Blog 2: History

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.