Outline of ancient India

See also: Outline of South Asian history and Chronology of India

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to ancient India:

Ancient India – India as it existed from the pre-historic times (c. 7000 BC or earlier) to the start of the Middle Ages (c. 500 AD).

Geography of ancient India

• Ancient Indian cities

Government and politics in ancient India

• Monarchy in ancient India

General history of ancient India

Further information: Timeline of Indian history

Periodisation of Indian history

An elaborate periodisation may be as follows:

• Pre-history and Indus Valley Civilisation (until c. 1750 BC);
• Vedic period (c. 1750-500 BC);
• "Second Urbanisation" (c. 500-200 BC);
• Classical period (c. 200 BC-1100 AD);

• Pre-classical period (c. 200 BC-300 AD);
• "Golden Age" (Gupta Empire) (c. 320-650 AD);
• Late-Classical period (c. 650-1100 AD);

• Islamic period (c. 1100-1850 AD) and beginning of western colonialism (c. 1500-1850);
• Modern period (British Raj and independence) (from c. 1850).

Pre-history

• Neolithic Age India Mehrgarh culture (c. 7000 – 3300 BC)
• Bronze Age India
  • Indus valley civilization (c. 3300 – 1300 BC)

Iron Age (c. 1200 – 272 BC)

• Iron Age India (c. 1200 – 272 BC)
  • Vedic civilization (c. 2000 – 500 BC)
    • Black and red ware culture (c. 1300 – 1000 BC) (c. 1200 – 600 BC)
    • Northern Black Polished Ware (c. 700 – 200 BC)
  • Indian Iron Age kingdoms (c. 700 – 300 BC)
  • Kalinga (India) (400 BC – 1842 AD)

Second Urbanisation

• Nanda Empire (424–321 BC)
• Maurya Empire (321–184 BC)
• Sangam Period (c. 300 BC – 300 AD)
  • Pandya Kingdom (c. 300 BC – 1345 AD)
  • Chera Kingdom (c. 300 BC – 1102 AD)
  • Chola Kingdom (c. 300 BC – 1279 AD)
• Pallava Kingdom (250 BC – 800 AD)
• Maha-Megha-Vahana Empire (250s BC – 5th century AD)
• Satavahana Empire (230 BC – 220 AD)
• Indo-Scythian Kingdom (200 BC – 400 AD)
• Kuninda Kingdom (3rd century BC – 4th century AD)
• Shunga Empire (185–73 BC)
• Indo-Greek Kingdom (180 BC – 10 AD)
• Kanva empire (75–26 BC)
• Kushan Empire (30–375 AD)

Classical Age of India

• (Middle kingdoms of India)
• Gurjara-Pratihara Empire
• Vakataka Empire
• Chola Empire
• Pala Empire
• Kadamba dynasty (345–1000 AD)
  • Banavasi
  • Halasi
  • Hangal

Middle Ages (c. 500 – 1500)

• Badami Chalukyas (547–742)
  • Badami Chalukya architecture
  • Aihole
  • Badami
  • Pattadakal
  • Mahakuta
• Rashtrakuta Empire (742–982)
  • Ellora
  • Kailash Temple
• Eastern Chalukyas
• Western Chalukyas (983–1185)
  • Western Chalukya architecture
  • Mahadeva Temple at Itagi
  • Lakkundi
  • Chaudayyadanapura
  • Annigeri
• Solanki
• Kalachuri
• Seuna Yadavas of Devagiri
• Hoysala Empire (1114–1342)
  • Belur
  • Halebidu
  • Somanathapura
• Vijayanagara Empire (1342–1565)
  • Hampi

Rabindranath Tagore is Asia's first Nobel laureate and composer of India's national anthem

Swami Vivekananda was a key figure in introducing Vedanta and Yoga in Europe and USA, raising interfaith awareness and making Hinduism a world religion.

Culture in ancient India

Art in ancient India

• Music in ancient India
  • Indian classical music

Language in ancient India

• Vedic sanskrit
• Vyakarana

Religion in ancient India

• History of Hinduism
  • Exotic tribes of ancient India
  • Historical Vedic religion
    • Vedas
    • Vedic mythology
    • Vedic priesthood

Science and technology in ancient India

• Science and technology in ancient India
  • Indian mathematics
  • Indian astronomy
  • List of Indian inventions
• Indian martial arts
• Ancient Indian medicine
  • Siddha medicine – oldest medical system known to mankind
  • Ayurveda
• Architecture
• Indian in Sanskrit epics

See also

• Media related to at Wikimedia Commons

Notes

Subnotes