The History of India can be traced in fragments as far back as 700,000 years ago. The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5,000 years. According to the Indo-Aryan migration hypothesis, the so-called Aryans from the north-west of the Indian subcontinent migrated between 2000 BCE and 1500 BCE, possibly from Central Asia or the Middle East; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants apparently resulted in classical Indian culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkish ...

Including:

• History of India - The Paleolithic era
• History of India - The Neolithic era
• History of India - The Bronze age
• History of India - Vedic civilization
• History of India - The Mahajanapadas
• History of India - The Magadha empire
• History of India - Shishunaga dynasty
• History of India - Nanda dynasty
• History of India - Maurya dynasty
• History of India - Shunga dynasty
• History of India - Early Middle Kingdoms - the golden age
• History of India - Satavahana empire
• History of India - Kushan empire
• History of India - Gupta dynasty
• History of India - Late Middle Kingdoms - the classical age
• History of India - Harsha's empire
• History of India - The Chalukyas and Pallavas
• History of India - Chola empire
• History of India - The Pratiharas, Palas and Rashtrakutas
• History of India - The Rajputs
• History of India - The Islamic Sultanates
• History of India - Vijayanagar empire
• History of India - The Mughal era
• History of India - The Maratha confederacy
• History of India - The Kingdom of Mysore
• History of India - The Punjab
• History of India - Company rule
• History of India - The British Raj
• History of India - The independence movement
• History of India - Independent India
• History of India - Textbooks and Surveys

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See also:

History of India, History of India - The Paleolithic era, History of India - The Neolithic era, History of India - The Bronze age, History of India - Indus Valley Civilization, History of India - Vedic civilization, History of India - The Mahajanapadas, History of India - The Magadha empire, History of India - Shishunaga dynasty, History of India - Nanda dynasty, History of India - Maurya dynasty, History of India - Shunga dynasty, History of India - Early Middle Kingdoms - the golden age, History of India - Satavahana empire, History of India - Kushan empire, History of India - Gupta dynasty, History of India - Late Middle Kingdoms - the classical age, History of India - Harsha's empire, History of India - The Chalukyas and Pallavas, History of India - Chola empire, History of India - The Pratiharas Palas and Rashtrakutas, History of India - The Rajputs, History of India - The Islamic Sultanates, History of India - Vijayanagar empire, History of India - The Mughal era, History of India - The Maratha confederacy, History of India - The Kingdom of Mysore, History of India - The Punjab, History of India - Company rule, History of India - The British Raj, History of India - The independence movement, History of India - Independent India, History of India - Textbooks and Surveys

Read more here: » History of India: Encyclopedia II - History of India - Independent India

Main Articles: Political Integration of India, History of the Republic of India Since independence, India has fought a number of wars against its neighbours, most notably four wars against Pakistan, and one against China. It also detonated a nuclear device in 1974 and became a Declared nuclear state in 1998 following a series of tests. From a socialist-inspired economy to the early 1990s , India continued to make slow progress away from the state the British had left the country in, however, it was only after extensive economic ...

See also:

History of India, History of India - The Paleolithic era, History of India - The Neolithic era, History of India - The Bronze age, History of India - Indus Valley Civilization, History of India - Vedic civilization, History of India - The Mahajanapadas, History of India - Persian and Greek invasion, History of India - Achaemenid Empire, History of India - Alexander the Great, History of India - Greco-Buddhist period, History of India - The Magadha Empire, History of India - Shishunaga dynasty, History of India - Nanda Dynasty, History of India - Maurya dynasty, History of India - Shunga dynasty, History of India - Early Middle Kingdoms - the golden age, History of India - Satavahana Empire, History of India - Kushan Empire, History of India - Gupta dynasty, History of India - Huna invasion, History of India - Indo-Sassanians, History of India - Late Middle Kingdoms - the classical age, History of India - Harsha's empire, History of India - The Chalukyas and Pallavas, History of India - Chola empire, History of India - The Pratiharas Palas and Rashtrakutas, History of India - The Rajputs, History of India - Vijayanagar Empire, History of India - The Islamic Sultanates, History of India - Delhi Sultanate, History of India - The Mughal era, History of India - Mughal Empire, History of India - The Maratha confederacy, History of India - The Kingdom of Mysore, History of India - The Punjab, History of India - Durrani Empire, History of India - Colonial era, History of India - Company rule, History of India - The British Raj, History of India - The independence movement, History of India - Republic of India, History of India - Textbooks and surveys

