21-Indian History in a Nutshell
India has a continuous
civilization since 2500 BC. During the 2nd millennium, Aryan speaking tribes
migrated from northwest into the subcontinent.
c 1500 - 800 BC
Aryans began to penetrate eastward,
clearing forests and establishing tribal settlements along Gangaa and Yamunaa
rivers.
600 BC
By 600 BC, 16 such territorial powers
including Magadh, Koshal, Kuru, and Gaandhaar stretched across the north Indian
plains from modern day Afghanistan to Bangla Desh. The right of a king to his
throne, no matter how it was gained, was usually celebrated through elaborate
sacrificial rituals
500 BC
By 500 BC, most of northern India was
inhabited and brought under cultivation. Gangaa River became center of trade. The
political map of ancient and medieval India was of small kingdoms of fluctuating
boundaries.
100 BC (2,700 years of Kali Yug had passed)
Maybe
Bhavishya
Puraan 3/30 events took place at this time. Because it shows that
Buddhism had settled very well by then. The second important thing it
mentions that by then almost 2,700 years of Kali Yug had passed. The
third important thing it mentions that Buddha was not an Avataar of
Vishnu as Bhaagvat, or Vishnu Puraan says, but was Maya named Asur who
was sent by king Bali.
100 BC - 200 AD
Shak and Kushaan Dynasties ruled
Gupt Empire
In the 4th and 5th centuries India was
unified under the Gupt Empire.
5th Century AD
Kaalidaas was one of the nine gems (Nava Ratn)
in Chandragupt's court. He created Abhigyaan Shaakuntalam, Raghuvansh and Meghdoot
like works.
Pallav Dynasty
From 580 AD to 880 AD Pallav Dynasty ruled in India.
Vardhan Dynasty
Prabhaakarvardhan ( -606)
- After the downfall of Gupta Empire
in the middle of the 6th century, Hoon came to rule in Panjaab. The northern and
Western India was passed on to many state kings. One of them was Prabhaakarvardhan.
He was the first king of Vardhan dynasty. His capital was Thaanesar (or Thaaneshwar,
located in the vicinity of Kurukshetra) in Panjaab /Hariyaanaa. He died in 606.
Raajyavardhan (606-606)
- After the death of Prabhaakarvardhan
in 606, his eldest son Raajyavardhan ascended the throne. He was killed in a battle
with Devagupta. Devagupta had killed the husband of Raajyavardhan's sister Raajyashree -
Grihvarman.
Harshvardhan (606-647)
-
According to Aangiras (p 95) "He was born in Thaanesar, near Kurukshetra
in 590 AD. He was 16 years old when he sat on the throne, and he ruled for 41
years. His kingdom was Kaanyakubj, Kannauj city being its capital. He had no
son so his Empire died with him. He was the last Empire builder of ancient
India. He wrote three well known plays - Naagnand, Ratnaavalee, and Priyadarshikaa.
Islam
Islam spread in India over a period of 500 years. In the 10th and 11th enturies
Turk and Afgaan invaded and established their Sultanat in Dehlee.
700-1200
Chauhaan Vansh is said to rule in Raajasthaan, near Ajamer. Prithveeraaj
Chauhaan, the most famous ruler of Chauhaan Vansh ruled from 1180-1192.
His father's name was Someshwar (died in 1179) and his mother's name was
Karpooree Devee. He was the last Hindu ruler of India. He did Sanyogitaa
Haran, as Sanyogitaa (daughter of Jayachand) wanted to marry Prithveeraaj.
Since Jayachand did not want to marry her to him, at the time of her Swayamvar
he kept a statue of Prithveeaaj at the door of the Swayamvar place. So when
Sanyogitaa's Swayamvar was taking place, she put her Jayamaalaa in the neck
of Prithveeraaj Chauhaan's statue in the absence of Prithveeraaj. "Prithveeraaj
Vijaya" of Jayanak; and "Prithveeraaj Raaso" of Chand Bardaayee
have immortalized the deeds of Prithveeraaj. He was the last Hindu king.
After Prithveeraaj
Chauhaan, came Kutubuddeen Aibak in India and troubled kings here. Kutubuddeen
Aibak built Qutub Meenaar n Dehlee in 1193 AD.
