The history of the Indian subcontinent begins with evidence of human activity

of Anatomically modern humans, as long as 75,000 years ago, or with earlier hominids
including Homo erectus from about 500,000 years ago.[1]
The Indus Valley Civilization, which spread and flourished in the northwestern part of
the Indian subcontinent from c. 3300 to 1300 BCE in present-day Pakistan and northwest
India, was the first major civilization in South Asia.[2] A sophisticated and technologically
advanced urban culture developed in theMature Harappan period, from 2600 to 1900 BCE.
[3]

This civilization collapsed at the start of the second millennium BCE and was later followed

by the Iron Age Vedic Civilization, which extended over much of the Indo-Gangetic plainand
which witness the rise of major polities known as the Mahajanapadas. In one of these
kingdoms, Magadha, Mahavira and Gautama Buddha propagated
their Shramanic philosophies during the fifth and sixth century BCE.
Most of the subcontinent was conquered by the Maurya Empire during the 4th and 3rd
centuries BCE. From the 3rd century BC onwards Prakrit and Paliliterature in the north and
the Sangam literature in southern India started to flourish. [4][5] Further, various parts of India
were ruled by numerous Middle kingdoms for the next 1,500 years, among which the Gupta
Empire stand out. This period, witnessing a Hindu religious and intellectual resurgence, is
known as the classical or "Golden Age of India". During this period, aspects of Indian
civilization, administration, culture, and religion (Hinduism and Buddhism) spread to much
of Asia, while kingdoms in southern India had maritime business links with the Roman
Empire from around 77 CE. During this period Indian cultural influence spread over many
parts of Southeast Asia which led to the establishment of Indianized kingdoms in Southeast
Asia.[6]