Read more here: » History of India: Encyclopedia II - History of India - Republic of India

Stone Age rock shelters with paintings at Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh are the earliest known traces of human life in present-day India. The first known permanent settlements appeared over 9,000 years ago, and gradually developed into the Indus Valley Civilisation, which began around 3300 BC and peaked between 2600 BC and 1900 BC. It was followed by the Vedic Civilisation. From around 550 BC, many independent kingdoms came into being. In the north, the Maurya dynasty, which included Aşoka The Great, contributed greatly to India's cult ...

See also:

India, India - History, India - Government, India - Politics, India - States and union territories, India - Geography, India - Economy, India - Demographics, India - Culture, India - Sports and games, India - Holidays, India - Notes

Read more here: » India: Encyclopedia II - India - History

Stone Age rock shelters with paintings at Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh are the earliest known traces of human life in India. The first known permanent settlements appeared 9,000 years ago and developed into the Indus Valley Civilisation, which peaked between 2600 BC and 1900 BC. It was followed by the Vedic Civilisation. From around 550 BC onwards, many independent kingdoms came into being. In the north, the Maurya dynasty, which included Ashoka, contributed greatly to India's cultural landscape. From 180 BC, a series of invasions from Centra ...

See also:

India, India - History, India - Government, India - Politics, India - States and union territories, India - Geography, India - Economy, India - Demographics, India - Culture, India - Sports and games, India - Holidays, India - Notes

Read more here: » India: Encyclopedia II - India - History

By 500 BC, sixteen monarchies and 'republics' known as the Mahajanapadas stretched across the Indo-Gangetic plains from modern-day Afghanistan to Bangladesh. The largest of these nations were Magadha, Kosala, Kuru and Gandhara. The right of a king to his throne, no matter how it was gained, was usually legitimized through religious right and genealogies concocted by priests who ascribed to the king divine origins. Hindu rituals at that time were complicated and conducted by the priestly class. It is thought that the Upanishads, late V ...

See also:

History of India, History of India - The Paleolithic era, History of India - The Neolithic era, History of India - The Bronze age, History of India - Indus Valley Civilization, History of India - Vedic civilization, History of India - The Mahajanapadas, History of India - The Magadha empire, History of India - Shishunaga dynasty, History of India - Nanda dynasty, History of India - Maurya dynasty, History of India - Shunga dynasty, History of India - Early Middle Kingdoms - the golden age, History of India - Satavahana empire, History of India - Kushan empire, History of India - Gupta dynasty, History of India - Late Middle Kingdoms - the classical age, History of India - Harsha's empire, History of India - The Chalukyas and Pallavas, History of India - Chola empire, History of India - The Pratiharas Palas and Rashtrakutas, History of India - The Rajputs, History of India - The Islamic Sultanates, History of India - Vijayanagar empire, History of India - The Mughal era, History of India - The Maratha confederacy, History of India - The Kingdom of Mysore, History of India - The Punjab, History of India - Company rule, History of India - The British Raj, History of India - The independence movement, History of India - Independent India, History of India - Textbooks and Surveys

Read more here: » History of India: Encyclopedia II - History of India - The Mahajanapadas

By 500 BC, sixteen monarchies and 'republics' known as the Mahajanapadas stretched across the Indo-Gangetic plains from modern-day Afghanistan to Bangladesh. The largest of these nations were Magadha, Kosala, Kuru and Gandhara. The right of a king to his throne, no matter how it was gained, was usually legitimized through religious right and genealogies concocted by priests who ascribed divine origins to the rulers. There is some controversy about how closely the political entities of this period can be represented by those mentioned in the ...

