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Development of urban grain-growing civilization on the Indus River;
Two main cities: Harappa and Mohenjo-daro;
Undeciphered proto-Dravidian script;
Destroyed by climate, invasion of non-Indus peoples -
Migration into northwest India of nomadic herding tribes from Iranian plateau;
Indo-European language;
Oral religious traditions preserved in Vedas, oldest of which, the Rig Veda, predates migration -
Early Hinduism characterized by rituals belief in reincarnation, dharma, karma and division of society into four classes (varnas)
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Domination of North India by Chandragupta, extended to south by grandson, Ashoka.
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Major texts of Hindu tradition take shape: Mahabharata, Ramayana, codification of laws, grammar, science, arts;
Gods Shiva, Vishnu major figures;
Spread of Sanskritic culture to South India -
Invasions by Central Asian tribes: Bactrian Greeks; Sakas; Kushans, who establish a dynasty, ca.78 BCE-200 CE
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Guptas dominate North India at beginning of 'classical' period. Matured Hindu tradition expressed in poetry, drama [Kalidasa]; art, temple architecture; philosophy [Vedanta]; new fonts of devotional [bhakti] worship.
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Successive invasions of Huns and other Central Asian tribes destroy Gupta empire.
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Warlike clans appear in Rajasthan
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Pallava dynasty dominates south; continuing conflict with Cholas, with Cheras, Pandyas
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Turko-Afghan chieftains establish sultanate at Delhi; dominate North India Invasions of Muslims from Central Asia lead to political dominance of Muslims in North India and introduction of Persian culture, Islamic religion into South Asia.
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Rise of Hindu kingdom in South India;
Independent of Muslim rulers until destruction of capital city in 1565. -
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Mughal empire unifies North and parts of South India under its rule;
Amalgam of Persian and Indian culture created in its courts and territories. -
Establishment of trading outposts in India:
Dutch (1609); English (1612); French (1674) -
Victory over Nawab of Bengal gives East India company control of Bengal and begins expansion of British power in India.
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Political dominance of British introduces Western culture, language, methods of government, technology into urban administrative centers.
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Independence from British rule and Partition of British India into modern countries of India and Pakistan (East and West)
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War between East and West Pakistan results in separation of Pakistan into two states: Pakistan and Bangladesh