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3500 BCE
Indus Valley Civilisation
The Indus Valley civilisation was one of the first major civilisations of the bronze age, along with Ancient Egypt. The civilisation was known for their advanced and elaborate houses and cities, and were masters of architecture. They worked with metals, and were farmers and traders. -
Period: 3300 BCE to 1600 BCE
A period of culture development for the Indus Valley Civilisations
The Harappan civilisation investigate different burials for their dead, hundreds of towns, and even cities, were built, and pepper became a widely-used cooking ingredient. -
1500 BCE
Aryans invade Northern India
The Ayrans, a group from central Asia, attack, invade, and eventually conquer all of India by 1000 BCE with powers such as the ability to forge iron. -
700 BCE
The Aryans change India
With a new Aryan government, India is divided into 16 states/kingdoms, the Charvaka school of philosophy is opened to change Indian's religious beliefs, and Indian scholars take Aryan beliefs and change them into the basis of Hinduism. -
700 BCE
Start of Caste society
Around this time, Ancient Indian society was split into 4 groups: Brahmins (priestly people), Kshatriyas (rulers, administrators and warriors), Vaishyas (artisans, merchants, tradesmen and farmers), and Shudras (workers), and the Dalits, who did the worst and dirtiest jobs, and were treated awfully by society. This system was the Caste system. -
527 BCE
Buddhism is created
Prince Siddhartha Gautama, a wealthy Indian Prince, sees people suffering all around him, and leaves behind all his riches to start a simple, caring religion called Buddhism. -
327 BCE
The arrival of Alexander the Great
Alexander the great pushed into India's north. His army defeated the Persian empire. The next year, he is overcome and retreats, but dies a mysterious death. Experts cannot decide whether he was poisoned, died of malaria, or drank too much during a celebration. This event can be compared to the more-recent discovery of Australia by Captain Cook. He took over the country, but on his return trip, he was killed while celebrating his victory, just like Alexander the Great. -
Period: 186 BCE to 50 BCE
Greek Rule
The Greeks had conquered Ancient India, and, surprisingly, had a good influence on their culture through things like evolving and spreading Buddhism, but their rule died out due to a take-over by the Indo-Scythians. -
184 BCE
The Mauryan Dynasty ends.
The end of the Mauryan Dynasty marks the start of a re-united India, after being separated into small city-states for almost 500 years, and opens the opportunity for Greek rule. -
550
The fall of Ancient India
A string of bad leaders led to the decline of Ancient India, but after 550 BCE, one more ruler, Harshavardhan, helped India flourish for about 42 years, but his death led to the invasion of the Huns, which was ultimately the death of their amazing culture.
