India is one of the cradles of civilization with a history dating back more than 9,000 years. It is the birthplace of at least two of the world's major religions and the growth and friction between these factions has been responsible for much unrest over the years. It also is a land rich in resources and culture, something that has made it a target of colonialism.

During the earliest parts of its history, India was really not a single country but a collection of kingdoms. Sultans and pashas divided up the country largely on geographical and religious divisions. Rich agricultural areas cover much of the country and its mineral wealth once accounted for the majority of the world's supply of diamonds.

Ancient Times

Some of the earliest inhabitants of India lived in Bhimbetka some 9,000 years ago. The region is at the foot of the Vindhyachal hills where a number of cave and rock paintings were found in the 19th century. The rock shelters of Bhimbetka are south of the city of Bhopal in north central India and the area is listed as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) cultural site, one of several in India.

India also is known for its Bronze Age settlements in the Indus Valley dating back to 3,000 BCE. These archeological ruins in western India near Pakistan are thought to have been home to as many as five million inhabitants. Scientists have found that the civilization included advanced urban planning and was comparable to the civilization that developed in Egypt.

Modern Rulers

In more recent times, those being during the past 3,000 years, there have been many dynasties and rulers which have controlled India. One of the most significant of these early reigns was the kingdom of Magadha. Knowledge of these rulers mostly comes from Buddhist writings and they were in power for several hundreds of years before the Common Era. Even Alexander the Great's armies failed to conquer them. They were just one of many dynasties that held sway over portions of the country.

Later came the Arab and Turkic invaders in the 10th and 11th centuries. These Islamic sultanates were in power at various times for approximately 1,000 years. Later, the Mughal (or Monguls) were in charge. Most famous was the period of British rule that ended with the rise of Mohandas K. Gandhi who led the peaceful independence of India in 1947.