India—Iron Age of India. Indian kingdoms rule India—Panchala, Kuru, Kosala, Pandya and Videha.

Tags: Iron Age, Monarchy, Political Development

Parshvanatha, 23rd Tirthankara of Jainism was born.

Tags: Religious Figures, Philosophy, Ethics

The Upanishads, a sacred text of Hinduism, are written around this time.

Tags: Hinduism, Religious Texts, Philosophy, Spiritualism, Reincarnation

India—Age of the Mahajanapadas—16 polities rule India—Kasi, Kosala, Anga, Magadha, Vajji (or Vṛji), Malla, Chedi, Vatsa (or Vamsa), Kuru, Panchala, Ma...

Tags: Political Fragmentation, Monarchy, Imperialism, Early States, Political Development

Bimbisara establishes Haryanka dynasty of Magadha in India.

Tags: Magadha, Haryanka Dynasty, Monarchy, Political History, Indian History, Mauryan Empire

Gautama Buddha attains Enlightenment, and begins his ministry. He founds Buddhism in India. It becomes a major world religion.

Tags: Buddhism, Religion, Philosophy, Enlightenment, Spiritualism

Foundation of first republic in Vaishali Bihar India.

Tags: Republic, Governance, Political Systems, Early States, Democracy

Ajatashartu overthrows his father Bimbisara to become king of Magadha.

Tags: Magadha, Monarchy, Succession, Mauryan Empire, Warfare, Ajatashatru

First Buddhist Council at Rejgaha, under the patronage of King Ajatashatru. Oral tradition established for the first time.

Tags: Buddhism, Council, Religion, Religious History, Ajatashatru

Gautama Buddha dies.

Tags: Buddhism, Religious Figures, Enlightenment, Philosophy, Death, Religious History, Early Buddhism

Udayin succeeds his father Ajatashartu to become king of Magadha. Third king of Haryanka dynasty.

Tags: Magadha, Haryanka Dynasty, Monarchy, Succession, Governance

Nagadaska is deposed by people of Magadha. Thus, ending Haryanka dynasty. He succeeded by Shishunaga who founded Shaishunaga dynasty.

Tags: Dynasty, Monarchy, Political Transition, Magadha, Haryanka Dynasty, Succession

Kalashoka succeeds his father Shishunaga to become king of Magadha. Second Buddhist Council is held during his reign.

Tags: Buddhism, Mauryan Empire, Council, Religious History, Magadha, Monasticism, Dharma

The second Buddhist council is convened by king Kalasoka and held at Vaisali.

Tags: Buddhism, Council, Religious History, Dharma, Religious Schism

Chandragupta Maurya overthrows Dhana Nanda and becomes King of Magadha. Establishment of the Maurya dynasty.

Tags: Empire Building, Political Revolution, Indian History, Magadha, Monarchy

– 232 BC: Ashoka the Great ruled the Maurya Empire.

Tags: Emperor, Buddhism, Expansion, Governance

Ashoka inscribes the Edicts of Ashoka.

Tags: Buddhism, Inscriptions, Dharma, Political Philosophy

Simuka declares independence from Mauryan rule and establishes the Satavahana Empire.

Tags: Indian History, Empire, Political Formation, Mauryan Empire, Decentralization

Eucratides I Megas, the most powerful Greco-Bactrian king

Tags: Ancient greece, King, Monarchy, Political Instability, Succession, Decline

Sangam literature, corpus of ancient Tamil literature

Tags: Tamil Nadu, Literature, Poetry, South India, Classical Literature

Kaniyan Pungundranar, one of the poets of the Tamil Sangam work Purananuru

Tags: Literature, Poetry, Tamil Nadu, Ancient greece

c.75 BC: Kanva dynasty replaces the Shunga dynasty in Magadha.

Tags: Magadha, Dynastic Change, Political Transition, Indian History

c.30 BC: Satavahana dynasty replaces the Kanva dynasty in Magadha.

Tags: Dynasty, Political Transition, Monarchy, Magadha

Satakarni begins his reign as Emperor of the Andhra Empire (AD 11–29).