See also:

History of India, History of India - The Paleolithic era, History of India - The Neolithic era, History of India - The Bronze age, History of India - Indus Valley Civilization, History of India - Vedic civilization, History of India - The Mahajanapadas, History of India - Persian and Greek invasion, History of India - Achaemenid Empire, History of India - Alexander the Great, History of India - Greco-Buddhist period, History of India - The Magadha Empire, History of India - Shishunaga dynasty, History of India - Nanda Dynasty, History of India - Maurya dynasty, History of India - Shunga dynasty, History of India - Early Middle Kingdoms - the golden age, History of India - Satavahana Empire, History of India - Kushan Empire, History of India - Gupta dynasty, History of India - Huna invasion, History of India - Indo-Sassanians, History of India - Late Middle Kingdoms - the classical age, History of India - Harsha's empire, History of India - The Chalukyas and Pallavas, History of India - Chola empire, History of India - The Pratiharas Palas and Rashtrakutas, History of India - The Rajputs, History of India - Vijayanagar Empire, History of India - The Islamic Sultanates, History of India - Delhi Sultanate, History of India - The Mughal era, History of India - Mughal Empire, History of India - The Maratha confederacy, History of India - The Kingdom of Mysore, History of India - The Punjab, History of India - Durrani Empire, History of India - Colonial era, History of India - Company rule, History of India - The British Raj, History of India - The independence movement, History of India - Republic of India, History of India - Textbooks and surveys

Read more here: » History of India: Encyclopedia II - History of India - The Mahajanapadas

India became formally independent of the United Kingdom on August 15, 1947. However, the country remained a Commonwealth Realm and continued to observe the British monarch as Head of State, with the title downgraded from Emperor of India to King of India in 1948 after independence. The monarch was still represented by a Governor-General of India appointed by the King, but now on the advice of the Prime Minister of India. This was a temporary measure, however, as the continued existence of a British King in the Indian pol ...

See also:

President of India, President of India - Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam - the current President of India, President of India - History, President of India - Qualifications required to become the President, President of India - Election of the President, President of India - Constitutional Role, President of India - Powers and Functions, President of India - Executive Powers, President of India - Judicial Powers, President of India - Legislative Powers, President of India - Emergency Powers, President of India - Removal of the President, President of India - List of Governors-General of India after independence, President of India - List of Presidents of India, President of India - Notes

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India's economic history can be broadly compartmentalised into three eras, beginning with the pre-colonial period lasting up to the 17th century. The advent of British colonisation of the Indian subcontinent started the colonial period in the 17th century, which ended with the Indian independence in 1947. The third period is the post-independence period after 1947. Economy of India - Pre-colonial. The citizens of the Indus Valley civilisation, a permanent and predominantly urban settlement that flourished ...

See also:

Economy of India, Economy of India - History, Economy of India - Pre-colonial, Economy of India - Colonial, Economy of India - Post-independence, Economy of India - Government intervention, Economy of India - State planning, Economy of India - Mixed economy, Economy of India - Public expenditure, Economy of India - Public receipts, Economy of India - General budget, Economy of India - Currency System, Economy of India - Rupee, Economy of India - Exchange rates, Economy of India - Determinants, Economy of India - Demographics, Economy of India - Geography and natural resources, Economy of India - Physical infrastructure, Economy of India - Politics, Economy of India - Financial institutions, Economy of India - Sectors, Economy of India - Agriculture, Economy of India - Industry, Economy of India - Services, Economy of India - Banking and finance, Economy of India - Socio-economic characteristics, Economy of India - Poverty, Economy of India - Corruption, Economy of India - Occupations and unemployment, Economy of India - Regional imbalance, Economy of India - External trade and investment, Economy of India - Global trade relations, Economy of India - Balance of payments, Economy of India - Notes

Read more here: » Economy of India: Encyclopedia II - Economy of India - History

For a full account of the spread of Buddhism in India and beyond, see the History of Buddhism and the Decline of Buddhism in India. Buddhism in India - Modern Revival. The number of Indian Buddhists remains quite small; under 10,000,000 persons (excluding refugees from elsewhere) in a country of over 1,000,000,000. Revival movements have been attempted with limited success. See Neo-Buddhism for a full account. Neo-Buddhism A 20th century revivalist movement among bahujan caste and untouchable ...

