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Ancient Indian History
Browse 23 articles in this category. Choose a title below, or explore the related categories for more reading.
The Vedas: Origins, History, and Eternal Importance
Composed over 3,000 years ago, the Vedas are the oldest and most revered texts in human history, holding eternal truths about the universe, life.
8 min read →The Urban Secrets of Dholavira: India’s Oldest Smart City
Dholavira, India's oldest smart city, thrived 4,000 years ago with sophisticated urban planning and water conservation.
6 min read →Nalanda and Takshashila: The Lost Ivy Leagues of the Ancient World
Nalanda and Takshashila were the world's first true universities, flourishing over 2,000 years ago and attracting scholars from across Asia.
7 min read →How Indian Mathematics Influenced the Islamic and European Worlds
Indian mathematicians invented the decimal system, which revolutionised calculations and kept records.
14 min read →The Indus Valley Civilization a Glimpse into One of the World's Oldest Urban Cultures
The Indus Valley Civilization spanned over 1.25 million square kilometres, a vast territory that's larger than France and Germany combined.
14 min read →Mahajanapadas
India's first empires were born from 16 powerful kingdoms and republics, the Mahajanapadas, around 600 BCE.
4 min read →Varna System
The Varna system, dating back to 1500 BCE, was originally a flexible guide to social contribution, not a barrier to mobility.
16 min read →Vedas
The Vedas are some of the oldest surviving literature in the world, composed by sages and seers to capture the essence of the universe and human
14 min read →Schools of Indian Philosophy
Introduction: After the state and the Varna divided social order were firmly established, ancient thinkers believed that an individual should strive for four goals. These are economic resources (Artha), social order…
14 min read →Sculpture
Ancient Indian temples feature intricate sculptures that embody spiritual beliefs and tell stories.
14 min read →Developments of Crafts in India
India's crafts were the backbone of its economy and culture 5,000 years ago, thanks to a perfect storm of geography, rivers, and trade.
13 min read →Astronomy In Ancient India
Astronomy in ancient India was so advanced that it produced the world's largest sundial, a 90-foot-tall structure built by Sawai Jai Singh in Jaipur.
8 min read →Mathematics In India
India's ancient mathematician Aryabhatta calculated pi to 3.1416 and developed trigonometry using sine functions.
8 min read →The Bhakti Sects Bhagvatism Vaishnavism Shaivism
Bhakti emerged in ancient India as a spiritual movement that democratized faith and reshaped the cultural fabric of the Indian subcontinent through
14 min read →Jainism: An Introduction
Jainism has no single founder, but its 24 Tirthankaras, including Mahavira, revealed the path to salvation through self-sacrifice and meditation.
8 min read →The Expansion Of Buddhism
Buddhism was introduced to China by Kumarajeeva, a Indian emperor, in the 1st century AD.
12 min read →Buddhism: An Introduction
Buddhism's core belief is that all life is painful, and happiness can only be attained by overcoming bodily desire and personal fulfilment.
8 min read →Southern Dynasties: Literature, Features & Philosophy
Tamil literature emerged as a fully-formed language with its own writing system by the 3rd century B.C.
8 min read →Gupta Empire
The Gupta Empire ruled India between 319 and 467 CE, a period known as India's Golden Age.
13 min read →Administration and Economy Of Mauryan Empire
Ashoka's pro-Buddhist policies alienated Brahmins, but his focus on peace may have weakened the empire's military strength.
14 min read →The Mahajanpadas & The Mauryan Empire
The 16 mahajanapadas, a precursor to the Mauryan Empire, were a group of powerful states that lasted over a century and were known for their fortified
11 min read →Vedic Period Society Economy Religion
India's economy, society, and spirituality were shaped by a nomadic tribe's innovations and ideas from 1500–500 BCE, including concepts of profit.
13 min read →The Indus Valley Civilisation
The Indus Valley Civilisation was a 4,000-year-old urban society with sophisticated grid-planned roads and advanced indoor plumbing.
12 min read →World 101
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