Tags: Empire, Monarchy, Rulers

In India, the Indo-Parthians control Taxila.

Tags: Taxila, Ancient greece, Political Control, Monarchy, Governance

Gondophares becomes king of the Saces.

Tags: Sakas, Monarchy, Succession, Dynasty

The Kushan Empire is founded (approximate date).

Tags: Empire, Silk Road, Political Formation

Heraios, Yuezhi Tribal leader of the Kushans (c.1-30)

Tags: Kushan Empire, Political Leadership

Kujula Kadphises, King (and founder) of the Kushan Empire (30-80)

Tags: Kushan Empire, Monarchy, Empire Building, Political Unification

Thomas the Apostle, Apostle and first Patriarch of the East (c.33-c.72)

Tags: Christianity, Apostles, Missionary Work, Early Church, Religious Expansion, Religious Leaders

The Yuezhi tribes are united under the Kushan leader Kujula Kadphises, thus creating the Kushan Empire in Afghanistan and northern India. (approximate...

Tags: Kushan Empire, Empire, Political Consolidation, Kingdom, Expansion

Saint Thomas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, is believed to have landed in Kodungallur, India to preach the Gospel; the Marthoma Church, the Sy...

Tags: Christianity, Apostles, Religious Missions, Religious History

Emperor Ming of Han introduces Buddhism to China inviting monks from the western Indus Valley.

Tags: Buddhism, Han Dynasty, Religious Conversion, Cultural Exchange, Religious Diffusion, Philosophy

Kujula Kadphises, Kushan emperor

Tags: Kushan Empire, Emperor, Political Leadership, Expansionism, Governance, Silk Road

Kanishka I, Indian ruler of the Kushan Empire (d. 150)

Tags: Kushan Empire, Emperor, Succession, Silk Road

Buddhamitra, Indian Buddhist nun (approximate date)

Tags: Buddhism, Religious Figures, Early Buddhism, Monasticism

India sees the end of the Hellenistic dynasties.

Tags: Ancient greece, Political Transition, Dynastic Decline, Political Fragmentation

This is the base year (year zero) of the Saka era used by some Hindu calendars, the Indian national calendar, and the Cambodian Buddhist calendar. It ...

Tags: Calendar, Hinduism, Buddhism, Timekeeping, Cambodia, Astronomy

July 3 – Thomas the Apostle, Christian preacher and martyr (according to Roman Catholic tradition)

Tags: Christianity, Apostles, Religious Figures, Martyrdom, Evangelism, Religious Violence, Roman Empire

Kujula Kadphises, Kushan prince (approximate date)

Tags: Kushan Empire, Political Leadership, Monarchy, Dynasty, Silk Road, Expansionism

A schism in Buddhism creates a new, popular religion in India, Mahâyâna ("Great Vehicle").

Tags: Buddhism, Religious Schism, Dharma, Religious Movements

– 140: The Kushan ruler Kanishka ruled present-day Pakistan and northern India.

Tags: Kushan Empire, Monarchy, Empires, Political History

– 180: Huvishka, Kushan ruler.

Tags: Kushan Empire, Succession, Monarchy, Rulers, Empires

380: Samudragupta expands the Gupta Empire.

Tags: Gupta Empire, Indian History, Imperialism, Political Expansion

– 415: Chandragupta II reigns over the golden age of the Gupta Empire.

Tags: Gupta Empire, Golden Age, Political History, Dynastic Rule

– 412: The Chinese Buddhist monk Faxian sails through the Indian Ocean and travels throughout Sri Lanka and India bring and gather Buddhist scriptures...

Tags: Buddhism, Religious Pilgrimage, Silk Road, Cultural Exchange, Early Buddhism, Religious Texts, Travel

– 455: Kumaragupta, Gupta emperor.

Tags: Gupta Empire, Emperor, Succession, Governance, Dynasty

– 467: Skandagupta, the last great Gupta emperor.

Tags: Gupta Empire, Emperor, Political History, Dynasty, Ruler, Decline

to 592: Buddhist monk Jnanagupta translates 39 sutras from Sanskrit to Chinese.

