Indian History Chronology: Indian History is a topic of interest to many including foreigners because of the cultures and civilizations existed in this sub-continent. The history of India can be studied under political, cultural, religious or economic heads.
Indian History Chronology
Chronologically, Indian History can be classified into three periods – Ancient India, Medieval India and Modern India.
Ancient India (Pre-historic to AD 700)
There were activities of proto-humans (Homo erectus) in the Indian subcontinent 20 lakh years (2 million years) ago and of Homo sapiens since 70,000 BC. But they were gathers/hunters.
The first inhabitants of Indian subcontinent might have been tribals like Nagas (North-East), Santhals (East-India), Bhils (Central India), Gonds (Central India), Todas (South India) etc. Most of them are speakers of the Austric, pre-Dravidian languages, such as Munda and Gondvi. Dravidians and Aryans are believed to be immigrants who came later to the sub-continent.
Ancient India can be studied under other heads like Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Chalcolithic period – based on the type of stone/ metal tools people used.
Palaeolithic Period (2 million BC – 10,000 BC)
- Fire
- Tools made up of limestone
- Ostrich Eggs
- Important Paleolithic sites: Bhimbetka (M.P), Hunsgi, Kurnool Caves, Narmada Valley (Hathnora, M.P), Kaladgi Basin
Mesolithic Period (10,000 BC – 8,000 BC)
- Major Climatic Change happened
- Domestication of animals ie Cattle rearing started
- Microliths found at Brahmagiri (Mysore), Narmada, Vindya, Gujarat
Neolithic Period (8000 BC – 4,000 BC)
- Agriculture Started
- Wheel discovered
- Inamgaon = An early village
- Important Neolithic Sites: 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, Takkala Kota.
- NB: Megalithic Sites: Brahmagiri, Adichanallur
Chalcolithic Period (4000 BC – 1,500 BC)
- Copper Age. Can be considered part of the Bronze Age. (Bronze = Copper + Tin)
- Indus Valley Civilization (BC 2700 – BC 1900).
- Also cultures at Brahmagiri, Navada Toli (Narmada region), Mahishadal (W.Bengal), Chirand (Ganga region)
Iron Age (BC 1500 – BC 200)
- Vedic Period (Arrival of Aryans ie. BC 1600 – BC 600) – Nearly 1000 years (Basic books of Hinduism, i.e. Vedas were composed, might have written down later.)
- Jainism and Buddhism
- Mahajanapadas – Major Civilization after Indus Valley- On banks of river Ganga
- Magadha empire – Bimbisara of Haryanka Kula
- Sisunga dynasty – Kalasoka (Kakavarnin)
- Nanda empire – Mahapadma-nanda, Dhana-nanda
- Persian- Greek: Alexander 327 BC
Mauryan Empire (321-185 BC)
Important rulers of the Mauryan Empire: Chandra Gupta Maurya, Bindusara, Asoka
Post-Mauryan Kingdoms (Middle Kingdoms):
- Sunga (181-71 BC), Kanva (71-27BC), Satavahanas (235-100BC), Indo-Greeks, Parthians (19-45AD), Sakas (90BC-150AD), Kushanas(78AD)
- South Indian Kingdoms – Chola, Chera, Pandyas (BC 300)
Gupta Kingdom (300AD – 800AD): Classical Period
Important ruler of Gupta Period: Samudra Gupta (Indian Napoleon)
Post Guptas or Contemporary Guptas
- Harshvardana, Vakatakas, Pallavas, Chalukyas. Also, Hunas, Maitrakas, Rajputs, Senas and Chauhans.
Medieval India (AD 700 – AD 1857)
- AD: 800-1200: Tripartite struggle – Prathiharas, Palas, and Rashtrakutas
- Attack of Muhammed Bin Kassim (AD 712)
- Rise of Islam and Sufism
- Mohammed Ghazni (AD 1000-27)
- Mohammed Ghori (AD 1175-1206)
Delhi Sultanate (1206 AD – 1526 AD)
The following dynasties flourished one after the other during the Delhi Sultanate period.
- Slave Dynasty
- Kilji Dynasty
- Tuglaq Dynasty
- Sayyid Dynasty
- Lodi Dynasty
Mughals (AD 1526 – AD 1857)
- Great Mughals
- Later Mughals
Mughals from Babar (1526) to Aurangazeb (1707) were more powerful and hence known as Great Mughals. Mughals who ruled from 1707 to 1857 were known as Later Mughals.
