Early Human Settlement in South Asia

Early Human Settlement

• Anatomically modern humans arrived on the Indian subcontinent between 73,000 and 55,000 years ago.
• The earliest known human remains in South Asia date to 30,000 years ago.

Indus Valley Civilisation

• Sedentariness began in South Asia around 7000 BCE, leading to settled life by 4500 BCE.
• The Indus Valley Civilisation flourished between 2500 BCE and 1900 BCE in present-day Pakistan and north-western India.

Vedic Period

• The Vedic Period occurred from 1500 BCE to 500 BCE, marked by the composition of hymns (Vedas).
• Social structure was loosely stratified via the varna system, incorporated into the present-day Jāti system.

Rise of New Cultures

• Around 600 BCE, a new, interregional culture arose, leading to the consolidation of small chieftaincies into larger states.
• Second urbanization took place, accompanied by the rise of new ascetic movements and religious concepts, including Jainism and Buddhism.

Maurya Empire

• Chandragupta Maurya overthrew the Nanda Empire and established the first great empire in ancient India around 320 BCE.
• Ashoka, widely recognised for his historical acceptance of Buddhism, attempted to spread nonviolence and peace across his empire.

Later Dynasties

• The Maurya Empire collapsed in 185 BCE, leading to the rise of the Shunga Empire, Indo-Greek Kingdom, and Gupta Empire.
• The Gupta Empire witnessed a Hindu religious and intellectual resurgence, known as the Classical or Golden Age of India.

Spread of Indian Culture

• Aspects of Indian civilisation, administration, culture, and religion spread to much of Asia, forming Greater India.
• Indianised kingdoms were established in the region during this period.

Medieval Period

• The Delhi Sultanate was founded in 1206 CE by Central Asian Turks who were Indianized.
• Islamic conquests made limited inroads into modern Afghanistan and Sindh, followed by the invasions of Mahmud Ghazni.

Later Empires

• The Mughal Empire conquered most of the Indian subcontinent in the 16th century, marking the beginning of the early modern period.
• Strong Hindu kingdoms, such as the Vijayanagara Empire and the Rajput states, emerged and played significant roles in shaping India's cultural and political landscape.