Tags: Buddhism, Translation, Religious Texts, Cultural Exchange, Religious History

I-tsing visited Srivijaya and Malayu in Sumatra and Kedah in Malay peninsula on his way to Nalanda, India.

Tags: Buddhism, Pilgrimage, Srivijaya, Cultural Exchange

Balaputra, the maharaja of Suvarnadvipa and the ruler of Srivijaya, constructs the Buddhist temple and monastery in Nalanda India, on the land given b...

Tags: Buddhism, Religion, Srivijaya, Monastery, Patronage

Ghaznavids dynasty, as the first Turk Sultanate, was established in Central Asia.

Tags: Sultanate, Islamic Empires, Ghaznavids, Political Formation, Middle Ages, Military Expansion

ruler Rajendra Chola I moves the capital city of the empire from Thanjavur to Gangaikonda Cholapuram

Tags: Chola Dynasty, South India, Capital City, Political Administration, Tamil Nadu, Medieval India, Empire Building, Urban Planning

the death of Athirajendra Chola and the ascension of Kulothunga Chola I marks the transition between the Medieval Cholas and the Chalukya Cholas.

Tags: Chola Dynasty, South India, Medieval India, Succession, Monarchy, Tamil Nadu

Islamization of Bengal by Bakhtiyar Khalji and oppression of Buddhism in East India.

Tags: Islam, Buddhism, Religious Violence, Conquest, Bengal, Military History

The Delhi Sultanate is established in Northern India under the Mamluk Dynasty.

Tags: Delhi Sultanate, Middle Ages, Islamic Empires, Political History, Sultanate, Governance

Qutb-ud-Din Aibak, the first ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, fell down from a horse while playing chovgan (a form of polo on horseback) in Lahore and di...

Tags: Delhi Sultanate, Succession, Medieval India, Islamic History, Governance

Maravarman Sundara I reestablishes the Pandya Dynasty in Southern India

Tags: South India, Tamil Nadu, Middle Ages, Chola Empire, Political History

Sant Dnyaneshwar who wrote Dnyaneshwari (a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita) and Amrutanubhav was born.

Tags: Maharashtra, Hinduism, Bhakti Movement, Philosophy, Literature

The Chola Dynasty in Southern India officially comes to an end.

Tags: Chola Dynasty, South India, Dynasty, Political History, Middle Ages, Tamil Nadu, Government

Sri Rajahmura Lumaya, known in his shortened name Sri Lumay, a half-Tamil and half Malay minor prince of the Chola dynasty in Sumatra established the ...

Tags: Kingdom, Chola Dynasty, Pre-colonial Philippines, Political Formation

The Vijayanagara Empire is founded in South India by Harihara I.

Tags: Empire, Medieval India, Hinduism, Political Formation, Dynasty

Dilawar Khan establishes the Malwa Sultanate in present-day central India.

Tags: Sultanate, Medieval India, Islamic History, Governance, Regional Power, Decentralization

Khizr Khan, deputised by Timur to be the governor of Multan, takes over Delhi founding the Sayyid dynasty.

Tags: Delhi Sultanate, Timurid Empire, Political Transition, Indian History, Medieval India, Dynastic Rule, Governance

Deva Raya II succeeds his father Veera Vijaya Bukka Raya as monarch of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Tags: Vijayanagara Empire, South India, Monarchy, Succession, Medieval India, Rulers

Mallikarjuna Raya succeeds his father Deva Raya II as monarch of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Tags: Vijayanagara Empire, Monarchy, South India, Succession, Rulers, Dynasty

Saint Srimanta Sankardeva was born.

Tags: Religious Leader, Bhakti Movement, Religious Reform, Social Reform

Bahlul Khan Lodhi ascends the throne of the Delhi sultanate starting the Lodhi dynasty

Tags: Delhi Sultanate, Sultanate, Indian History, Succession, Islamic Empires, Middle Ages

Reign of Rajasawardhana ends.

Tags: Monarchy, Dynasty, Political History, Middle Ages, Ruler, Succession

Birth of Guru Nanak Dev. Beside followers of Sikhism, Guru Nanak is revered by Hindus and Muslim Sufis across the Indian subcontinent.

