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The Indus Valley civilization is established in Northern India and Pakistan.
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Large cities such as Harappa and Mohenjo-daro develop.
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The Iron Age begins in India.
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The Aryan peoples arrive from Central Asia. The Indus Valley Civilization collapses. The Vedic period begins. The oldest sacred scriptures of Hinduism are written.
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Buddhism is founded by Siddharta Gautama.
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The Mauryan Empire is founded.
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The start of the Yayoi Period. The Yayoi introduced the farming of rice.
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Asoka the Great becomes emperor of Maurya. He expands the empire greatly.
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Metal tools are made from bronze and iron. The primary religion is Shinto.
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The Gupta Empire takes control of much of India. The rule of the Gupta Empire is a time of peace and prosperity. Many advances are made in science and the arts during this time.
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Alexander the Great arrives in Northern India.
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The medieval period of Japan is considered by most historians to stretch from 1185 to 1603 CE. The country witnessed long periods of civil wars as warlords and large estate owners daimyo fought for prominence and the central government struggled to unify Japan.
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The Kamakura Shogunate government is formed when Yoritomo is appointed the first Shogun.
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The Mongols, led by Kublai Khan, attempt to invade Japan, but fail when a typhoon destroys much of the Mongol navy.
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The Kemmu Restorations occurs when the Kamakura Shoganate is overthrown.
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The Ashikaga Shogunate takes power.
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The Onin war occurs.
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The Portuguese arrive in Japan bringing firearms.
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Christianity is introduced by Francis Xavier.
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Akbar the Great becomes the Mughal Emperor. He will expand the empire to include much of the Indian Subcontinent. The arts and literature flourish during his reign.
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Japan is unified under the leadership of Toyotomi Hideyoshi. He establishes the Edo Shogunate.
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The British East India Company is granted a charter by Queen Elizabeth I to have exclusive rights to trade with India.
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While Medieval Europe had knights, Medieval Japan had samurais. Instead of kings, Japan had emperors. The emperor was ranked highest on the feudal pyramid, but it was the shogun who had the most political power. The Himeji Catle is a well known medieval castle of Japan, built in 1614.
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The Taj Majal is completed in Agra. It is built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in honor of his of wife Mumtaz Mahal.
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The Indian National Congress is formed in an effort to gain independence for India.
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Although legend has it that Japan was founded in 660BC, archaeologists agree that settlement in the Japanese archpelago dates back as far as 100,000 years. The Jomon Period (8000-c. 300BC) is the earliest that has been studied.