FOUNDATION OF INDIAN CIVILISATION 
   Not much is known  of the prehistoric man in India.Available evidence, however 
   suggests that at a fairly early period the use of iron,copper and other metals
   was widely used in this subcontinent which is indicative of the progress that
   this part of the world had made from the paleolithic age to the comparatively 
   developed form of culture.By the end of the fourth millennium BC,India had 
   emerged as a region of highly developed civilisation.
 
   INDUS VALLEY CIVILISATION 
   The Indus Valley Civilisation flourished for quite a long span of history.While the 
   Western historians are of the opinion that this civilisation occupied the period
   between 3000 BC and 1500 BC, some of the Indian experts of ancient history 
   believe that the beginning of this civilisation dates back to 3250 BC .The area,
   extent and duration of this civilisation are still matters of controversy.
   Originally it was thought that this civilisation was confined only to the Indus 
   Valley,but the recent discoveries have established beyond doubt that it 
   extended well into Rajasthan and to the south of it into Gujarat.
   
   Nothing was known of the Indus Valley civilisation till 1922-23 when the 
   Archaelogical Department of India carried out excavations in the Indus Valley
   wherein the ruins of the two cities,viz., Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa were 
   unearthed.Mohenjo-Daro,which in the local Sindhi language means the
   "The Mound of the Dead" is a place in Larkana district of Sind province in 
   Pakistan while Harappa is in Montgomery district of Punjab,also in Pakistan.The
   ruins of buildings and other things like household articles,implements,weapons of 
   war,gold and silver ornaments,seals,toys,pottery idols,etc.,show that some four 
   to five thousand years ago a highly developed civilisation flourished in
   this region.The Indus Valley civilisation was basically an urban civilisation and 
   the people lived in well planned and well built towns which were also the centres
   of trade.The ruins of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa show that these were 
   magnificent merchant cities well planned,scientifically laid and well developed
   drainage system.Residential houses were made of baked bricks and had two or 
   more storeys.

   The highly civilised Harappans knew the art of growing cereals,and wheat and
   barley constituted their staple food.They also consumed vegetables and fruits 
   and ate mutton,pork and eggs as well.Evidence also shows that they wore 
   cotton as well as woollen garments. Both men and women wore beautiful 
   ornaments made of gold,silver,ivory,copper and precious stones.They enjoyed
   singing,dancing and painting. 
 
   The Indus Valley people are believed to be the worshippers of Mother Goddess
   and Lord Shiva.Worship of trees,animals and stones also seems to have been 
   quite common among them.By 1500 BC Harappan culture came to an end.Among
   the various causes ascribed to the decay of Indus Valley civilisation are the
   invasion of the Aryans,the recurrent floods and other natural causes like the 
   earthquakes,etc. However,there is no unanimity among the historians on this
   question.
  

  
   
     
      |VEDIC|   |BUDDHIST-ERA|   |ALEXANDER|  |MAURYAS|  

      |SUNGAS|   |KANVAS|   |KUSHANAS|   |SATAVAHANAS|

      |GUPTAS|   |HARSHA|   |CHALUKYAS|   |CHOLAS|   |PALLAVAS|