Tags: Sikhism, Religion, Religious Figure, Hinduism, Religious Reformation

JagatGuru Vallabhacharya Ji Mahaprabhu was born

Tags: Hinduism, Bhakti Movement, Spiritual Leader, Religious Figure, Philosophy, Religious Reform

Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya drives out Praudha Raya ending the Sangama Dynasty.

Tags: Dynasty, Vijayanagara Empire, Political Transition, Indian History, Middle Ages, Warfare, Kings and Rulers

Sher Shah Suri, is born in Sasaram, Bihar.

Tags: Mughal Empire, Indian History, Political Leadership, Governance, Birth

Guru Nanak begins the spreading of Sikhism, the fifth-largest religion in the world.

Tags: Sikhism, Religious Reform, Religion, Religious Movement, Monotheism

Krishnadevaraya ascends the throne of Vijayanagara Empire.

Tags: Vijayanagara Empire, South India, Empire, Monarchy, Indian History, Succession, Governance

Qutb Shahi dynasty, founded by Quli Qutb Mulk, rules Golconda Sultanate until 1687.

Tags: Dynasty, Sultanate, Political History, Islamic Empires

Mir Chakar Khan Rind leaves Baluchistan and settles in Punjab.

Tags: Migration, Khanate, Regional Politics, Social Change

Mughal Empire, founded by Babur.

Tags: Mughal Empire, Babur, Empire, Islamic Empires, Political Consolidation, Delhi Sultanate, Empire Building

The Portuguese in Ternate depose Sultan Tabariji (or Tabarija) and send him to Portuguese Goa where he converts to Christianity and bequeaths his Port...

Tags: Colonialism, Portuguese Empire, Sultanate of Ternate, Conversion, Political Intrigue, Spice Trade, Trade, Religious Conversion

Sher Shah Suri founds the Suri dynasty in South Asia, an ethnic Pashtun (Pathan) of the house of Sur, who supplanted the Mughal dynasty as rulers of N...

Tags: Dynasty, Pashtun, Conquest, Mughal Empire, Dynastic Change, Political Transition

Akbar The Great is born in the Rajput Umarkot Fort

Tags: Mughal Empire, Rajput, Emperor, Akbar the Great, Political History, Birth

Mir Chakar Khan Rind dies at aged 97.

Tags: Khanate, Death, Political Leaders, Governance

First edition of the epic The Lusiads of Luís Vaz de Camões, three years after the author returned from the East.

Tags: Renaissance, Literature, Portuguese Empire, Epic Poetry, Exploration, Age of Discovery, Colonialism, National Identity

Akbar annexes Kashmir and adds it to the Kabul SubahPortuguese fusta in India from a book by Jan Huygen van Linschoten

Tags: Mughal Empire, Kashmir, Expansion, Territorial Expansion, Imperialism, Political History

1627: The reign of Mughal emperor Jahangir after the death of emperor Akbar.

Tags: Mughal Empire, Akbar the Great, Emperor, Succession, Imperialism

Birth of Shivaji at Shivneri fort, in present day Maharashtra, India, who later founded Maratha Empire in year 1674.

Tags: Maratha Empire, Shivaji Maharaj, Maharashtra, Political History, Indian History, Regional Power

: Sambhaji, the second King of Maratha Empire and eldest son of King Shivaji was born at Purandar Fort on 14 May.

Tags: Maratha Empire, Shivaji, Indian History, Monarchy, Succession, Maharashtra

Birth of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj

Tags: Maratha Empire, Indian History, Political History, Monarchy, Maharashtra, Shivaji Maharaj

After his father Shah Jahan completes the Taj Mahal, his son Aurangzeb deposes him as ruler of the Mughal Empire.

Tags: Mughal Empire, Aurangzeb, Succession, Political Intrigue, Emperor, Imperial Power, Dynastic Conflict

Maratha King Shivaji signed the Treaty of Purandar with Mughal general Jai Singh I after Battle of Purandar.

Tags: Treaty, Maratha Empire, Mughal Empire, Shivaji, Indian History, Conflict Resolution

The Great Shivaji-Agra Visit.