800-1200 AD
Chandelaa kings ruled. Mahamood of Gaznee sacked
Thaanesar in 1011.
900-1150 AD
Chole Dynasty
960-1240 AD
Solankee Dynasty
1000-1026 AD - Mahamood Gazanavee
Mahamood of Gazanee raided Panjaab virtually every year between 1000 and
1026 AD. The enormous wealth in cash, golden images and jewelry from
north Indian temples brought him back to India every year. He looted the
wealth from Mathuraa (UP) in 1017; Thaanesar (Hariyaanaa) in 1011; Somnaath
Temple in Gujaraat in 1024; and Kannauj (UP). He died in 1030 AD.
1180-1192 AD - Prithveeraaj Chauhaan
Chauhaan Vansh is said to rule in Raajasthaan, near Ajamer. Prithveeraaj
Chauhaan, the most famous ruler of Chauhaan Vansh ruled from 1180-1192.
His father's name was Someshwar (died in 1179) and his mother's name was
Karpooree Devee. He was the last Hindoo ruler of India. He did Sanyogitaa
Haran, as Sanyogitaa (daughter of Jayachand) wanted to marry Prithveeraaj.
Since Jayachand did not want o marry her to Prithveeraaj, he kept a statue
of him at he door of Swayamvar place. When Sanyogitaa's Swayamvar was taking
place, she put her Jayamaalaa in the neck of Prithveeraaj Chauhaan's statue
in the absence of Prithveeraaj. "Prithveeraaj Vijaya" of Jayanak;
and "Prithveeraaj Raaso" of poet Bardaayee have immortalized
the deeds of Prithveeraaj. He was the last Hindoo king.
At the same
time, Jayachand ruled in Kaanyakubj Desh (present Kannauj). He troubled
Hindu rulers, and strengthened foreign invaders, thus he ended Hindu culture
from there.
Turkish Slave Dynasty (1192-1290)
1192-1211 AD - Kutubuddeen Aibak
As Muslims continued to trouble Hindu
kings, Muizuddeen used to raid India. After the Second Battle of Taraaee in 1192,
Muizuddeen left his deputy Kutubuddeen Aibak at Indraprasth. Thus after Prithveeraaj
Chauhaan, Kutubuddeen Aibak came in India and troubled kings here. He took Laahaur
in 1206. His lieutenant and son-in-law Iltumish, a Turkish slave, took Delhi in 1211
AD. Aibak built a victory tower Qutub Meenaar in Dehlee.
1210-1236 AD - Iltumish
From 1222 AD, Iltumish ruled from Dehlee
completely independently. He took Sindh in 1228 AD and all the territory in east, up
to Bangaal, by 1230. In 1230 he became the Sultaan of Delhi.
Khilajee and Tugalaq Dynasties
1290 AD - Jalaaluddeen Khilajee
1320-1324 AD - Gayaasuddeen Tugalaq - 5 years
He made his capital Tugalaqaabaad,
near Dehlee. He built a massive magnificent fort comparable to Red Fort around
his capital. He was killed by his son Muhammad Bin Tugalaq. When he was returning
from a victorious campaign to his capital Tugalaqaabaad, his son had erected a
splendid pavilion to welcome him, secretly designed by his engineer to collapse
upon him at the first tread of his elephant. Tugalaqaabaad was inhibited only
for a very short period, 5 years, then it was abandoned.
1324-1351 AD - Muhammad Bin Tugalaq - 27 years
He was Gayaasuddeen's son. Ibn
Batootaa, a Moorish traveler, has described him fond of making presents and shedding
blood. When he was returning from a victorious campaign to his capital Tugalaqaabaad,
he had erected a splendid pavilion, secretly designed by his engineer to collapse upon
the Sultaan at the first tread of his elephant, and thus killed his father Gayasuddeen.
1351-1388 AD - Feeroz Shaah Tugalaq - 37 years
He is famous for abolition of torture, passion for building, and lifelong adherence
to the tenets of Islaam. The new Dehlee constructed in his name, Feerozaabaad, was
full of gardens, mosques and colleges. Within a decade after his death the kingdom
declined fast.
