If you are an IAS aspirant, you need to know Indian History and its important events. It might be a little difficult for the students who are not from the Arts Background. So, today we are here to help you to remember the History of India – important events.
But you might think that why History is an important subject to clear UPSC. History has mammoth importance because History makes you understand several new dimensions and various events, and battles in Indian History were evolutionary. It helps you to understand the system more clearly.
Knowing what happened in the past can help you to take the present and future decisions more effectively. Knowing History can also help you to understand the societal norms about the struggle of our great leaders. And it also helps you to know about our constitution well. So, without any further delay, here are some of the important events of our Indian History in chronological order, which will help you understand and memorize it more easily.
Three major periods in the History of India – Important Events
- Ancient India
- Medieval India, and
- Modern India
Let’s get started with Ancient India.
Ancient India – Important Events
Period: Prehistoric to AD 700
About 20 lakh years ago, there were Homo erectus in the Indian subcontinent, and Homo sapiens came into existence in 70,000 BC. The first inhabitants of India were,
- Nagas in North-East
- Santhals in East-India
- This is Central India
- Gonds in Central India
- Todas in South India
They used to speak Austric, Pre-Dravidian languages like Munda and Gondvi. Aryans and Dravidians came later to the Indian subcontinent.
Palaeolithic Period (2 million BC – 10,000 BC)
Some of the important sites:
- Kaladgi Basin,
- Bhimbetka,
- Hunger,
- Kurnool Caves, and
- Narmada Valley
Tools made up of limestone and fire were discovered in this period.
Mesolithic Period (10,000 BC – 8,000 BC)
Microliths were found at Brahmagiri, Narmada, and Gujarat, domestication of animals and Cattle rearing was begun, and significant climatic change also occurred.
Neolithic Period (8000 BC – 2000 BC)
Agriculture was started in this period, the wheel was first discovered, and Inamgaon is an early Neolithic village, and some of the major megalithic Sites are Brahmagiri and Adichanallur. Significant Neolithic Sites were
- Hallur, which is now Andhra Pradesh
- Mahagara, which is now Uttar Pradesh
- Maski
- Paiyampalli, now Andhra Pradesh
- SanganaKaller
- Utnur
- Burzahom, now Kashmir
- Chirand, now Bihar
- DaojaliHading, now Tripura and Assam
- Gufkral, now Kashmir
- Kodekal
- Koldihwa, now Uttar Pradesh
- Mehrgarh, now Pakistan
- Takkala Kota
Indus Valley Civilization (BC 2700 – BC 1900)
The civilization was built around 3300 BC. It flourished between 2700 BC and 1900 BC, Mature Indus Valley Civilization. After that, it started vanishing around 1900 BC, and around 1400 BC, it was totally disappeared.
Chalcolithic Period (4000 BC – 1,500 BC)
This age is also known as the Copper Age and is also considered a part of the Bronze Age.
Iron Age (BC 1500 – BC 200)
It is the Vedic Period, and also Aryans arrived in this period. Basic books of Hinduism were introduced, and Vedas were composed in this period. This period had also evidenced the rise of Jainism and Buddhism. Other than these,
- Mahajanapadas was established,
- Magadha empire– Bimbisara of Haryanka Kula was established.
- Sishunaga dynasty – Kalasoka (Kakavarnin)
- Nanda empire – Mahapadma-Nanda, Dhana-Nand
- Persians – Greek arrival: Alexander 327 BC
Mauryan Empire (321-185 BC)
- Chandragupta: 322–298 BCE
- Bindusara: 298–272 BCE
- Ashoka: 268–232 BCE
Mauryan Kingdoms was succeeded by
- Sunga: 181-71 BC
- Kanva: 71-27BC
- Satavahanas: 235-100BC
- Indo-Greeks, Parthians: 180BC-45AD
- Sakas: 90BC-150AD
- Kushanas: 78AD
Sangam Age (300 BC – 300 AD)
- Chola
- Cheras
- Pandyas
Gupta Empire (300AD – 800AD)
This was an ancient Indian empire.
Samudra Gupta of the Gupta Empire is known as Indian Napoleon.
Post-Gupta or Contemporary Gupta
After the fall of Imperial Guptas, Magadha and its capital, Pataliputra,
Vardhana Dynasty, Mukharis, Hunas, Pushyabhutis, Goudas, Varman, Maitrakas, and later Rajputs, Senas, and Chauhans were succeeded.
Medieval India (AD 700 – AD 1857)
- Tripartite struggle: AD 800-1200- Prathiharas, Palas and Rashtrakutas
- Attack of Muhammed Bin Kassim: AD 712
- Growth of Sufism and Islam
- Muhammad Ghazni: AD 1000-27
- Muhammad Ghori: AD 1175-1206
The two major South Indian kingdoms of Medieval India were Vijayanagara and Bhamini.
Delhi Sultanate (1206 AD – 1526 AD)
- Slave Dynasty
- Khilji Dynasty
- Tuglaq Dynasty
- Sayyid Dynasty
- Lodi Dynasty
Mughals (AD 1526 – AD 1857)
- Mughals, when Babar ruled
- Later, Mughals, when Aurangazeb took over.
- Arrival of Europeans
- Marathas and Sikhs
Modern India (AD 1857-1991)
- First War of Indian Independence: 1857
- Formation of Indian National Congress: 1885
- Formation of Muslim League: 1906
- Non-Cooperation Movement: 1920
- Civil Disobedience Movement: 1930
- Quit India Movement: 1942
- Partition of India: 1947
- Constitutional Development of India: 1946 – 1950
- India- China war: 1962
- India-Pakistan war: 1965
- Formation of Bangladesh: 1971
- New Economic Policy: 1991
These were the important events that every Indian, especially the students to dream of becoming an IAS officer, should remember. To read more like this, visit our website.