Tags: Maratha Empire, Mughal Empire, Shivaji Maharaj, Aurangzeb, Political Intrigue, Diplomacy, Military Strategy, Resistance, Indian History

The 10th Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh is born in Patna Sahib.

Tags: Sikhism, Religious Leader, Religious History, Spiritual Leader

Shivaji founded the Maratha Empire and crowned himself as first Chatrapati of the empire.

Tags: Empire Building, Maratha Empire, Shivaji Maharaj, Indian History, Political History, Monarchy

Prince Sambhaji crowned himself as the second Chatrapati of Maratha Empire 20 July.

Tags: Maratha Empire, Indian History, Monarchy, Succession, Empire Building

The 10th Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh, establishes the Khalsa.

Tags: Sikhism, Religious Reform

After Aurangzeb's death, the Mughal Empire enters a long decline and the Maratha Empire slowly replaces it.

Tags: Mughal Empire, Maratha Empire, Aurangzeb, Decline of Empires, Political Transition, Indian History, Empire Building

1714: Tarabai establishes the rival Maratha Empire government in Kolhapur against Chattrapati Shahu.

Tags: Maratha Empire, Succession, Political Division, Indian History, Regional Power

Establishment of the Sikh Confederacy along the present-day India-Pakistan border.

Tags: Sikhism, Political Fragmentation, Indian History, Mughal Empire, Regional Power

Ahmed Shah Durrani founds the Durrani Empire in modern-day Afghanistan.

Tags: Empire, Political Founding, Pashtun

The Treaty of Pondicherry ends the Second Carnatic War and recognizes Muhammed Ali Khan Wallajah as Nawab of the Carnatic.

Tags: Treaty, Colonialism, British Empire, French East India Company, Carnatic Wars, Political Settlement

Ranjit Singh crowned as the Maharaja of the Sikh Empire.

Tags: Sikh Empire, Indian History, Monarchy, Political Consolidation

Dissolution of the Maratha Empire in India.

Tags: British Empire, Colonialism, Maratha Empire, East India Company, Political Transition, Annexation, Imperialism

1857–1858: Indian Rebellion of 1857: The British Empire assumes control of India from the East India Company.

Tags: British Empire, Colonialism, Rebellion, East India Company, Governance, Imperialism, Political Transition

1858–1947: British Empire in India lasts for 90 years.

Tags: British Empire, Colonialism, Imperialism, Political History, Decolonization, East India Company

Queen Victoria becomes Empress of India.

Tags: British Empire, Imperialism, Colonialism, Queen Victoria, Governance, Political Power, Monarchy

The British Empire takes over Balochistan.

Tags: British Empire, Imperialism, Colonialism, Geopolitics, Annexation, Great Game

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad establishes the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, a reform sect of Islam.

Tags: Islam, Religious Reform, Religious Movement, Missionary Work

Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, founder of the Ahmadiyya movement, claims to be Promised Messiah and Imam Mahdi.

Tags: Islam, Religious Movements, Religious Reform, Apocalypticism

January 22: Edward VII became King of England and India after Queen Victoria's death.

Tags: Monarchy, British Empire, Succession, Imperialism, Governance

October 16: The British Indian Province of Bengal, partitioned by the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon, despite strong opposition.

Tags: British Empire, Colonialism, Partition, Nationalism, Indian Independence Movement, Bengal, Political Division

December 30: The Muslim League is formed by Nawab Salimullah Khan of Dacca.

Tags: Political Parties, Muslims, Indian Independence Movement, Partition of India, Colonialism, British Empire, Nationalism

The Indian National Congress splits into two factions at its Surat session, presided by Rash Behari Bose.

Tags: Indian National Congress, Nationalism, Independence Movement, British Raj, Internal Conflict

March 12: Indian Councils Act passed.

Tags: British Empire, Colonialism, Political Reform, Indian Independence Movement, Representation

May 6: George V becomes King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India upon the death of Edward VII.

Tags: British Empire, Monarchy, Succession, Imperialism, World War I

December 12: New Delhi becomes the capital of British India.

Tags: British Empire, Colonialism, Governance, Political History, Imperialism

December: The Pact is agreed upon by both the Congress and the Muslim League at the Indian city of Lucknow.

