Timeline
Every bar is a polity. Read vertically at any point to see who existed at the same time — the subcontinent was almost never ruled by a single power.The scale is compressed in deep time so the densely documented centuries stay readable.
c. 7,000–2,600 BCE
Civilizations & Archaeological Cultures
Early Agricultural Cultures
Farming villages from Mehrgarh to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic cultures of Kashmir, the Deccan and the south.
c. 2,600–1,900 BCE
Civilizations & Archaeological Cultures
Indus / Harappan Civilization
The mature urban phase: planned cities, standardised weights, seals and long-distance trade.
c. 1,900–1,500 BCE
Civilizations & Archaeological Cultures
Late Harappan Cultures
De-urbanisation and regional Late Harappan cultures, alongside the Chalcolithic cultures of central India.
c. 1,500–600 BCE
Tribes, Janas & Early Kingdoms
Vedic Period Polities
Early Vedic communities of the Sapta Sindhu, then the Later Vedic kingdoms of the Ganga-Yamuna doab.
c. 600–321 BCE
Mahajanapadas & Gana-sanghas
Mahajanapadas
Sixteen great realms and many republics (gana-sanghas); Magadha gradually absorbs its rivals.
c. 321–185 BCE
Empires & Kingdoms
Mauryan Empire
The first empire to span most of the subcontinent, under Chandragupta, Bindusara and Ashoka.
c. 200 BCE – c. 300 CE
Regional Kingdoms & Invaders
Post-Mauryan Powers
No single power: Shungas, Satavahanas, Indo-Greeks, Sakas, Kushans and the Sangam-era Tamil kingdoms.
c. 30 CE – c. 300 CE
Empires & Kingdoms
Kushan Empire
A Central Asian empire ruling the northwest and Gangetic plain; Kanishka's era of Gandhara and Mathura art.
c. 275 CE – c. 550 CE
Empires & Kingdoms
Gupta Empire & Regional Powers
The Guptas in the north with the Vakatakas, Pallavas and Kadambas as major contemporaries.
c. 550 CE – c. 750 CE
Regional Kingdoms
Post-Gupta / Early Medieval
Harsha, the Badami Chalukyas, Pallavas, Maitrakas and many regional kingdoms.
c. 750 CE – c. 1000
Rival Empires
Tripartite Struggle
Palas, Gurjara-Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas contest Kannauj for two centuries.
c. 850 CE – 1300
Southern Empires
Chola & Major Southern Kingdoms
The Chola maritime empire alongside the Western Chalukyas, Hoysalas, Kakatiyas and Pandyas.
c. 1000 – 1206
Regional Dynasties
Regional Kingdoms & Ghaznavid/Ghurid Expansion
Rajput-era regional dynasties while the Ghaznavids and Ghurids push in from the northwest.
1206 – 1526
Sultanates & Kingdoms
Delhi Sultanate & Regional Kingdoms
Five successive dynasties rule from Delhi while many regional kingdoms and sultanates flourish.
1336 – 1646
Sultanates & Kingdoms
Vijayanagara Empire
A great southern empire under the Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu dynasties.
1347 – 1687
Sultanates & Kingdoms
Bahmani & Deccan Sultanates
The Bahmani Sultanate and its five successor Deccan Sultanates.
1498 – 1961
Colonial Settlements
European Maritime Powers
Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, French and British trading posts and colonies.
1526 – 1857
Empires & Regional Powers
Mughal Empire
From Babur's victory at Panipat to the deposition of Bahadur Shah II.
1540 – 1556
Empires & Regional Powers
Sur Empire
Sher Shah Suri displaces Humayun and reforms administration and revenue.
1674 – 1818
Empires & Regional Powers
Maratha Empire & Regional Powers
Shivaji's swarajya grows into a confederacy dominating much of India in the 18th century.
1757 – 1858
Colonial Rule
East India Company Rule
A trading company becomes a territorial power after Plassey and Buxar.
1799 – 1849
Empires & Regional Powers
Sikh Empire
Maharaja Ranjit Singh's empire in Punjab, annexed by the British in 1849.
1858 – 1947
Colonial Rule & Princely States
British Crown Rule (Raj)
Direct Crown rule after 1857, alongside hundreds of princely states.
1947 – 1950
Independent India
Dominion of India
Independence and Partition; integration of princely states.
1950 – present
Independent India
Republic of India
The Constitution comes into force on 26 January 1950.