See also:

Buddhism in India, Buddhism in India - Characteristics, Buddhism in India - Nikaya, Buddhism in India - Mahayana, Buddhism in India - Vajrayana, Buddhism in India - History, Buddhism in India - Modern Revival

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India's economic history can be broadly compartmentalised into three eras, beginning with the pre-colonial period lasting up to the 17th century. The advent of British colonisation of the Indian subcontinent started the colonial period in the 17th century, which ended with the Indian independence in 1947. The third period is the post-independence period after 1947. Economy of India - Pre-colonial. The citizens of the Indus Valley civilisation, a permanent and predominantly urban settlement that flourished ...

See also:

Economy of India, Economy of India - History, Economy of India - Pre-colonial, Economy of India - Colonial, Economy of India - Post-independence, Economy of India - Government intervention, Economy of India - State planning, Economy of India - Mixed economy, Economy of India - Public expenditure, Economy of India - Public receipts, Economy of India - General budget, Economy of India - Currency System, Economy of India - Rupee, Economy of India - Exchange rates, Economy of India - Determinants, Economy of India - Demographics, Economy of India - Geography and natural resources, Economy of India - Physical infrastructure, Economy of India - Politics, Economy of India - Financial institutions, Economy of India - Sectors, Economy of India - Agriculture, Economy of India - Industry, Economy of India - Services, Economy of India - Banking and finance, Economy of India - Socio-economic characteristics, Economy of India - Poverty, Economy of India - Corruption, Economy of India - Occupations and unemployment

Read more here: » Economy of India: Encyclopedia II - Economy of India - History

Armenians had trading relations with several parts of India, and by the 7th century a few Armenian settlements had appeared in Kerala, an Indian state located on the Malabar Coast. Armenians controlled a large part of the international trade of the area, particularly in precious stones and quality fabrics. An archive directory (published 1956) in Delhi, India states that an Armenian merchant-cum-diplomat, named Thomas Cana, had reached the Malabar Coast in 780 using the overland route. Seven hundred years thereafter, in the year 1498, ...

See also:

Armenians in India, Armenians in India - Antiquity, Armenians in India - History, Armenians in India - Settlements, Armenians in India - Personalities, Armenians in India - Contributions, Armenians in India - Medical profession, Armenians in India - Legal profession, Armenians in India - Other areas

Read more here: » Armenians in India: Encyclopedia II - Armenians in India - History

Air India traces its history back to October 15, 1932 when its founder, J. R. D. Tata flew a single engined De Havilland Puss Moth registered VT-ADN carrying air mail (postal mail of Imperial Airways) from Karachi's Drigh Road Aerodrome to Bombay's Juhu Airstrip via Ahmedabad. The aircraft continued to Madras via Bellary piloted by a Royal Air Force pilot Neville Vincent. That same year, the airline was formally established as Tata Airlines, a division of Tata Sons Ltd. (now Tata Group). Following the end of World War II, regular commercial service was restored in India and Tata Airlines became a public limited company on 2 ...

See also:

Air India, Air India - History, Air India - Incidents and Accidents, Air India - Destinations, Air India - Passenger Operations, Air India - Cargo Operations, Air India - Fleet, Air India - Logo and Mascot, Air India - Women Pilots, Air India - Awards and Recognition, Air India - Trivia

Read more here: » Air India: Encyclopedia II - Air India - History

Hyderabad was founded as Bhagyanagar on the banks of Musi river by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, Sultan of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, in 1590; this relocation was intended to relieve a water shortage the dynasty had experienced at their old headquarters at Golkonda.[1] Theories explaining the origins and etymology behind Hyderabad's name conflict. One theory suggests that, after founding the city, Muhammad Quli fell in love with and married a Hindu village girl known as Bhagamathi. Upon ...