1398 AD - Taimoor Lang's Invasion
1451-1526 AD - Afgaan Lodee Dynasty (Lodee Kings)
After Taimoor, it took 50 years for the Dehlee Kingdom to become an Indian
headquarters. After the last Tugalaq king Nasiruddeen Mehmood, some Saiyad
came. They were Afgaan soldiers but later they called themselves Sultaan -
three Lodee kings ruled from 1451 to 1526.
Afgaan Lodee Dynasty established under Bahalool Khaan Lodee (1451-).
Sikandar Lodee (1506-Nov 21, 1517).
Ibraaheem Lodee (-1526)
They moved their capital to Aagaraa.
1398-1518 (120 years) - Kabeer Daas
Kabeer Daas,
Raayadaas, Raamaanand, Shankaraachaarya, Sadan Kasaaee, Narasee Mehtaa,
Guru Naanak, Nityaanand Jee, Naam Dev, Raankaa-Baankaa were all in same time.
Raamaanand's
disciples were - Kabeer, Raankaa, Narasee Mehtaa, Guru Naanak, Raaidaas
(He defeated Kabeer, but got defeated from Shankaraachaarya), Tulasee Daas
and Soor Daas (of Akbar's time)
(Bhavishya Puraan, 3/28)
14th Century - Chaitanya Mahaaprabhu
He also has a long list of disciples - Eeshwarpuree, Shreedhar, Raam
Sharmaa, Jeevaanand, Roopaanand, Vishnu Swaamee, Madhwaachaarya,
Varaahmihir (one of nine gems of Vikramaaditya's court)
(Bhavishya Puraan, 3/29)
When
Sikandar Lodee was ruling in India - Naamdev was there. Sikandar gave him 50 Lakh coins.
(Bhavishya Puraan, 3/27)
11th to 15th Centuries
Southern India was dominated by Hindu Chol and Vijayanagar dynasties.
Mugal Dynasty (Muslim Rule) - 1526-1707, 181 years
In early 16th century Genghis Khan (Changez Khaan) came through Khaibar
pass and established Mugal Dynasty which lasted for 200 years.
Shershaah Sooree
Baabar (1526-1530, 5 yrs)
Humaayun (1531-1540, 10 yrs)
Akbar (ruled 1556- 1605, 50 yrs)
Saleem (Jahaangeer - 1605-1627, 22 yrs yrs)
Khurram (Shaajahaan - 1628-1658, 30 yrs)
Aurangzeb (ruled 1658-1707, 49 yrs) --
When Shaajahaan got ill in 1658, his all four sons claimed the throne.
(1) Daaraa Shikoh (1615-1659) (2) Aurangzeb ruled in Deccan (3) Shujaa
(4) Muraad. Aurangzeb defeated Daaraa Shikoh and imprisoned his own father
Shaah Jahaan in Aagaraa fort. Daaraa was condemned to death by Aurangzeb
on the night of the 30th August 1659. He was mainly opposed by
Maraathaa born Shivaajee (died
at the age of 53, in 1680). Aurangzeb's full name was "Abu Muzaffar
Muhiuddeen Muhammad Aurangzeb Aalamgeer". He was a Persian.
Akbar (was exiled to Persia by his father and never returned)
Bahaadurshaah Zafar ruled (5 yrs).
When Shershaah Sooree came in 1540, Chaitanya Mahaaprabhu was also there. There is a
difference of 300 years between the times of Chaitanya Mahaaprabhu and Aurangzeb.
Naadir
Shaah came from Persia in 1724 and went back to Eeraan. Later he
captured Dehlee and massacred thousands in 1739.
Maadhav
took kingdom after killing Aalomaa and ruled for 10 years.
After that 30 years passed, there was no one king.
British Raaj, 1619-1947, 328 yrs
(1) First British outpost was established at Soorat, on the northwestern
coast in 1619. Later in the century it opened permanent trading stations
at Madras, Bombay and Calcutta each under the protection of native rulers.
(2) By 1850s they controlled most of present India - India, Paakistaan, Banglaa Desh.
(3) In 1857, a rebellion (Mangal Paandey) in north India led by mutinous
Indian soldiers caused the British Parliament to transfer all political
power from the East India Company to the crown.
(4) Beginning in 1920, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi transformed the Indian
National Congress as a political party into a mass movement to campaign
against British rule. The Party used both parliamentary and nonviolent
resistance and non-cooperation to achieve independence.
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