History of Hinduism

  • Creation of the World -4.6 Billion Years Ago
    4600 BCE

    Creation of the World -4.6 Billion Years Ago

    The Hindus believe the world goes through phases of creation and destruction. They believe the begining of the world is when the phase that they are in began.
  • The Aryan Invasion Begins
    1600 BCE

    The Aryan Invasion Begins

    The Aryans invade the Indus River Valley around which is where HIduism is developing at this time. This brings the Sanskrit language to the region and drastically influences Hinduism.
  • Writing of the Vedas-1500-1000 B.C.E.
    1000 BCE

    Writing of the Vedas-1500-1000 B.C.E.

    It is the Hindus' main book of worship. It includes liturgical material as well as mythological accounts, poems, prayers, and formulas considered to be sacred by the Hindu religion.
  • First Evidence of Temple Worship
    300 BCE

    First Evidence of Temple Worship

    Inscriptions and literary sources dating from the third to first centuries BCE indicate that temples to Krishna, Vishnu, and other deities existed by this time. This means worship of their Gods was also happening.
  • Temple Building in South India 500-1300 C.E
    500

    Temple Building in South India 500-1300 C.E

    With the spread of the bhakti movement in South India, temples became important as religious centers, seen as the dwelling places of the gods on earth. A wave of temple construction took place over several centuries.
  • Vasco de Gama arrives in southern Asia.
    1498

    Vasco de Gama arrives in southern Asia.

    Vasco de Gama's arrival in southern Asia in 1498 signals the beginning of European's involvement in India. He is quickly followed by missionaries from Portugal.
  • The Hindu Renaissance

    The Hindu Renaissance

    The Hindu Renaissance begins around 1600. Scholars focus on modernistic interpretations of the sacred texts and social reform.
  • The British East India Company Gets Trading Rights in Mughal Empire

    The British East India Company Gets Trading Rights in Mughal Empire

    The British East India Company wins trading rights on the fringe of the Mughal empire in 1617 hoping to make money by trading with India. With the Mughal empire declining the East India Company's influence increases.
  • Parliament Makes India Under Control of Britian

    Parliament Makes India Under Control of Britian

    Britain puts India under colonial rule. Britain's intention was to continue India's economic development.
  • The Vedanta Society is Formed

    The Vedanta Society is Formed

    Swami Vivekananda forms this society in 1894. His goal was to promote Hinduism as a religion in the west and argues for India to be a single nation.
  • Mahatma Gandhi launches a Campaign of Noncooperation

    Mahatma Gandhi launches a Campaign of Noncooperation

    Indian lawyer Mahatma Gandhi launches a two-year campaign of noncooperation beginning in 1920.He encourages Indians to leave British institutions, return British honors, and practice self-reliance. He is arrested in the future but known as the leader of the Indian nationalisgt movement.
  • Britain Agrees to Grant India Independence

    Britain Agrees to Grant India Independence

    After WW2 Britain agreed to grant India independence. This leads to the partition of India.
  • Partition of India

    Partition of India

    The partition of India was when Pakistan and India were made two seperate countries.This made Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India. This event displace 14 million people.
  • Assassination of Gandhi

    Assassination of Gandhi

    Gandhi was said to be causing a policy favoring Muslims by the government in India. This upset many Hindus and the assassination caused lots of conflict between the two religions.
  • Hindus Begin Constructing Temples in the U.S.

    Hindus Begin Constructing Temples in the U.S.

    After a change in American immigration policy South Asian students and professionals began coming to the U.S. in the 1970s. As they settled in America the new immigrants began to construct temples. The Hindu Temple Society of North America was founded in 1970.