? 
(Note: BCE = Before Common Era; all
dates prior to 700 BCE are approximations)
3200-1600
BCE: India - The INDUS VALLEY
civilization grows up along the banks of the Indus River in what is now
Pakistan. The two most important sites uncovered so far by
archaeologists are Harappa and Mohenjo-Dara;
both cities show considerable development including multi-level houses
and city-wide plumbing. The Indus Valley civilization appears to have
collapsed because natural disaster altered the course of the Indus
River.
2300-2000
BCE: India - Cultural exchange between the INDUS
VALLEY civilization and MESOPOTAMIA
(present day Iraq) is especially prominent.
1600-1500
BCE: India - The Aryans invade the INDUS VALLEY
region.
Brahmanic Ages (1500 BC - 1000 AD) These comprised the
- Vedic Dark Ages 1500 BC - 500 BC
- Puranic Ages 500 BC - 100 AD
1600-1000
BCE: India - Between these dates, the Early Vedic period of Indian civilization unfolds.
1550 BCE: India - Writing disappears from India for a time with the destruction of the INDUS
VALLEY civilization.
1000-600 BCE:
India -
During this period of Indian civilization, the Late Vedic period, the
Aryans are integrated into Indian culture. The caste system emerges.
1000 BCE: India - The Rig Veda, the first Vedic literature, is written.
800-600
BCE: India - The Brahmans, a priestly caste, begin to emerge.
800-500
BCE: India -
The Upanishads are written around this time; the doctrines of rebirth
and the transmigration of souls start to appear, leading to important
theological transformations within Hinduism.
563 BCE: India - Gautama
Siddharta Buddha, the founder of Buddhism, is born somewhere in what is today Nepal during Kirata rule. He will die sometime around 483.
540 BCE: India - Mahavira, the founder of Jainism, is born. He will die around 486.
537 BCE: India - Cyrus the Persian campaigns west of the Indus River.
517-509
BCE: India - Darius the Persian conquers the INDUS VALLEY region, making the area a province of the Persian Empire.
500-200
BCE: India - The Mahabharata, of which The Bhagavad Gita is a part, is put into final form.
400 BCE: India - Panini's Sutra, the earliest Sanskrit grammer, is written.
327-326
BCE: India - Alexander the Great passes through the INDUS VALLEY installing Greek officials in the area.
323 BCE: India -
Alexander the Great dies, providing the opportunity for an independent
state in India. Chandragupta Maurya founds the Maurya dynasty, the
first Indian empire. Its capital is in Patna. By 184, this dynasty will conquer most of India.
304 BCE: India - Chandragupta trades 500 war elephants to Seleucus in exchange for the Indus region and regions immediately to the West.
273-232
BCE: India -
Ashoka, grandson of Chandragupta Maurya and most impressive ruler in
the Maurya dynasty, rules in India and institutes a series of edicts
designed to bring about moral reform. His policy on reform flows from
his Buddhist orientation.
251-246
BCE: India - The Aryan Hindus occupy Celyon.
250 BCE: India - A general council of Buddhist monks is held in Patna, where the canon of Buddhist scriptures is selected.
184 BCE: India - The Maurya dynasty ends when the last ruler is assassinated by an ambitious army
commander.
thanks,
jpg