Tags: Indian Independence Movement, Indian National Congress, Political Alliance, Self-Government, British Raj, Nationalism, Partition of India

September 5: Mahatma Gandhi launches Non-cooperation movement.

Tags: Indian Independence Movement, Civil Disobedience, British Empire, Anti-Colonialism, Nationalism, Political Protest

Mohandas Gandhi calls off Non-cooperation movement.

Tags: Indian Independence Movement, Civil Disobedience, Gandhi, British Raj, Political Protest, Nationalism, Colonialism

March 12: Salt March by Mohandas Gandhi and the official start of civil disobedience in British India.

Tags: Civil Disobedience, Indian Independence Movement, British Empire, Gandhi, Nonviolent Resistance, Nationalism, Colonialism, Protest

November: First Round Table Conference between India and Great Britain, which goes until January 1931.

Tags: British Empire, Indian Independence Movement, Colonialism, Self-Government, Gandhi, Imperialism

Third Round Table Conference.

Tags: British Empire, Indian Independence Movement, Colonialism, Self-Government, Gandhi, Indian National Congress

January 20: Edward VIII becomes King of the British Commonwealth and Emperor of India.

Tags: British Empire, Monarchy, Succession, Commonwealth, World War II, Imperialism

August 14 – 15: Partition of India. Independence of India and Pakistan and beginning of First Indo-Pakistani War.

Tags: Decolonization, Independence, Partition, British Empire, Post-Colonialism, Religious Conflict, Nationalism

January 30: Assassination of Mahatma Gandhi.

Tags: Assassination, Independence Movement, Civil Disobedience, Post-Colonialism, Partition of India

Partition of Kashmir.

Tags: Post-Colonialism, Partition, Kashmir, Border Disputes, Cold War, Regional Conflict, Geopolitics, United Nations, Self-determination

January 26: The Constitution of India comes into effect.

Tags: Constitution, Republic, Post-Colonialism, Independence, Government, Law, Indian National Congress

April 18 – 24: Bandung Conference.

Tags: Decolonization, Cold War, International Relations, Diplomacy, Post-Colonialism

March 23: Pakistan becomes a republic.

Tags: Republic, Post-Colonialism, Political Transition, Independence, Government, Cold War

March 10 – 23: Uprising in Tibet against China leads to the exile of the Dalai Lama.

Tags: Cold War, Tibet, Dalai Lama, Exile, Religious Violence, Political Conflict, Buddhism, Human Rights

January: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman returns to Bangladesh from imprisonment in Pakistan.

Tags: Independence, Post-Colonialism, Nation Building

June 25: Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declares a state of emergency in India, suspending civil liberties and elections.

Tags: Authoritarianism, Civil Liberties, Political Crisis, Democracy, Human Rights, Indian Politics, Political Repression

October 31: Assassination of Indira Gandhi, Indian Prime Minister.

Tags: Assassination, Prime Minister, Political Violence, Cold War, Indian National Congress, Political Instability

December 2: Benazir Bhutto elected Prime Minister of Pakistan months after restoration of civilian rule in the wake of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq's death in ...

Tags: Prime Minister, Democracy, Elections

May 21: Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, Indian Prime Minister.

Tags: Assassination, Prime Minister, Terrorism, LTTE, Indian Politics

December 27: Assassination of Benazir Bhutto, opposition leader and former prime minister of Pakistan.

Tags: Assassination, Political Violence, Democracy, Islamism, Terrorism, Political Instability

Narendra Modi is elected as the Prime Minister of India.

Tags: Prime Minister, Elections, Indian Politics, Government, Democracy

August 5: India revokes the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.

Tags: Indian Politics, Nationalism, Sovereignty, Political Reform, Regional Tensions

April – November: Pakistani constitutional crisis and attempted assassination of Imran Khan.

Tags: Political Crisis, Assassination Attempt, Political Instability, Democracy, Constitutional Crisis

January 30: Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan is controversially sentenced to prison for corruption, leaking state secrets and illegal marr...

Tags: Corruption, Political Opposition, Legal System, Government, Criminal Justice