The deep roots of the colorful and vibrant History of India go back to around 2500 B.C and during this long period this holy land of Ganges was witness to the emergence and fall of several mighty empires, meteoric rise of chivalrous rulers and romantic folklores of royal princess, advent of foreigners from different parts of the world and their assimilation in the cultural matrix of India. The ascetic tradition of saints and rishis, the classic works of Kalidasa, the graceful art masterpieces of Ajanta and Ellora all have become a part of the rich cultural heritage of India.
It was in India that one of the earliest and largest civilization, Indus Valley Civilization, flourished. The highly urbanized city life of this civilization constitutes a remarkable achievement of this period. It was during the ancient period that Buddha and Mahavira laid the foundation of new religious schools of Buddhism and Jainism unleashing a period of religious ferment. The establishment of the mighty Mauryan Empire and the peace loving activities of the famous Mauryan ruler Ashoka redefined the rules of Kingship during this period. Indian culture and administration reached its high watermark under the Guptas and the period is known as the Golden period in Indian History. Many foreign travelers visited India during the ancient period and graphically depicted the myriad aspects of India in their literary works.
The medieval period of Indian History is reminiscent of rich exuberance of Indo-Islamic culture. The establishment of Delhi Sultanate and later of the Mughal Empire added several new features in the fields of political philosophy, lifestyle and art and architecture. The magical aura surrounding medieval Indian personalities like Akbar, Shahjahan, Noorjahan, Aurangzeb is discernible even today in their magnificent structures like Buland Darwaja, Red Fort, Taj Mahal and many more beautifully constructed buildings of the period.
The downfall of the mighty Mughal Empire paved the way for the establishment of the British rule in India. The East India Company established several trading posts in various parts of India and later assumed political and military powers in India. After the Revolt of 1857 the territories of India passed into the hands of the British Crown. The Britishers not only introduced important changes in the administrative and military sphere but also in the realms of art and architecture. The masterpieces constructed during the British period like the Rashtrapati Bhawan, India Gate and many such buildings have today become an important constituent of Indian culture. India became an independent country on 15th August 1947.
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