Indian History Timeline: Chronology of Ancient History to Modern History of India

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The Timeline of Indian History is broadly divided into three categories – Ancient History, Medieval History, & Modern History. By studying the Indian History Timeline, the aspirants can have a good hold over the series of important events that took place in Ancient History to Modern History.

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• The Indian Ancient History Timeline roughly tells us about the beginning of the earliest cultures, agriculture, and civilization in the country. It was during this period that the Pre-Aryans, the Indo-Aryans, the Greeks, the Hunas, the Scythians, etc invaded India and made it their homeland.
• The Indian Medieval History Timeline begins with the eighth century when there was political disunity in different parts of the country. Important dynasties such as Khaljis, Tughlaqa, and Mughals were established during this period.
• The Indian Modern History Timeline marks the arrival of Europeans one after the other and the beginning of their commerce on a large scale. The series of historic events, right from falling under British rule to achieving independence, comes under the modern history timeline.

Check the following article on the Timeline of Indian History to know the Chronology of Indian History. This will be very beneficial for the aspirants for UPSC Exam. You can also get the UPSC Previous Year Question Papers from here.

Indian History Timeline (UPSC History): Download PDF Here!

Ancient History (Pre-History to 700 CE)

The Chronology of Ancient Indian History is explained in the points below:

Paleolithic Age (2 million BC – 10,000 BC)

• The Paleolithic Period had Limestone-based fire-starting tools.
• This Period also had Eggs from ostriches.
• The people of Paleolithic Age lived in the caves built out of natural rock shelters.
• Bhimbetka (MP), Hunsgi, Kurnool Caves, Narmada Valley (Hathnora, MP), and Kaladgi are all important Paleolithic sites.

Mesolithic Age (10,000–8,000 BC)

• Domestication of animals, i.e. cattle rearing began when the demand of animal among the population increased.
• The use of more refined and smaller stone tools was there in prevalence during the Mesolithic Period.
• Major sites of the Mesolithic Age are Brahmagiri (Mysore), Narmada, Vindya, Gujarat.

Also, read Legislations In British India here!

Neolithic Age (8000 BC – 4,000 BC)

• Agriculture began when the wheel was discovered.
• An early settlement called Inamgaon.
• People began to live in urban areas during the Neolithic age.
• Burzahom (Kashmir), Gufkral (Kashmir), Mehrgarh (Pakistan), Chirand (Bihar), Daojali Hading (Tripura/Assam), Koldihwa (UP), Mahagara (UP), Hallur (AP), Paiyampalli (AP), Maski, Kodekal, Sangana Kaller, Utnur, and Takkala Kota) are important Neolithic sites.

 Chalcolithic Age (4000 BC – 1500 BC)

• It is known as the ‘Age of Copper’.
• Chalcolithic Age also contained the Indus Valley Civilization.
• Brahmagiri, Navada Toli (Narmada region), Mahishadal (West Bengal), and Chirand also have civilizations (Ganga region).

Empire of the Mauryans (321-185 BC)

• Chandra Gupta was a powerful emperor in the Mauryan Empire. 
• Ashoka and Bindusara are other important Mauryan rulers.
• Sunga (181-71 BC), Kanva (71-27 BC), Satavahanas (235-100 BC), Indo-Greeks, Parthians (19-45 AD), Sakas (90BC-150AD), Kushanas and Parthians were among the foreign powers that rose to power in the post-Mauryan period.

Gupta Era

• Important rulers under the Gupta dynasty are Chandragupta I, Samudra Gupta, Chandra Gupta II, Kumaragupta I.
• Vakatakas, Pallavas, Chalukyas, Harshvardana. Hunas, Maitrakas, Rajputs, Senas, and Chauhans were among the other dynasties that rose to power during the Gupta period.

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The Iron Age

• Vedic Period (Aryan Arrival, BC 1600–BC 600) – Nearly 1000 years from the arrival of the Aryans (Basic books of Hinduism, ie Vedas were composed, might have been written down later).
• Buddhism and Jainism are two different religions.
• On the banks of the Ganga, the Mahajanapadas were a major civilization after the Indus Valley.
• Bimbisara of the Haryanka Kula Sisunga dynasty – Kalasoka – Magadha empire (Kakavarnin)
• Mahapadma-Nanda and Dhana-Nanda were the rulers of the Nanda empire.
• Alexander the Great, Persian-Greek, 327 BC.

Empire of the Mauryans (321-185 BC)

• Chandra Gupta was a powerful emperor in the Mauryan Empire. Asoka, Maurya, Bindusara
• Sunga (181-71 BC), Kanva (71-27 BC), Satavahanas (235-100 BC), Indo-Greeks, Parthians (19-45 AD), Sakas (90BC-150AD), Kushanas, Parthians (78AD)
  Chola, Chera, and Pandya kingdoms in South India (BC 300)
• Classical Period: Gupta Kingdom (300 AD – 800 AD)
• Important rulers under the Gupta dynasty: Gupta, Samudra (Indian Napoleon)

Guptas of the Post-Gupta Era

• Harshvardana, Vakatakas, Pallavas, Chalukyas. Hunas, Maitrakas, Rajputs, Senas, and Chauhans are also among them.

Also, read UPSC Geology Optional Previous Year Question Paper here!

Medieval History (700 CE to 1857 CE)

• Muhammed Bin Kassim is attacked by the Prathiharas, Palas, and Rashtrakutas around AD 800-1200. (AD 712)
• Islam’s and Sufism’s Ascension
• Mohammed Ghazni was born in the city of Ghazni (AD 1000-27)
• Ghori Mohammed (AD 1175-1206)
• South Indian kingdoms Bhamini and Vijayanagara were two of the most powerful kingdoms in medieval India.
• Sultanate of Delhi (1206 AD – 1526 AD)
• During the Delhi Sultanate, the following dynasties flourished one after the other:
• Mughals (AD 1526 – AD 1857) Kilji Dynasty Tuglaq Dynasty Sayyid Dynasty Lodi Dynasty
• Mughals from Babar (1526) to Aurangazeb (1707) were more powerful than earlier Mughals, and so were known as Great Mughals.
• Later Mughals were Mughals who governed from 1707 to 1857.
• The arrival of Europeans Other North Indian kingdoms – Marathas and Sikhs

Modern History (Post 1857 CE)

The Chronology of Modern Indian History are listed below;

• First War of Indian Independence (1857)
• Formation of Indian National Congress (1885)
• Formation of Muslim League (1906)
• Non-Co-operation Movement (1920)
• Civil Disobedience Movement (1930)
• Quit India Movement (1942)
• Partition of India (1947)
• Constitutional Development of India (1946 – 1950)
• Economic Development of India
• Wars – India-Pak – Formation of Bangladesh; India- China
• New Economic Policy of 1991

Also, read the Impact of British Rule on India here!

The Timeline Of Indian History

The major events that took place in Indian History are listed below in the History Timeline Chart, chronologically from the ancient period of Indian history to the modern period.

Indian History Timeline FAQs

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