India history dates back to 2500 BC when it is first recorded that inhabitants of the country developed an urban structure and began a successful agricultural trade. The history of India is long and varied, including the migration of tribes and the region's being under the power of various dynasties. A rich period in the ancient history of India was during the fourth and fifth centuries AD, known as India’s Golden Age. During this time Hindu culture flourished and spread throughout Northern India. Historic sites such as Khajuraho and the Ellora Caves testify to the importance of Hinduism in the development of India.

The history of India experienced a significant change in the tenth and eleventh centuries, as Islam began a spread throughout the country that continued for the next 500 years. The Turks and the Afghans invaded the country during this period as well, and some of the most interesting facts about India come from this time, as over the course of hundreds of years, the two dominating cultures of Hindu and Muslim influenced one another and even blended in parts of the country. Even today cultural influences from one can be seen in the other.

More significant India facts date from the seventeenth century and the arrival of the British. Later in the century, the East India Trading Company was formed to begin to spread the commodity of spices to other parts of the world. This was part of the beginning of globalization, as goods were no longer limited to their countries of origin and were spread into various cultures. India history was deeply shaped by colonialism, as the British expanded their influence throughout the region to include most of present-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. By 1850 discontent was rising throughout the region.

India Map

In 1857, a rebellion in the North of India emphasized to Britain the fact that the situation of colonialism would not last forever. The history of India was ultimately to be determined by its own people, who fought against regional rulers who were still under the influence of the British crown. More significant India facts date from the late 1800s, when legislative councils began to include native Indians. The history of India took a sharp turn in 1920, when the Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi transformed a political party into a movement with mass support against British rule.

1947 is a extremely significant point in India history, as the country became a dominion with the British commonwealth and had its own prime minister. Muslim Pakistan broke away from British India during this time. In 1950, India became a republic within the commonwealth, and since gaining independence, the country has been governed by a succession of prime ministers. Recent years have seen various struggles for power within India and, sadly, even some political violence.

Travelers on a vacation to the region will likely find it helpful to know some India facts before they start their trip, in order to make the most of their time in the country. Historical attractions such as the Taj Mahal, the Ajanta Caves, and the Gateway of India, often have more significance to those who know some of the story behind them.