The history of human settlement in the west Indian state of Rajasthan dates back to about 5,000 years ago. Around 1400 BC, the Matsya tribe occupied the region. Parts of Rajsthan also belonged to the site of the Indus Valley Civilization. The early medieval period saw the rise of many Rajput kingdoms such as the Chauhans of Ajmer, Sisodias of Mewar, Gurjara-Pratihara and the Rathores of Marwar, as well as several Rajput clans such as the Gohil and the Shekhawats of Shekhawati. While Jat kingdoms include the Johiya of Jangaldesh, the Sinsinwars of Bharatpur State, as well as the Bamraulia clan and the Ranas of Dholpur.
The Gurjara-Pratihara Empire acted as a barrier for Arab invaders from the 8th to the 11th century, it was the power of the Pratihara army that effectively barred the progress of the Arabs beyond the confines of Sindh, their only conquest for nearly 300 years.
After Matsya rule fell, the area was known as Rajputana around the time when the Kachwaha clan migrated to the region. The Kachwahas continued to assist their Rajput allies in many battles including the First Battle of Tarain and later in the disastrous Second Battle of Tarain, both occurring in the 12th century. The last time the Kachwahas fought for the Rajputs was under the Mewar leader Rana Sanga of Chittor in the Battle of Khanwa in 1527.
Prithviraj Chauhan led a coalition who defeated the Ghurid army; the Gohils and Sisodia of Chittor, who continued to resist the Mughals against heavy odds eventually gave rise to the leadership of Maharana Pratap in the 16th century, both men became a symbol of Rajput valour.
The British made several treaties with rulers of Rajasthan and also made allies out of local rulers, who were allowed to rule their princely states. This period was marked by famines and economic exploitation. After Indian Independence in 1947, the various princely states of Rajasthan were integrated.
Periods of Rajasthan's history
Pre-historic Period (Stone Age) Early Stone Age (c. 10,00,000 – 1,00,000 BCE) Middle Stone Age (c. 1,00,000 – 40,000 BCE) Later Stone Age (c. 40,000 – 5000 BCE)
Proto-historic Period
Copper Age (c. 5000 – 3500 BCE) Bronze Age (c. 3500 – 1500 BCE)
Iron-Age
Vedic Period (c. 1500 – 600 BCE)
Ancient-Period
Ancient Kingdoms of Rajasthan lasted from c. 700 BCE to 300 CE
In this period Rajasthan was ruled by Kingdoms like Sivi, Salwa, Malava and others. These kingdoms also ruled under Maurya Empire & Kushan Empire (c. 300 BCE – 300 CE)
Classical period
Classical period of Rajasthan lasted from c. 300 to 650 CE
Many Kingdoms of Rajasthan ruled independently under Gupta Empire & Pushyabhuti dynasty from (c. 300 – 650 CE)
Rajput period
Many Rajput and other Kingdoms (not only Rajput many others also) ruled in Rajasthan from (c. 650 – 1200 CE)
Medieval period
Struggles with Muslim Kingdoms from (c. 1200 – 1526)
Mughal influences
Influences from the Mughal Empire (c. 1526 – 1720)
Maratha influences
Influences from the Maratha Empire (c. 1720–1817)
British influences
Influences from the British Empire (c. 1817 – 1948)
Post-independence period
Unification of Rajasthan (c. 1948 – 1956)
Ancient civilizations of Rajasthan
Indus Valley civilisation sites
Sindhu–Saraswati civilization, or the Indus Valley civilisation, was a Bronze Age civilisation in the northwestern regions of India, lasting from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE, and in its mature form from 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE.
Baror (Sri Ganganagar) and Karanpura (Hanumangarh) are major Indus-Valley Civilization sites of Rajasthan.
Kalibangān (Hanumangarh)
Kalibangān is a town located in Tehsil Pilibangān in Hanumangarh district. It is also identified as being established in the triangle of land at the confluence of Drishadvati and Sarasvati River. The prehistoric and Pre-Mauryan character of Indus Valley civilization was first identified by Luigi Tessitori at this site. Kalibangan's excavation report was published in its entirety in 2003 by the Archaeological Survey of India, 34 years after the completion of excavations.
The report concluded that Kalibangan was a major provincial capital of the Indus Valley Civilization. Kalibangan is distinguished by its unique "fire altars" and world's earliest attested "ploughed field".It is around 2900 BCE that the region of Kalibangan developed into what can be considered a planned city.