3300 BCE-1700 BCE
The Indus civilization flourishes in northern and central India.
1700 BCE-500 BCE
The Vedic civilization is prominent.
1500 BCE .
The Aryans arrive in India.
600 BCE
Sixteen mahajanapadas, “great kingdoms,” emerge.
500s BCE
The founders of Jainism and Buddhism are born.
400 BCE
The Mahabharata, the world’s longest poem, is written down.
327 BCE
Alexander the Great becomes the first Greek to invade India.
321 BCE
Chandragupta Maurya unites India’s kingdoms into its first empire.
C. 273 BCE-232 BCE
Ashoka leads the Mauryan Empire, spreading his Buddhist beliefs in a collection of edicts.
185 BCE
The Mauryan dynasty ends.
100s BCE
Artists create the first five caves at Ajanta, which serve as temples.
C. 100 BCE-300 CE
The Natya Shastra, “Treatise of Dance,” is completed.
320
The Gupta Empire begins, marking the start of India’s golden age, a time of great artistic expression and advances in mathematics and medicine.
C. 400
The Dattilam details a system for Indian music.
400s
Kalidasa writes the Abhijnanashakuntala, India’s best literary work.
400s AND 500s
Artists create additional caves at Ajanta, creating what becomes classical Indian art.
499
Aryabhata I writes about mathematics and astronomy in Aryabhatiya.
550
The Gupta Empire ends, marking the end of India’s golden age.
The Indus civilization flourishes in northern and central India.
1700 BCE-500 BCE
The Vedic civilization is prominent.
1500 BCE .
The Aryans arrive in India.
600 BCE
Sixteen mahajanapadas, “great kingdoms,” emerge.
500s BCE
The founders of Jainism and Buddhism are born.
400 BCE
The Mahabharata, the world’s longest poem, is written down.
327 BCE
Alexander the Great becomes the first Greek to invade India.
321 BCE
Chandragupta Maurya unites India’s kingdoms into its first empire.
C. 273 BCE-232 BCE
Ashoka leads the Mauryan Empire, spreading his Buddhist beliefs in a collection of edicts.
185 BCE
The Mauryan dynasty ends.
100s BCE
Artists create the first five caves at Ajanta, which serve as temples.
C. 100 BCE-300 CE
The Natya Shastra, “Treatise of Dance,” is completed.
320
The Gupta Empire begins, marking the start of India’s golden age, a time of great artistic expression and advances in mathematics and medicine.
C. 400
The Dattilam details a system for Indian music.
400s
Kalidasa writes the Abhijnanashakuntala, India’s best literary work.
400s AND 500s
Artists create additional caves at Ajanta, creating what becomes classical Indian art.
499
Aryabhata I writes about mathematics and astronomy in Aryabhatiya.
550
The Gupta Empire ends, marking the end of India’s golden age.