Brief history of India from antiquity to the present day

India is a country in South Asia, which has always been known for its high culture and innumerable riches, as through it there were many trade routes. The history of India is interesting and fascinating, because it is a very ancient state, the traditions of which have not changed for many centuries.

Antiquity

Bronze Age

Approximately in the III millennium BC there was the first Indian civilization, which was called the Indian (or Harappa).

Initially, among the crafts were developed metallurgy, construction, small sculpture. But the monumental sculpture, unlike Mesopotamia or Egypt, did not develop. Foreign trade was actively conducted, for example, with Central Asia, Mesopotamia, Sumer or Arabia.

Buddhist period

Approximately from the middle of the first millennium BC, disagreements began between representatives of the Vedic religion, which at that time was already considerably outdated, and between kshatriyas - estates of rulers and soldiers. As a result, many new currents appeared, the most popular being Buddhism. The history of India says that its founder was the Buddha Shakyamuni.

Classical period

In this period, the religious, economic and community-caste systems were finally formed. This era is characterized by numerous invasions from the north-western states and tribes, for example, the Greco-Bactrian kingdom, the nomads.

The history of ancient India ends with the Gupt dynasty, during the reign of which came the "golden age" of Indian civilization. But this period did not last long. In the fourth century, the Iranian-speaking nomads of the Ephtalites created their own state, which included India.

History of India in the Middle Ages

From the tenth to the twelfth century there was an Islamic invasion from Central Asia, as a result of which the Delhi Sultanate received control over North India. After a while, most of the country became part of the Mughal Empire. Nevertheless, in the south of the peninsula there were several native kingdoms that were beyond the reach of the invaders.

European colonies in India

Since the sixteenth century, the history of India tells of the struggle of influential European countries, including the Netherlands, Portugal, Britain and France, for the formation of colonies on the territory of the state, since all of them were interested in trade with India. Most of the country was under the control of England, or rather, the East India Company. Eventually, this company was liquidated, and India was placed under the control of the British Crown as a colony.

National liberation war

In 1857, an uprising began against the East India Company, which was called the First War of Liberation. However, it was suppressed, and the British Empire established direct administrative control over the entire territory of the colony.

In the first half of the twentieth century, India began the national liberation movement, headed by Mahatma Gandhi. From this moment begins the history of India as an independent state. However, it was still part of the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Modern History

In 1950, India became a republic.

In 1974 she conducted nuclear weapon tests.

In 1988, five new explosions were conducted.

In 2008, a series of terrorist attacks took place in Bombay (from November 26 to 29).