- Arrival of Europeans
- Other Kingdoms of North India – Marathas, Sikhs
Modern India (AD 1857 +)
- 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
- Nuclear, Space and Defense Development
History Schools
- Orientalist School – West Patronizing the East Culture – Not active now
- Cambridge School – Downplays ideology
- Nationalist School – Importance to Congress and Gandhi; Hindu Nationalists for Hindutva version
- Marxist School – Class conflict
- Subaltern School – Caste conflict
Sir I have just begun my preparation for civil services with Histiry.I am confused whether to make notes in the first reading of the subject or in subsequent readings.
Kindly guide me.
Thank you
First study throughly . In 2nd reading make notes by understanding.
I did the same, and yeah it’s working!
Sab janna h iss Bh@*£e ko 😅
Kindly, advice how one make notes for optional such vast as History itself. Any help would be appreciated! Thank you.
Make as per syllabus and current affairs.
hi
can anyone suggest
for world history and culture baliyan notes better or vaji
2. vaji printed or vaji handwritten which one is better
u read world history by jain and mathur, which is very useful for ias
Vaji
Hi,
I am preparing myself for 2015 and wanted to know the process of joining your test series or answer writing challenges for mains as well as prelims.
Regards
Romila
Behen ka loda
sir i want to have geography optional, will i have different books for prelims and main
Hi,
Maps are correct, but at many places chronology is bit incorrect..e.g Gupta empire was from 315 to 550 and medival history was from early medival 750 to 1200 and medival from 1200 to 1757, commonly accepted…not hard and fast rule..but ur figures are bit stretched…
Hlo can you give your number
I am handicapped if you have notes then gives me
sir i am in class 11 and i want to become an ias officer.
How can i prepare for it.
Plzz i need a guideline plzz help me.
Pehle zindagi air explore karlo.
Maa ki choot
Sir i am studying economics start with through ncert books but it is difficult to analyses economics questions in mains question papers and analyses of news papers economics reports.i am trying different ways but it is very confused.sir please suggest the material regarding this and way of approach..
I just started to read History NCERT – class VI… got confused and found hard to get an idea.. went on searching online & luckily found this post.
It makes my job easier.. I hope it’ll serve as a roadmap for History preparation.
thanks a lot ClearIAS… 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
NB:Print Pdf
It’s good but u can add about rise of regional powers like awadh,hyderabad,Bengal,Sikhs ,maratha etc under topic mughal
NB: Print Pdf
Sir how to download this article PDF,I am not able to get pdf
ClearIAS study materials are available for download as PDF for FREE on the ClearIAS Telegram Channel (https://t.me/clearias). Join us now!
SEME HERE…. ONLY PRINT OPTION AVLIABLE
sir I want to prepare SSC CGL examination, l am science graduate so l need help to prepare Indian history pls guide me
How many articles are thir in india constitution
Sir i am in BA ist sem and my sub is pol sci and history,now i am confusing in choiseing the additional sub for IAS so what i can do? which sub is better for IAS.
What we call the reign of pre mouryan period?
Sorry Sir/Madam, but I think you missed Harappan civilisation in this chronology.
Indusvalley civilisation is also known as harappan civilisation
Did we have ostrich in India during palaeolithic period ?
Great information about history of India. Your article is an evergreen compilation of data.
Thanks a lot.
For all parts of prachin bharat https://youtu.be/IIzDbgQEAUw
how to download notes
India also has a wide political as well as social history. It is a very rich country in terms of history.
thanks for your article, i have referred your article for writting old history of india blog.
thanks again, it helped me alot
Beautifully, summerized.
There are arguments about Buddha.Some say Buddha was born in India.Great historian A.L.Bhasham says no buddha was born in India. How can I find the truth.What is the history book I should buy.Could you please help me.Thanks
How to download these notes kindly tell me
Kindly tell me quick gs study capsule to go through jkpsc cc pre exam 2
018
You should have to clear 12 the exam now.After 12th u have to choose any one subject prescribed by recognised university of India for B.A(Hns)/ B.Sc(Hns)/ B.Tech(Hns)/ B.Com(Hns).At begining u should be conscious on two subjects for mains exam eg; Geography/Economics/ Mathematics/ Anthropology/History/Physics/Chemistry/psychology…etc. First of all u should have to download upsc ( IAS) syllabus.After doing this u will be prepare for IAS by serially.
Sir i did my graduation parallel to i.t.i in similar session by regular based still I’m working in SAIL Bt now I want to prepare for upsc nd I’m thinking that if I got selected then would I got any problem in further process.
