8/3/2019 Timeline in Ancient Indian History

1/3

Timeline in Ancient Indian History

Timeline in Ancient Indian History - 400B.C. to 450A.D.

Year Event

c.400 BC Gautama 'Buddha' founds Buddhism

333 BC

Persian rule in the northwest ends after Darius III is defeatedby Alexander the Great. Alexander had established

the Macedonian Empire after inheriting the Persian Achaemenid

Empire.

326 BCAmbhi, king of Taxila surrenders to Alexander. Porus who ruled

parts of the Punjab, fought Alexander at the Battle of the

Hydaspes River.

321 BC

Mauryan Empire is founded by Chandragupta

Maurya in Magadha after he defeats the Nandadynasty and Macedonian Seleucid Empire. Mauryan capital city

is Patliputra (Modern Patna in Bihar)

305 BCChandragupta Maurya defeats Seleucus Nicator of the Seleucid

Empire.

304 BC

Seleucus gives up his territories in the subcontinent

(Afghanistan/Baluchistan) to Chandragupta in exchange for 500

elephants. Seleucus offers to marry his daughter to Chandraguptato seal their friendship.

273 BCAshoka the Great, grandson of Chandragupta Maurya, ascends as

emperor of the Mauryan Empire.

266 BCAshoka conquers and unifies most of South Asia, along

with Afghanistan and eastern Iran.

8/3/2019 Timeline in Ancient Indian History

2/3

265 BC

Kalinga War takes place. After conquering Kalinga, Ashoka

regrets the killings in the war, leading him to adopt Buddhism,

which then became the quasi-official state religion of the MauryanEmpire.

260s

Ashoka begins displaying religious tolerance, grants animal

rights, builds hospitals for people and animals, treats his subjectsas equals regardless of caste or creed, and promotes non-violence and republicanism. Ashoka inscribes the Edicts ofAshoka, written down using Brahmi script.

232 BC Ashoka dies and is succeeded by Kunala.

230 BCSimuka declares independence from Mauryan rule and establishesthe Satavahana Empire.

200 BC Kuninda Kingdom established.

200-100 BC

Tholkappiyam describes the grammar and morphology of Tamil;

it is the oldest existing Tamil grammar (dates vary between 200BCE and 100 CE).

184 BC

The Mauryan Empire, which shrunk considerably, collapsed after

its emperor Brihadrata was assassinated by his

general Pusyamitra Sunga who then established the Sungadynasty.

180 BC Establishment of the Indo-Greek kingdom.

80 BC Establishment of the Indo-Scythian kingdom.

65 BCThe Pandyan king sends ambassadors to the Greek and Romanlands.

8/3/2019 Timeline in Ancient Indian History

3/3

57 BC Beginning of Vikram Era

10 AD Establishment of the Indo-Parthian kingdom.

68 AD Establishment of the Kushan empire by Kujula Kadphises.

78 AD

Gautamiputra Satkarni becomes Satavahana emperor and

starts Shalivahana era calendar after

defeating Scythian king Vikramaditya.

35 AD Western Satraps formed.

240 ADSri-Gupta starts the Gupta Empire in Magadha, with its capital

in Patliputra

320 AD Chandragupta I ascends to the Gupta throne.

335 ADSamudragupta ascends the Gupta throne and expands the

empire.

380 ADChandragupta II, Samudragupta's son becomes the

Gupta Emperor.

450 AD Invasions by the Huna.