History of South Asia: A Chronological Outline

PREHISTORY

2300-1750 BCEIndus River Civilization

Development of urban grain-growing civilization on the Indus River; Two main cities: Harappa and Mohenjo-daro; Undeciphered proto-Dravidian script; Destroyed by climate, invasion of non-Indus peoples

ca. 1750-1000 BCEAryan Migration

Migration into northwest India of nomadic herding tribes from Iranian plateau; Indo-European language; Oral religious traditions preserved in Vedas, oldest of which, the Rig Veda, predates migration

ca. 900 BCEBrahmanism

Early Hinduism characterized by rituals belief in reincarnation, dharma, karma and division of society into four classes (varnas)

500 BCEBuddhism; Jainism

326 BCE

Invasion of Alexander the Great

324-200 BCE

Mauryan Empire

Domination of North India by Chandragupta, extended to south by grandson, Ashoka.

NORTH INDIA / SOUTH INDIA

250 BCEDevelopment/Diffusion of Sanskritic culture

Major texts of Hindu tradition take shape: Mahabharata, Ramayana, codification of laws, grammar, science, arts; Gods Shiva, Vishnu major figures; Spread of Sanskritic culture to South India

200 BCEInvasions of North India

Invasions by Central Asian tribes: Bactrian Greeks; Sakas; Kushans, who establish a dynasty, ca.78 BCE-200 CE

TRADITIONAL INDIA

Matured Hindu tradition expressed in poetry, drama [Kalidasa]; art, temple architecture; philosophy [Vedanta]; new fonts of devotional [bhakti] worship.

320-500 CEGupta Empire

Guptas dominate North India at beginning of 'classical' period.

ca. 455-528 CEInvasion of Huns

Successive invasions of Huns and other Central Asian tribes destroy Gupta empire.

ca. 650-1335Rajput Dynasties (North India);

Regional Dynasties (South India)

Warlike clans appear in Rajasthan

711Arabs take Sind

Pallava dynasty dominates south; continuing conflict with Cholas, with Cheras, Pandyas

997-1027Raids of Mahmud of Ghazni

MUSLIM INDIA

Invasions of Muslims from Central Asia lead to political dominance of Muslims in North India and introduction of Persian culture, Islamic religion into South Asia.

1192-1526Delhi Sultanate

Turko-Afghan chieftains establish sultanate at Delhi; dominate North India

1336-1646Vijayanagar Empire

Rise of Hindu kingdom in South India; Independent of Muslim rulers until destruction of capital city in 1565.

1498Portuguese traders in India

1526-1858Mughal Empire

Mughal empire unifies North and parts of South India under its rule; Amalgam of Persian and Indian culture created in its courts and territories.

1700European traders in India

Establishment of trading outposts in India:

Dutch (1609); English (1612); French (1674)

1757Battle of Plassey

Victory over Nawab of Bengal gives East India company control of Bengal and begins expansion of British power in India.

BRITISH INDIA

1800Political dominance of British introduces Western culture, language, methods of government, technology into urban administrative centers.

MODERN SOUTH ASIA

1947Partition: India and Pakistan

Independence from British rule and Partition of British India into modern countries of India and Pakistan (East and West)

1971Bangladesh

War between East and West Pakistan results in separation of Pakistan into two states: Pakistan and Bangladesh

Consultants: Leonard A. Gordon, Senior Research Scholar, and Judith Walsh, Research Scholar, South Asia Institute, Columbia University

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