Indian History Chronology: Ancient India to Modern
India – Learn faster!
Indian History Chronology
Chronologically, Indian History can be classified into three periods – Ancient India, Medieval
India and Modern India.
Ancient India (Pre-historic to AD 700)
, There were activities of proto-humans (Homo erectus) in the Indian subcontinent 20 lakh
years (2 million years) ago, and of Homo sapiens since 70,000 BC. But they were
gathers/hunters.
The first inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent might have been tribals like Nagas
(North-East), Santhals (East-India), Bhils (Central India), Gonds (Central India), Todas (South
India) etc. Most of them are speakers of the Austric, pre-Dravidian languages, such as Munda
and Gondvi. Dravidians and Aryans are believed to be immigrants who came later to the
sub-continent.
Ancient India can be studied under other heads like the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and
Chalcolithic period – based on the type of stone/ metal tools people used.
Paleolithic Period (2 million BC – 10,000 BC)
● Fire
● Tools made up of limestone
● Ostrich Eggs
● Important Paleolithic sites: Bhimbetka (M.P), Hunsgi, Kurnool Caves, Narmada
Valley (Hathnora, M.P), Kaladgi Basin
Mesolithic Period (10,000 BC – 8,000 BC)
● Major Climatic Change happened
● Domestication of animals ie Cattle rearing started
● Microliths found at Brahmagiri (Mysore), Narmada, Vindya, Gujarat
Neolithic Period (8000 BC – 4,000 BC)
● Agriculture Started
● Wheel discovered
● Inamgaon = An early village
● Important Neolithic Sites : Burzahom(Kashmir), Gufkral(Kashmir),
Mehrgarh(Pakistan), Chirand(Bihar), Daojali Hading(Tripura/Assam),
Koldihwa(UP), Mahagara(UP), Hallur(AP), Paiyampalli(AP), Maski, Kodekal,
Sangana Kaller, Utnur, Takkala Kota.
● NB: Megalithic Sites: Brahmagiri, Adichanallur
India – Learn faster!
Indian History Chronology
Chronologically, Indian History can be classified into three periods – Ancient India, Medieval
India and Modern India.
Ancient India (Pre-historic to AD 700)
, There were activities of proto-humans (Homo erectus) in the Indian subcontinent 20 lakh
years (2 million years) ago, and of Homo sapiens since 70,000 BC. But they were
gathers/hunters.
The first inhabitants of the Indian subcontinent might have been tribals like Nagas
(North-East), Santhals (East-India), Bhils (Central India), Gonds (Central India), Todas (South
India) etc. Most of them are speakers of the Austric, pre-Dravidian languages, such as Munda
and Gondvi. Dravidians and Aryans are believed to be immigrants who came later to the
sub-continent.
Ancient India can be studied under other heads like the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and
Chalcolithic period – based on the type of stone/ metal tools people used.
Paleolithic Period (2 million BC – 10,000 BC)
● Fire
● Tools made up of limestone
● Ostrich Eggs
● Important Paleolithic sites: Bhimbetka (M.P), Hunsgi, Kurnool Caves, Narmada
Valley (Hathnora, M.P), Kaladgi Basin
Mesolithic Period (10,000 BC – 8,000 BC)
● Major Climatic Change happened
● Domestication of animals ie Cattle rearing started
● Microliths found at Brahmagiri (Mysore), Narmada, Vindya, Gujarat
Neolithic Period (8000 BC – 4,000 BC)
● Agriculture Started
● Wheel discovered
● Inamgaon = An early village
● Important Neolithic Sites : Burzahom(Kashmir), Gufkral(Kashmir),
Mehrgarh(Pakistan), Chirand(Bihar), Daojali Hading(Tripura/Assam),
Koldihwa(UP), Mahagara(UP), Hallur(AP), Paiyampalli(AP), Maski, Kodekal,
Sangana Kaller, Utnur, Takkala Kota.
● NB: Megalithic Sites: Brahmagiri, Adichanallur