How to read history.iam very confused pls guide me
Nice materials
Good morning sir
Thank you sir for this effort
Sir I have a question, sir what is your motivation for doing this great work
Hi Sunil,
Good question 🙂 You are right. Without enough motivation, we cannot keep coming up with quality articles/mock exams on a daily basis. The following are the major motivating factors for me and ClearIAS Team as a whole.
(1) The realisation that we are solving the big problems students faced or facing – in terms of accessibility, affordability, and quality – of education.
(2) The feeling that about 1 million students depend on ClearIAS for learning each month. That adds a lot of responsibility too.
(3) As a person, I love teaching and creative writing. Most of the team members of ClearIAS too. It’s highly satisfying. We love to make things simple. ClearIAS gives maximum space to creativity and innovation. Our focus is to create easy-to-learn study materials, saving valuable time of aspirants.
(4) As a social startup, with a sustainable business model, we do realise the value of our work.
(5) Users like you who encourage and support us.
(6) Toppers who sent us thank-you letters appreciating the crucial role played by ClearIAS.com in helping them clear UPSC Civil Services Exam.
(7) My own past experiences, mistakes, failures, and lessons learned.
(8) The vision and mission of ClearIAS.
(9) The urge to make the lives of others better.
PS: There is a 10th point as well – the conviction that what we have done so far is just nothing, but only a beginning.
We have just started.
There are plenty of things to be done in the days ahead.
NCERT Cl 6 History textbook, Chapter 2- evidence of ostrich shells used for making beads and decorative items was found in Patne, Maharashtra.
sir,i m currently studying in 12 icse science class….will these only notes would be sufficient for me to study….???? Kindly help pls
I have been searching for this chronology for a while now, and then I got it here. Thanks from the secluded place of my heart. regards
Very nice for prepration for upsc.
Hindi language hai sir
Hi Sir can this material be used for preparing for the CDSE by UPSC?
Hello Sir,
I am Geethika …. and I am going study in class 9th . My dream is to be the IAS officer and I want to start my preparation from my 9th . Now I am 13 years old and I want your guidance . Can you please guide me in the best way to serve my nation as an IAS officer ?
Thanks in advance,
Your lovingly child,
Geethika . V . Sastry
Ancient period is prehistoric to AD 700,but how can the paleolithic,Mesolithic,chalcolithic and neolithic are in BC…….plz I have a confusion…anyone solve this
Pre history, Proto history till Sakas in BC, Sakas and afterwards in CE or AD
Sir I just start my preparation for civil services so can u please tell me what I do first and from where I can start
I totally confused what I study what not….
Plzz reply
hi sir,
I’m Sibiya from Erode, Tamil nadu. I would like to start my UPSC exam preparation. Where should i start now?
As there are many institutes here though I dont feel good with them only focusing on money. As I’m from financially down family I need some support and guidance to prepare my exams from the team like yours who only want people to get benefit of. There lies a real support I hope!!!
Download telegram and get free video
Hi,
Can I get the pdf notes?
Hi,
What does the NB abbreviation mean?
Thanks,
Sweta
I have seen different timelines for stone & metal age on different sites, & in different books, so just want to confirm if this timeline is correct?
i think the period mention for homo-erectus and homo-sapiens in indian sub-continent is not correct
look into this matter
Is the notes are only cover ncerts or reference also
It’s really helpful for the upsc and as well history portion thanks a lot sir
I was searching this article. Very helpful for me.
Hi sir I am sneha Singh and I read class 9th. I want to became an IPS officer. Sir please guide me
Thank you
Thanks you soo much.. for this notes.
If similar kind of notes for Politics is available , Request to share.
Thanks in advance.
It’s not a research work. Just copied from Indian history books written by foreign historians like Romilla thaper. May be he is not studied Vedic literature to calculate Vedic time period and using prossesion of equinoxes calculations.
Stop murmuring
Instead you make a detailed chart as per vedas. Let us all know what our vedas say… As far as I know, This exam is not taking vedas as a reference .
A Very Big THANK YOU To CLEAR IAS
For Making Our UPSC Preparation More Easier😊😊 💝💝
Hii
i want pdf files
Is there is all pdf files of all subjects ?
These notes are enough for IAS preparation. Tell me plzzzzz
Hii this is Nahida akhter
I’m from jammu and kashmir
My hobby is ias officer
And my dream is civil services
May Allah bless me for All examination
Give me a one chance please
Really very very thanks a lot sir
Sir I am doing self-study have little confusion how to connect with you because I will take exam in 2022 so please suggest me
Nice article post !!! For various historical Indian events Click Here For Visit this Site thanks ….
Not enough for upsc
Sir please hame Gs 1mains ka complete notes uplabdh karaye