Thehistory of Indiabegins with evidence of human activity ofAnatomically modern humans,as long as 75,000 years ago, or with earlier hominids includingHomo erectusfrom about 500,000 years ago.[1]TheIndus Valley Civilization, which spread and flourished in the northwestern part of theIndian subcontinentfrom c. 3300 to 1300 BCE in present-day Pakistan and northwest India, was the first major civilization inSouth Asia.[2]A sophisticated and technologically advanced urban culture developed in theMature Harappanperiod, from 2600 to 1900 BCE.[3]This civilization collapsed at the start of the second millennium BCE and was later followed by theIron AgeVedic Civilization, which extended over much of theIndo-Gangetic plainand which witness the rise of major polities known as theMahajanapadas. In one of these kingdoms,Magadha,MahaviraandGautama Buddhapropagated theirShramanicphilosophies during the fifth and sixth century BCE.Most of the subcontinent was conquered by theMaurya Empireduring the 4th and 3rd centuries BCE. From the 3rd century BC onwardsPrakritandPaliliterature in the north and theSangam literaturein southern India started to flourish.[4][5]The famousWootz steeloriginated in south India in the 3rd century BC and was also exported to foreign countries.[6][7][8]Various parts of India were ruled by numerousMiddle kingdomsfor the next 1,500 years, among which theGupta Empirestand out. This period, witnessing aHindureligious and intellectual resurgence, is known as the classical or "Golden Age of India". During this period, aspects of Indian civilization, administration, culture, and religion (HinduismandBuddhism) spread to much ofAsia, while kingdoms in southern India had maritime business links with the Roman Empire from around 77 CE. During this period Indian cultural influence spread over many parts ofSoutheast Asiawhich led to the establishment ofIndianized kingdomsinSoutheast Asia(Greater India).[9]The most significant event between the 7th and 11th century was theTripartite strugglebetween thePala Empire,Rashtrakuta Empire, andGurjara Pratihara Empirecentered onKannaujthat lasted for more than two centuries. Southern India saw the rule of theChalukya Empire,Chola Empire,Pallava Empire,Pandyan Empire, andWestern Chalukya Empire. Seventh century also saw the advent of Islam as a political power, though as a fringe, in the western part of theSouth Asiain modern day Pakistan.[10]TheChola dynastyconquered southern India and successfully invaded parts ofSoutheast AsiaandSri Lankain the 11th century.[11][12]The early medieval periodIndian mathematicsinfluenced the development of mathematics and astronomy in the Arab world and theHindu numeralswere introduced.[13]Muslim rule started in parts of the north India in the 13th century when theDelhi Sultanatewas founded in 1206 CE by the central Asian Turks.[14]The Delhi Sultanate ruled the major part of northern India in the early 14th century, but declined in the late 14th century, which saw the emergence of several powerful Hindu states like theVijayanagara Empire,Gajapati Kingdom,Ahom KingdomandMewar dynasty. In the 16th centuryMughalscame from Central Asia and covered most of India gradually. The Mughal Empire suffered a gradual decline in the early 18th century, which provided opportunities for theMaratha Empire,Sikh EmpireandMysore Kingdomto exercise control over large areas in the subcontinent.[15][16]Western colonialism started in the 16th century, with explorers and traders. Beginning in the late 18th century and over the next century, large areas of India were annexed by the British East India Company. Dissatisfaction with Company rule led to theIndian Rebellion of 1857, after which theBritish provincesof India were directly administered by theBritish Crownand witnessed a period of both rapid development of infrastructure and economic stagnation. During the first half of the 20th century, a nationwidestruggle for independencewas launched with the leading party involved being theIndian National Congresswhich was later joined by other organizations as well.The subcontinent gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947, after the British provinces werepartitionedinto the dominions of India and Pakistan and theprincely statesallaccededto one of the new states.

James Mill(17731836), in hisThe History of British India(1817), distinguished three phases in the history of India, namely Hindu, Muslim and British civilisations. This periodisation has been influential, but has also been criticised, for the misconceptions it has given rise to. Another influential periodisation is the division into "ancient, classical, medieval and modern periods", although this periodization has also received criticism.[17]Romila Thapar notes that the division of Hindu-Muslim-British periods of Indian history gives too much weight to "ruling dynasties and foreign invasions,"[18]neglecting the social-economic history which often showed a strong continuity.[18]The division in Ancient-Medieval-Modern overlooks the fact that the Muslim-conquests took place between the eight and the fourteenth century, while the south was never completely conquered.[18]According to Thapar, a periodisation could also be based on "significant social and economic changes," which are not strictly related to a change of ruling powers.[