History
India: Five Thousand Years, One Country
A friendly walk through five thousand years of Indian history — from the planned cities of the Indus Valley and Ashoka's turn from war to peace, to the mathematicians who gave the world zero, the Mughal emperors, the freedom struggle and the world's largest democracy today.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Indian civilization?
The Indus Valley civilization flourished around 2600–1900 BCE, making it one of the world's oldest urban cultures, alongside Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Did India really invent zero?
Yes — Indian mathematicians, notably Brahmagupta in the 7th century CE, were the first to treat zero as a number with its own rules, a breakthrough that spread worldwide through Arab scholars.
Who was Ashoka?
Ashoka the Great ruled most of the Indian subcontinent in the 3rd century BCE. After the bloody Kalinga war he renounced conquest, embraced Buddhism and spread messages of tolerance across his empire.
When did India become independent?
India gained independence from Britain on August 15, 1947, after a decades-long freedom movement led by figures including Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru.