History is considered to be the most interesting subject for gaining knowledge about a country’s political, social, and economic situation. India is the 7th largest nation in the world, and is a land of religions and diverse cultures. Ancient Indian history provides information about the birth of various religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. The Indian society is divided into castes and creeds.
Today, we will learn about Indian history and what are the important dates in Indian history.
What is History?
History is the study of past events. The study of history helps us understand how the evolution of humankind unfolded. It helps to comprehend the events that take place today and will happen in the future. Historians may write books and articles to guide people to understand the past. History aids us in learning from the mistakes of past rulers and other political leaders.
It helps us to understand how society has changed and developed. History provides data to create laws in society. The main reason for learning history in school is to gain knowledge and understand the trends. It also prepares us to take action for the current events of today.
Importance of History
Indian History begins with the evolution of Indus Valley Civilisation and lasts till Independence; these are some of the parts of vital incidents of our rich cultural heritage. India was home to the world’s oldest civilisation, the Indus Valley civilisation. India was ruled by Mauryas and Guptas, and was then invaded by the Mughals, followed by the British.
Indian History is divided into three categories: Ancient India, Medieval India, and Modern India. Therefore, dates are vital from history to learn and implement the learnings in the present day and make correct decisions.
List Of Important Dates Of Indian History
Here are all the important dates of Indian History for kids:
Ancient History (3000 BC – 647 AD)
The roots of civilisation in India date back to 3000 BC. At the time of the Indus Valley civilisation, the society developed urban culture on commerce and supported their life with agricultural trade. However, this civilization declined around 1500 BC due to ecological changes. The period of 1500 BC is known as the Vedic period.
Aryans migrated from the northwest into the subcontinent. They settled in the middle Ganges River valley and adapted cultures prevailing in the valley. The political map of ancient India shows that India was composed of small kingdoms. This ancient history is known as the golden era for India, as the birth of Gautam Buddha and Mahavir took place around 576 to 527 BC.
Alexander came to India for invasion from 327 to 326 BC. During this period, the expansion of Chandragupta Maurya’s rule increased, and he defeated Seleucus in 305 BC. It is also observed that the rule of King Ashoka prevailed from 273 to 232 BC. He also conquered Kalinga in 261 BC.
In south India, the Cholas rose to power, and this era continued till 59 BC. During 58 BC, the rule of Vikrama commenced and continued till the beginning of the Saka era in 77 AD. However, the rule of various rulers in ancient India continued till 647 AD of Harshavardhana’s reign. During this period, several foreigners visited India for educational or other purposes. The era of ancient India came to an end in 647 AD.
Medieval India (712 AD – 1761 AD)
The Medieval India era started from the invasion of Arabs in Sindh in 712 AD. Till the 10th century, various rulers like King Bhoja of Kannauj and Cholas reigned in India. However, Islam spread in the Indian subcontinent over the course of 500 years. Turks and Afghans invaded India and established Islamic sultanates in Delhi. Mahmud Ghazni defeated the ruler of Punjab in 1001 AD and also destroyed Somnath Temple in 1025 AD.
In 1221, Chengiz Khan, with his Mongolian troops, invaded India. In 1398, Timur invaded India and reigned for about 100 years. In the early 15th century, Portuguese explorer Vasco De Gama came to India in 1498. He was the first European to reach India by sea and establish trade relations between India and Europe. During this period, Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, was born in 1469.
In 1526, the first battle of Panipat between Babur and Ibrahim Lodhi took place, and Babur defeated Lodhi and established the Mughal Dynasty. After the death of Babur, Humayun ascended the throne. In the year 1556, the second battle of Panipat led to the defeat of King Hemu at the hands of Bairam Khan. On 18th June 1576, the battle of Haldighati was fought between Rana Pratap and Akbar.
In 1600, the East India Company was established. In 1627, Shivaji, the great leader of Marathas, was born. The English traders were allowed to trade in Bengal from 1634. The 9th Guru of Sikhs, Guru Teg Bahadur, was executed in 1675. This era came to an end with the death of Shivaji in 1680 and Aurangzeb in 1707. The British took charge of the country with the Battle of Plassey in 1757. In 1761, the third battle of Panipat was fought between the Durrani Dynasty and Marathas.
Modern India (1764- 1947)
The Mughal empire weakened as the British came to prominence in India, eventually coming to an end. This paved the way for the colonial era to rise in 1757. However, the modern era started with the Battle of Buxar in 1764. The powers of English increased, and the British were controlling India.
During this British era, many vital events marked dates of histories like the birth of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1780 and the Second Anglo-Mysore War between the years 1780 to 1784. This period was marked with important events like the setting up of the First Railway line between Bombay and Thane and the Telegraph line in Calcutta. However, the struggle for Independence started with the rebellion against the British Empire in 1857.
The Independence Movement
After the revolt of 1857, the independence movement started, and various kingdoms across India fought against the British to make India free from their rule. The great poet and reformer Rabindra Nath Tagore was born in 1861, and Mahatma Gandhi was born in 1869. In 1885, Indian National Congress was founded. British took over control by following the policy of divide and rule. They also partitioned Bengal in 1905 and shifted their capital to Delhi in 1911.
The British tortured Indians and took them for World War I. The massacre of Jallianwala Bagh took place in 1920, which led Mahatma Gandhi to start his Non-Violence Movement against the British government. In 1942, the Quit India Movement was launched by the Indian National Congress. India gained its independence in 1947 and became free from British rule.
Upon the declaration of independence, the British Empire divided India into two different countries, namely India and Pakistan. On 26th January, India adopted its constitution and became the Republic of India.
We can conclude that the history of India is full of struggles and lessons. It will help the new generation to apply such learning in the present scenarios. If we know the history of any place, we can take measures to tackle situations arising at the time of the problem.
The schools teach students about the importance of dates of Indian history to guide them to take preventive steps before arriving at any conclusion. Using mnemonics can make it easy for children to remember vital events and dates in history.
Conclusion
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