See also:

Hyderabad India, Hyderabad India - Geography, Hyderabad India - History, Hyderabad India - Economy, Hyderabad India - The IT Industry, Hyderabad India - Pharmaceuticals and Bio-Technology, Hyderabad India - Nano-technology Park, Hyderabad India - Education, Hyderabad India - Defence and space research labs, Hyderabad India - National Remote Sensing Agency NRSA, Hyderabad India - Civic administration, Hyderabad India - Transportation, Hyderabad India - Airports, Hyderabad India - Roads, Hyderabad India - Buses, Hyderabad India - Rails, Hyderabad India - Demographics, Hyderabad India - Culture, Hyderabad India - Religion, Hyderabad India - Language, Hyderabad India - Clothing, Hyderabad India - Cuisine, Hyderabad India - Markets, Hyderabad India - Media, Hyderabad India - TollyWood, Hyderabad India - Sports and stadiums, Hyderabad India - List of stadiums in Hyderabad, Hyderabad India - Attractions, Hyderabad India - Notes

Read more here: » Hyderabad India: Encyclopedia II - Hyderabad India - History

In 1723 Yanam was the third French colony established in India. The colony was abandoned in 1727 because of lack of commercial interest. In 1742 it was re-occupied, and the Mughal emperor issued a decree (firman}, confirming the concessions granted by Salabathjung, the local leader. In 1750 Musaffar Yung, Nizam of Hyderabad, accepted the French claims. The town is close to the village of Neelapalli which was under English control. This led to conflicts between the two na ...

See also:

Yanam India, Yanam India - Geography and climate, Yanam India - Population centres, Yanam India - History, Yanam India - External link

Read more here: » Yanam India: Encyclopedia II - Yanam India - History

At the beginning of the 20th century, as the Indian independence movement seeking freedom from British rule gained ground, the need was felt for a national flag that would serve as a powerful symbol of these aspirations. In 1904, Sister Nivedita, an Irish disciple of Swami Vivekananda, came up with the first flag of India, later referred to as Sister Nivedita's Flag. It was a red square-shaped flag with a yellow inset; it depicted a "Vajra Chinha" (thunderbolt) with a white lotus alongside it in the centre. The words "বন্ ...

See also:

Flag of India, Flag of India - Design, Flag of India - Symbolism, Flag of India - History, Flag of India - Manufacturing process, Flag of India - Proper flag protocol, Flag of India - Respect for the flag, Flag of India - Handling of the flag, Flag of India - Correct display, Flag of India - With other countries, Flag of India - With non-national flags, Flag of India - Showing the flag indoors, Flag of India - Parades and ceremonies, Flag of India - Display on vehicles, Flag of India - Half-mast, Flag of India - Disposal

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Education in India - Up to the 17th century. The first millennium and the few centuries preceding it saw the flourishing of higher education at Nalanda, Takshila, Ujjain, & Vikramshila Universities. Art, Architecture, Painting, Logic, Grammar, Philosophy, Astronomy, Literature, Buddhism, Hinduism, Arthashastra (Economics & Politics), Law, and Medicine were among the subjects taught and each university specialized in a particular field of study. Takshila specialized in the study of medicine, while Ujjain laid emphasis on astronomy. Nalanda, being the biggest centre, handled all branches of knowledge, ...

