism and sent missionaries across Asia to promulgate that faith, leading to its expansion into China.

Post-Maurya Era

The Maurya Empire collapsed in 184 BC and was replaced in part by the large Sunga Empire. However, the end of the Mauryan Empire is generally cited by historians as the end of Ancient India and the beginning of the classical period. The study of ancient Indian history is important for understanding the roots of Indian culture, religion, and society, as well as the development of Indian mathematics and science, which have laid the foundations for modern Western mathematics and science.