Question

why historian divided into different periods
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Answer 1

Answer:

Because of its vastness.

Even if we ignore the prehistoric archeological evidences, yet the first civilisation shifts us back to 3300 BCE, that is Indus Valley civilisation.

So when the modern approach of writing history of India came forward, the first and foremost requirement was it's classification.

Being the colonial representative, James Mill divided Indian history into three parts, i.e.- “Hindu”, “Muslim” and “British” history of India. But that was not accepted, as it was confusing and biased.

So, like world history, Indian history also followed the easiest of the classification system, i.e.-

• Ancient India(3300 BCE- 200BCE),

• Medival India(200BCE -1526CE),

• and Modern(1526CE-Post Independence and up to to present).

Those periods are further classified into sub periods as per their significance like ruler, economy,urbanisation, language etc.

There is another part of history,that is learned in a whole different section called “Art and Culture”. This contains art forms, architectures, sculptures, paintings, monuments, walls, languages, dance and song forms, ethnicity, literature, food etc, from ancient to modern period altogether.

The political science also contains history of administration, different types of government or ruling procedures, economy etc.

The sociology also deals with historical civilisations, their social structures and functions etc.

They all can be called as “Loosely classified part of History”.

• They are not bound through period but concept.

• So if we analyse why Indian history is divided into different periods, the answer will be simple.

• “To make it simple for both writers and readers.”

Explanation:

◉LET'S EXPLORE MORE

✯Indian History Timeline Chart

The detailed phases of Indian history are mentioned below:

☆Ancient India

Period: Prehistoric to AD 700

• There were activities of Homo erectus in the Indian subcontinent 20 lakh years ago and of Homo sapiens since 70,000 BC.

The first inhabitants of Indian subcontinent might have been tribal-like:

• Nagas in North-East
• Santhals in East-India
• Bhils in Central India
• Gonds in Central India
• Todas in South India
• These people speak Austric, pre-Dravidian languages like Munda and Gondvi.
• Aryans and Dravidians are supposed to be immigrants who came later to the sub-continent.

✧Palaeolithic Period (2 million BC – 10,000 BC)

• Important Palaeolithic sites are Kaladgi Basin, Bhimbetka, Hunsgi, Kurnool Caves and Narmada Valley,

• Tools made up of limestone
• Fire was discovered

✧Mesolithic Period (10,000 BC – 8,000 BC)

• Microliths were found at Brahmagiri, Narmada and Gujarat

• Domestication of animals and Cattle rearing were started in this period

• Significant climatic change happened

✧Neolithic Period (8000 BC – 2000 BC)

• Wheel discovered and agriculture was started in this period

• Inamgaon is an early Neolithic village

• The major megalithic Sites are Brahmagiri and Adichanallur

✧Important Neolithic Sites:

• Hallur (Andhra Pradesh)
• Mahagara (Uttar Pradesh)
• Maski
• Paiyampalli (Andhra Pradesh)
• Sangana Kaller
• Utnur
• Burzahom (Kashmir)
• Chirand (Bihar)
• Daojali Hading (Tripura and Assam)
• Gufkral (Kashmir)
• Kodekal
• Koldihwa (Uttar Pradesh)
• Mehrgarh (Pakistan)
• Takkala Kota

✧Indus Valley Civilization (BC 2700 – BC 1900)

This was established around 3300 BC. It flourished between 2700 BC and 1900 BC (Mature Indus Valley Civilization). It started declining around 1900 BC and disappeared around 1400 BC.

✧Chalcolithic Period (4000 BC – 1,500 BC)

It is also known as the Copper Age and considered part of the Bronze Age.

Iron Age (BC 1500 – BC 200)

• Vedic Period and Arrival of Aryans
• Basic books of Hinduism, Vedas were composed in this period.
• Rise of Jainism and Buddhism
• Mahajanapadas
• Magadha empire– Bimbisara of Haryanka Kula
• Sishunaga dynasty – Kalasoka (Kakavarnin)
• Nanda empire – Mahapadma-Nanda, Dhana-Nanda
• Persians – Greek arrival: Alexander 327 BC
• Mauryan Empire (324-187 BC)

• 322–298 BCE- Chandragupta
• 298–272 BCE- Bindusara
• 268–232 BCE – Ashoka

✧Mauryan Kingdoms was succeeded by

• Sunga (181-71 BC)
• Kanva (71-27BC)
• Satavahanas (235-100BC)
• Indo-Greeks, Parthians (180BC-45AD)
• Sakas (90BC-150AD)
• Kushanas (78AD)
• Sangam Age (300 BC – 300 AD)
• Chola
• Cheras
• Pandyas
• Gupta Empire (300AD – 800AD)

• This was an ancient Indian empire
• Samudra Gupta of the Gupta Empire is known as Indian Napoleon

✧Post-Gupta or Contemporary Gupta

• The deterioration of Imperial Guptas, Magadha and its capital, Pataliputra

• After the fall of the Guptas, important centres of power arose:
• Vardhana Dynasty
• Mukharis
• Hunas
• Pushyabhutis
• Gaudas
• Varman
• Maitrakas
• Also, Rajputs, Senas and Chauhans succeeded later.

☆Medieval India (AD 700 – AD 1857)

• The Tripartite struggle was a skirmish for supremacy and control over the central Gangetic valley
• Tripartite struggle (AD 800-1200 )- Prathiharas, Palas and Rashtrakutas
• In AD 712, Attack of Muhammed Bin Kassim
• Growth of Sufism
• Succeeded by:
• Muhammad Ghazni (AD 1000-27)
• Muhammad Ghori (AD 1175-1206)
• The major South Indian kingdoms during Medieval India are Vijayanagara and Bhamini

☆Modern India (AD 1857-1991)