See also:

Education in India, Education in India - Structure, Education in India - Elementary Education, Education in India - Middle and secondary level education, Education in India - Higher Education, Education in India - History, Education in India - Up to the 17th century, Education in India - Education under British Rule, Education in India - After Independence, Education in India - After 1976, Education in India - Recent Developments, Education in India - Expenditure on Education in India, Education in India - Initiatives, Education in India - Non-Formal Education, Education in India - Bal Bhavans, Education in India - Distance education, Education in India - Education for special sections of society, Education in India - Women, Education in India - SC/STs, Education in India - Criticism of Indian Education System, Education in India - Chronology of main events

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The Cabinet Mission World War II in Europe came to an end on May 9, 1945. In July, a new government came to power in the United Kingdom. The new British government announced its Indian Policy and decided to convene a constitution drafting body. Three British cabinet ministers were sent to find a solution to the question of India's independence. This team of ministers was called the Cabinet Mission. The Cabinet Mission discussed the framework of the constitution and laid down in some detail the procedure to be followed by ...

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Constitution of India, Constitution of India - The Importance of the Constitution, Constitution of India - History, Constitution of India - Features, Constitution of India - Features of the Indian Constitution borrowed from other Constitutions, Constitution of India - Schedules, Constitution of India - Amendments, Constitution of India - Articles, Constitution of India - Preamble, Constitution of India - The Importance of the Preamble, Constitution of India - Explanation of some of the important words in the Preamble, Constitution of India - Notes

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The first French expedition to India is believed to have taken place in the reign of Francis I, when two ships were fitted out by some merchants of Rouen to trade in eastern seas; they sailed from Le Havre and were never afterwards heard of. In 1604 a company was granted letters patent by Henry IV, but the project failed. Fresh letters patent were issued in 1615, and two ships went to India, only one returning. La Compagnie des Indes Orientales (French East India Company) was formed under the auspices of Cardinal Richelieu (164 ...

See also:

French India, French India - History

Read more here: » French India: Encyclopedia II - French India - History

Independent India has fought three wars with Pakistan and one border war with China. Independent India has never experienced a military coup, unlike Pakistan. Military history of India - Major wars. Main article: Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 Independent India, formed on August 15, 1947, has seen three wars with Pakistan (1947-48, 1965, 1971). The first war took place after Pakistani soldiers and armed tribesmen invaded the independent province of Kashmir. When the forces almost reached the cap ...

See also:

Military history of India, Military history of India - The Bronze age, Military history of India - Indus Valley Civilization, Military history of India - Aryans, Military history of India - The Mahajanapadas, Military history of India - From Vedic times to the Greek incursion, Military history of India - The Magadha empire, Military history of India - Shishunaga dynasty, Military history of India - Nanda dynasty, Military history of India - Maurya dynasty, Military history of India - Early Middle Kingdoms the golden age, Military history of India - Satavahana dynasty, Military history of India - Kushan empire, Military history of India - Gupta dynasty, Military history of India - Late Middle Kingdoms - the classical age, Military history of India - Harsha's empire, Military history of India - The Chalukyas and Pallavas, Military history of India - The Chola empire, Military history of India - The Pratiharas Palas and Rashtrakutas, Military history of India - The Rajputs, Military history of India - The Sultanate era, Military history of India - Samoothiris of Kozhikode, Military history of India - Muzzafarid dynasty, Military history of India - Vijayanagar empire, Military history of India - The effects of the Mongol wars, Military history of India - The Mughal era, Military history of India - Mughals, Military history of India - The Maratha empire, Military history of India - State of Travancore, Military history of India - Kingdom of Mysore, Military history of India - Punjab, Military history of India - The European incursions, Military history of India - The Napoleonic wars, Military history of India - Company rule, Military history of India - The 1857 Sepoy war, Military history of India - The British Raj, Military history of India - The British-Indian army, Military history of India - The Afghan wars, Military history of India - The world wars, Military history of India - Opposition: the Indian National Army, Military history of India - The independence movement, Military history of India - Independent India, Military history of India - Major wars, Military history of India - Other Operations, Military history of India - Missile program, Military history of India - Nuclear program, Military history of India - Overview and recent developments, Military history of India - Military collaborations with other nations, Military history of India - Disasters, Military history of India - Awards

Read more here: » Military history of India: Encyclopedia II - Military history of India - Independent India