Ancient History of India: Detailed & Timelined
Hey, how are you? Today, I'm writing about the Ancient history of India and the reason for this blog is a long story. In short, some days back I was reading about this topic. Thus, saw so many posts regarding it but none of them had the whole story. So, I thought I'll do the deed myself. If you're also in that state, I'm happy you finally found it. Let's get down the business. Shall we?
* First and foremost, you should know that Ancient history is divided into two parts i.e., Pre-history and Proto-history. Pre-history consists of the stone age and not everything that happened is recorded in documents due to which few parts are known to mankind. While, the latter, has several shreds of evidence of its existence. It entails Indus Valley Civilization and the Vedic age.
* Pre-history
Just like I said, it consists stone age. Stone age is a period in which tools were made from materials like wood and stone. In this particular period, people used to not wear any clothes. I'm astonished how this is categorized in small periods. It has four periods, they are:
Palaeolithic age - This age started the construction of cultural artefacts. The main thing these people did for their livelihood was forage and hunting. Also, This is the only age in which inhabitants were dependent on the environment.
Mesolithic age - In this age, people invented bow and arrows, fish hook and harpoon. While they doing same things as Palaeolithic age. It includes hunting, fishing and food gathering.
Neolithic age - The term refers to new changes which is exactly what it did. This age changed history and humans got an upgrade from food gatherers to food producers. They used polished tools, made boats, cultivated ragi and cotton, domesticated animals (such as sheep, cattle etc), invented the concept of housing.
Chalcolithic age - This age widely used copper which can be the reason why it is also called the Copper Age. The livelihood of this period is not discovered by archaeologists but the presence of painted pottery, burying people in a particular west side of the area is known. That's the end of Prehistory. Let's go with...
Proto-history
Proto-history starts with Indus Valley Civilization/Harappan Civilization/Bronze Age. According to Wikipedia, this goes back to 3300 BC to 1300 BC. This term (IVC) was first used by John Marshall. People started living a city life and these cities were divided into two parts: Citadel and lower town. It is said that Harappa civilization is twenty times of Egyptian civilization. Approximately 1500 cities have been discovered out of 1052 mainly in the region of the Indus River and its tributaries. Countries like India, Pakistan and Afghanistan are some of the areas included in this civilization. Here are some popular cities of the Harappan period:
Harappa - Located in Sahiwal district, Punjab state of Pakistan on the bank of Ravi River. It is excavated by Dayaram Sahni in 1921.
Mohenjo Daro - Located in Larkana district of Sindh state in Pakistan. It is discovered by R D Banerji in 1922. This is the most populous and largest city in terms of area. Mount of the dead, Garden of Indus are a few names of this city. It is said that mohenjo daro had the finest bath and drainage facilities. Now, it can't be found because of the destruction caused by a flood. Famous "Great Bath" and "The Dancing Girl" was found here.
Lothal - This city is the only Port city of Harappan civilization. It is located on the bank of river Bhogavo in Ahmedabad city of Gujarat state. Found by archaeologist SR Rao, it is considered as Mini mohenjo daro and mini Harappa.
Banawali - Located in the Fatehpur district of Haryana on the bank of the Ghaggar river. It is discovered by R S Bisht in 1974. In this area, particularly marine shells were found.
Dholavira - Located on the bank of Luni river in Kutch district of Indian state Gujarat. It is founded by J P Joshi in 1967. This is the newest UNESCO heritage site of India which is announced in July of 2021. The team called this site ''one of the best-preserved urban settlements from the period in Southeast Asia".
Some other sites are Surkotada - the only site where the remains of a horse are found, Rakhigarhi, Mundigak, Rupnagar, Alamgirpur, Daimabad, Kalibanga near Ghaggar river, Manda of Jammu & Kashmir, Chanhudaro (Pakistan) - it is the only site without citadel.
To recapitulate, Here are several common features:
Indus Valley Civilization had:
(i) Organized town planning
(ii) Fortified citadel except for Chanhudaro
(iii) Underground drainage system
(iv) Use of burnt bricks
(v) Culture is not specific as such but, mostly worshipped God is Pashupati
(vi) Main crops: Wheat and Barley
(vii) Animals known: Sheep, Goat, Bull, Cat, Dog etc. Lion was unknown to these people.
