Indian history begins
with the birth of the Indus Valley around 2600 BC and the Ganges Valley around
1500 B.C.E. These societies
mainly consisted of ethnic Dravidians whose economy was based on commerce and
agricultural trade.
It is believed that
the area was invaded by Aryan
tribes after they get migrated into the Indian subcontinent from the northwest.
It is thought that they introduced the caste system which is still common in
many parts of India today.
During the 4th
century BC, Alexander the Great introduced Greek practices into the region when
he expanded across Central Asia. During the 3rd century BC, the Mauryan Empire
came into power in India and it was most successful under its emperor, Ashoka.
Throughout subsequent
periods Arab, Turkish and Mongol peoples entered India and in 1526, a Mongol
Empire was established there, which later expanded throughout most of northern
India. During this time, such landmarks as the Taj Mahal were also builded.
Much of India's
history after the 1500s was then dominated by British influences. The first
British colony was in 1619 with English East India Company at Surat. Shortly
after, permanent trading stations were opened in Madras, Bombay and Calcutta.
British influence then continued to expand from these initial trading stations
and by the 1850s; most of India and other countries such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka
and Bangladesh were controlled by Britain.
By the late 1800s,
India began working toward independence from British Rule but it did not come
until the 1940s however when Indian citizens began to unite and British Labor
Prime Minister Clement Attlee began to push for India's independence. On August
15, 1947, India officially became a dominion within the Commonwealth and
Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of India. India's first
constitution was written shortly thereafter on January 26, 1950 and by that
time, it officially became a member of the British Commonwealth.
