History of India !

This article is about the history of the Indian subcontinent before the partition of India in 1947. For the history of the Republic of India after 1947, see the article History of the Republic of India. For the history of Pakistan or Bangladesh, see History of Pakistan and History of Bangladesh respectively. For the history of South India, undivided Bengal and West Bengal, see History of South India, History of Bengal and History of West Bengal respectively.

The history of India refers to the ancient, medieval and pre-modern history of the Indian subcontinent from the third millennium BC to the mid-twentieth century AD. The first human settlements were seen in the region about one million (?) years before the birth of Christ. However, the known history of India begins with the emergence and spread of the Indus Valley Civilization in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent between 3300 BC and 1300 BC. The period of the Later Harappan period was 2600–1900 BCE. This Bronze Age civilization declined at the beginning of the second millennium BCE. The Iron Age began. During this period, 16 major kingdoms, known as Mahajanapadas, arose throughout the Gangetic plains. Most of these Janapadas were monarchical, but the "Licchavi" was democratic. One of these Janapadas was Magadha. In the 6th century BCE, Mahavira and Gautama Buddha were born in Magadha; later, they spread the ascetic philosophy among the people of India.