The second thing listed in Proto-history is the Vedic Age [dated: 1500-500 BC] aka the beginning of the Iron Age. In this age, people used to hand knowledge by word of mouth. This, later bronze age laid down the foundation of Hinduism and the concept of caste. People who founded this age are Aryans. Some believe there were native to the soil of India while others believe they were migrated from Central Asia. However, their origin is still unknown and unrevealed.
Now, let's talk about Vedas. Vedic literature comprises four literary productions. i.e., (A) Vedas or Samhitas (B) Brahmans (C) Aranyakas (D) Upanishads.
(A) Vedas / Samhitas - This is the most popular literature of the vedic age. Vedas are of four types:
Rig Veda is a collection of lyrics. It is the oldest text in the world and therefore, it is known as "The First Testament of the Mankind". Gayatri Mantra, the most popular mantra is taken from this Veda. In this, there are 10 mandals and the tenth Mandal involves Purusha Sukta which explains the four varnas (Brahmana, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra).
Sama Veda is a book of chants. It has all the hymns used in Indian music. Like Rig Vedas were recited by Hotri, while they were intonated by Udgatri.
Yajur Veda is a book of sacrificial prayers. Wedding vows said in Hindu marriages are taken from here. This Veda is divided into two parts mainly Krishna Yajur Veda and Shukla Yajur Veda. The hymns were recited by Adhvaryus.
Atharva Veda is a book of magical formulae. It contains all the spells to charm and wards off evil. These mantras were chanted by the Brahma priest.
(B) Brahmanas - These are sacred scriptures explained by Brahmans and every Veda has a Brahmans assigned to it. As in Rig Veda - Aitareya, Kaushiki, Sankhyam; Sama Veda - Panchvisha, Chandogya, Jaiminaya; Yajur Veda - Shatapatha, Taittiriya; Atharva Veda - Gopatha.
(C) Aranyakas - The term means "the forest". The forest texts are called Aranyaka since they were written exclusively for the hermits and the students living in jungles.
(D) Upanishads - They are philosophical texts. They are generally called Vedanta for the reason that they came towards the end of the Veda. Brihadaranyaka is the oldest and earliest Upanishad.
Note: Epics Ramayana and Mahabharata are covered in Mahakavyas which is under the topic of Vedic Tradition.
Lastly, It is Mahajanapadas turn now, They introduced ceramic styles to the world. There are 16 mahajanapadas. Dated 700 to 600 BC, these people re-urbanised sixteen places and made them large kingdoms so, to constitute. These 16 regions are Surusen, Gandhara, Kashi, Kosala, Kamboja, Ashmaka, Anga, Avanti, Panchala, Kuru, Matsya, Magadh, Malla, Chedi, Vatsa and Vajji.
• Dynasties of Ancient India (Keypoints)
* Founded in Magadha
Haryanka Dynasty [dated 544-413 BC]
Founder - Bimbisara
Capital - Rajgriha
Contemporary - Gautam Buddha, Mahavira
Rulers - Bimbisara: He founded this dynasty by marrying several princesses, he was the first Indian king who had a regular and standing army,
Ajatashatru: son of Bimbisara, killed his father and seized the throne,
Udayin: son of Ajatashatru, he shifted the capital to Patliputra.
Shishunaga Dynasty [dated 412-344 BC]
Founder - Shishunaga
Capital - Rajgriha
Rulers - Shishunaga: He brought an end to the hundred-year-old rivalry of Avanti and Magadha,
Kalashok: who convened the second Buddhists council in Vaishali in 383 BC.
Nanda Dynasty [dated 343-321 BC]
Founder - Mahapadmanand
Capital - Patliputra
Rulers - Mahapadma Nanda was often called Ekrat (The sole monarch), He was succeeded by his eight sons and Dhanananda was the last ruler of this regime.
* Important: Alexander Invasion
Dated: 327-326 BC
Reason: During the fourth century, The Greeks wanted to rule the whole world. Therefore, Alexander came to conquer India.
Battle of Hydaspes: Before India, Porus had won Kabul and all the nearby areas. Horrified rulers submitted their defeat but Porus refused to do so. Thus, Porus and Alexander fought a battle on the bank of the Jhelum river.
Alexander died in Babylon in 323 BC. His administration was handled by his generals. One of them was Seleucus I Nicator who was defeated by Chandragupta Maurya. Here comes the dawn of the Mauryan empire.
