Welcome to the Indian neighborhood under the White Tiger Domain. With it's particular location near so many important neighboring empires, India has long been affected by vast amounts of migrating or trading peoples and this likely accounts for it's uniqueness or diversity in religion and culture. At times other peoples invaded or flooded India's gates, bringing the Aryans from (possibly) central Asia/Russia and the Muslim era Mughal rulers. But this cross-country and cultural sharing microcosm worked both ways for India. It's history is marked by several remarkable civilizations and kingdoms that spanned vast amounts of lands and influenced many neighbouring countries via trade.

Many of these peoples and empires also spawned great religions and even languages that found their way across the world. Scholars believe that Indian sea traders using the monsoons to their sailing advantage brought not only Hinduism and Buddhism to places like pre-Angkor Cambodia, Bangladesh and Thailand but artistic styles in sculpture as well. New linguistic research has shed light on emerging theories regarding the influence and possible migration of the Aryan founded language Sanskrit to as far as the western edges of Europe.

We also see the incredible spread of Buddhism across the whole of China carried by land traders and visiting dignitaries from China. India boasts an array of languages and religions and they coexisted peacefully for much of it's ancient history.

The land of India
The birthplace of great and small rivers alike stemming from the melting ice caps of the northern mountain ranges and sheltering effect of it's valleys provided solid farmland that enticed invaders and sustained the ancestral peoples of India itself. The Indus and Ganges both enabled a continual flow of life and many great myths and religious attributes were dedicated to them as they continually deposited rich soil with their flow. This great flood plain acted as the birthplace of the Harrapa (Indus civ.), the Mauryans and the Guptas. The south of India is bordered on the western coast with mountains that act as a natural protection. the 'Deccan' plateau occupies the center while the eastern coast is flat and perfect for harbors and sea trade.

Prehistoric India: Nothing much is known of prehistoric India. The only record we have is of the ancient cave paintings, ranging from crude to advanced with images of herds, hunting, pregnant animals and women. Much fascinating artwork is found in the Bhimabetka caves and are dated beginning around 8,000 b.c.

Indus Valley Civilization: 2500(app.)-1700(app.)b.c Also known as the 'Harrapa' named after the site of the first discovered city, archaeologists are still struggling to understand them. We do not know anything of it's religion and no murals or story-art has been found. What we do know is that they were great builders and city planners centered around an agricultural community that existed between the Mohenjo-daro river and the Indus river. Tablets and pottery found depict animals, ornately coiffed women, jewelry and generally hint at a sophisticated artisan society.

Aryans or Vedic civilization: 1700.-200b.c. A war-oriented people from the northern Steppes, they swept in to conquer as they had Persia and elsewhere but in truth ended up culturally mixing until what we know as India was born. Though the Brahmi script emerged very late (600b.c. app.) the Sanskrit language was born during their civilization. Great traditions in dance, epics and the establishment of the caste system are also attributed to the Aryans. The Rig Veda religious poems and the Mahabharata and Ramayana heroic epics afford us a preserved glimpse into the cultivated society. It is during the Aryan period that the Raja ruling system came into being.

The Mauryans: 321-185 b.c. Rising and creating his empire in the vacuum left from Alexander's conquering army (that left no real effect on the people of India) the first ruler, Chandragupta Maurya ruled over the whole of the Indus Valley through warfare alone. His son, Bindusara extended that rule through to the Deccan plateau in the south and eventually all the way to Bangladesh. But it is Asoka (known as Asoka the Great) that stands out in the Mauryan rule. The Brahmi script appeared during his time and his careful recording of edicts leave us more of a historical record. Famously converting to Buddhism after the conquest of Kalinga (the furthest expansion yet) Asoka dedicated the rest of his rule to expanding the new Buddhist religion instead through great monuments and created possibly the first religiously tolerant government in the ancient world. India's vegatarian majority is also attributed as the achievement of Asoka and continues today.

The Guptas: 320-550 a.d. Begun with Chandragupta, who revived much of Asoka's government principles after the fall of the Mauryan empire and expanded by his grandson Chandragupta II, this dynasty is recognized as the golden age of Indian culture. Vast leaps were made in architecture, sculpture, painting and poetry, with one of India's greatest writers, Kalidasa appearing at this time signalling the birth of India's great drama tradition. Briefly stifled by the wave of invading immigrants like the Huns, the Gupta rule through a descendant was revived in the 600's. It is during the Gupta era that India's now elaborate culture spread to Burma, Cambodia and Sri Lanka.

Muslim Invasion and Mughal Rulers: 1210-1856(app) a.d. Although Muslim invaders were on the scene long before, the western mountains and existing armies genereally defeated them. The Dehli Sultanate in 1210 under the rule of Qubtuddin Aibek starts the first continual Muslim influence or rule in India and existed off and on in various parts of India (mainly the south) until the foundation of the Mughal Empire was set by Babar in 1526. The greatest of these rulers for his monument building and creation of a cultural court among other things was Akbar the Great. Like the Guptas before them, the Mughals allowed kings to remain but as vassals but were unable to convert much of the population from Hinduism. The birth of one of India's major languages, Urdu is created at this time. The beauty of the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort along with famed Mughal miniature art are the testaments to their appreciation for culture and artistic values.

Come join us!

India's unique ancient history combined with it's rich tradition in art will continue to draw fascinated admirers for generations to come. Will you be one of them? Come join us in our public boards and Indian centered groups and discuss the wonder of this land's ancient beginnings, sign up under one of the family names available here in AncientWorlds listed below and recreate your vision of ancient India here on the web.

AncientWorlds Indian region last names available for personas:

Ashoka, Gupta, Kanishka, Tilak and Vardhana

Nothing to be lost and plenty to gain, we look forward to meeting you... here in India!

Ancient India at WSU
Kamat's Potpourri-Images and info on ancient India
Heritage.gof History of Pakistan
Image India's Heritage
Ancient India Timeline at AskAsia.org
Maps from University of Texas (some maps used as reference in creating our own)
House of Lime (Paisley font used in some image creations)

Thank you to our volunteers for providing information:

Ekani Vardhana
Su Hue Luong
Shanti Ashoka
Members of Bharat Mata