Definition
Ancient India refers to the early civilizations and cultures of the Indian subcontinent, the broad region of present-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Its history begins with the Indus Valley civilization, one of the world's first, and continues through the rise of major religions and the first great Indian kingdoms.
The subcontinent's history was shaped by its rivers — the Indus and the Ganges — and by the seasonal monsoon rains that watered its farms. Over time it became one of the most populous and culturally rich regions of the ancient world.
Why it matters
How it works
The story of ancient India unfolds in layers. First came the Harappan, or Indus Valley, civilization with its remarkable cities. After its decline, new cultures rose along the Ganges, and the Vedic traditions that would grow into Hinduism took shape, along with the social order of caste.
Out of this period came new religions and, in time, large kingdoms and empires that united much of the subcontinent. Ancient India traded with Mesopotamia and the wider world, exporting not only goods but ideas, beliefs, and mathematics.