Mauryan Dynasty [dated 322-185 BC]
Founder- Chandragupta Maurya
Rulers - Maurya: His court poet was Chanakya, with the help of whom he won over the Nanda dynasty, He adopted Jainism and became a devotee in his later years.
Bindusara: Names such as Slayer of the army and Amritaghat were given to the son of Chandragupta Maurya. The only popular thing that happened in his reign is Deimachus, a greek person who visited his court to conquer some land.
Ashoka: aka Devanampiya Priyadasi Ashokaraja. One of the noteworthy events that happened during his reign I.e, the bloodiest war - Kalinga (261 BC) that made Ashoka converted to Buddhism. Ashoka built Sudarshan Lake, various Stupas in Sarnath and Kushinagar.
Note: The last ruler of this administration is Brihadratha who was defeated by Pushyamitra Sunga in 185 BC.
Important: The emblem of India has been adopted from the four lion capital of one of Ashoka's pillars which are located in Sarnath.
Shunga Dynasty [dated 185-75 BC]
Founder - Pushyamitra Shunga
Capital: Patliputra
Rulers: Pushyamitra Shunga, Agnimitra and Devabhumi.
Architecture: Bharhut Stupa was initially built by Ashoka but got its proper work done by this dynasty.
Note: They restored Bhagvatism as they were of Brahmin religion.
* Important: Indo-Scythians - The Greeks were the first to issue coins and also the first to issue gold coins in India.
The Shakas
Founder: Chashtana
Rulers: Rudradaman I repaired Sudarshan lake built by Ashoka. He issued the first-ever inscription in Chaste Sanskrit, He defeated Satavahanas twice.
Kanva Dynasty [dated 75-30 BC]
Founder: Vasudeva
Capital: Pataliputra
Rulers: Vasudeva and the last ruler was Susarma. They held the ownership for a really short term.
The Satavahanas [dated 60-225 AD]
Founder: Simuka
Nicknamed: Andhras
They issued coins in Lead, Copper and Bronze.
Successor: Ishvakus/Solar Dynasty.
The kushanas [dated 1st to 3rd century]
Founder: Kujula Kadphises
Capital: Kapisi, Purushapura, Taxila and Mathura.
Languages used: Sanskrit, Greek and Bactrian.
Fact: first rulers to issue gold coins on a large scale.
Pallavas [dated 275-900 AD]
Founder: Simhavishnu
Capital: Kanchipuram
Vital ruler: Narasimhavarman I annexed Chalukaya's capital and adopted the title of Vatapikonda.
The Chalukyas [dated 543-753 AD]
Founder: Pulakeshin I
Capital: Badami
Rulers: Pulakeshin II who was defeated by Narsimhavarman I,
Vikramaditya I recaptured Vatapi from Pallavas.
Pala Dynasty [dated in the eighth century]
Founder: Gopala
Rulers: Dharampala who revived Nalanda university and inaugurated a new one called Vikramshila University.
The Gupta Dynasty [dated in the third century]
Founder: Sri Gupta
Contemporary: Aryabhata
Nicknamed: Golden Age
Caste: Vaishya
Rulers: Chandragupta I who started the Gupta Era,
Samudragupta who was named Napoleon of India by VA Smith,
Chandragupta II who adopted the title of Vikramaditya, First Chinese traveller Fa-Hien visited his court.
Kumaragupta - the founder of Nalanda University.
The Harsha Period [dated in the later 6th century]
Founder: Narvardhana
Last Ruler: Harshavardhana who made Kanauj his capital and started Harsha Era.
Note: Harshavardhana and Pulakesin II we're contemporaries to one another and Hiuen Tsang visited both of their courts.
Rashtrakuttas [dated in the seventh century]
Founder: Dantidurga
Capital: Manyakheta
Architecture: Rock-cut temple of Kailash at Ellora by Krishna I
The Chola Dynasty [dated 900-1000 AD]
Founder: Vijayalaya
Last Ruler: Rajendra Chola III
Architecture: Brihadeshwara Temple by Raja Raja Chola I
Karikala, Introduced capital city "Puhar".
After this, nothing happened much in Ancient history and a new rise paved the way for us. It is called Medieval history. I'll be writing about it in a few days. I hope you found this informative and time saving. Also, I'm expecting to see you again. Thanks for reading:)
