The history of Mumbai can be traced back to 600 BC, with evidence of the first known settlement of the Harrappan civilization discovered in the region.
up to 18th century
600 BC – First known permanent settlement were the Marathi speaking Koli & Agri community. 300 BC – Part of Maurya Empire. 900 to 1300 – part of Hindu Silhara dynasty. 1343 – Part of the Gujarat Sultanate 1431 – Haji Ali Dargah built. 1508 – Francisco de Almeida sailed into the deep natural harbour. 1534 – City ceded to the Portuguese. 1661 – Portuguese Princess Catherine of Braganza brings Bom Bahia to King Charles II of England as part of her marriage dowry. 1668/1669 – British East India Company leased the seven islands of Mumbai from Charles II 1670 – First printing press imported to Mumbai by Parsi businessman Bhimjee Parikh 1672 – Consecration of the first Tower of Silence and first Fire temple (Hirji Vachha Agiary, now defunct) 1675 – Population estimated to have risen to 60,000 from 100,000 in 1661. 1675 – The Mumba Devi Temple built near the main landing site on the former Bori Bunder creek or inlet, against the north wall of the English Fort Saint George. 1709 – First attested private Parsi Adaran (in the home of Banaji Limji). Continues to be the oldest continuously-burning Zoroastrian fire in Mumbai (now in the Banaji Limji Agiary, Fort). 1735 – Start of shipbuilding industry (Wadia docks, Duncan docks) 1750 – Asia's first dry dock built by Lovji Wadia in Mumbai. 1777 – First newspaper published in Mumbai by Rustom Kersaspjere.
19th century
1801 – Siddhivinayak temple built at Prabhadevi. 1803 – Fire. 19 June 1810 – HMS Minden floated, first Royal Navy ship built outside the British Isles and from the deck of which the Star Spangled Banner would be composed 1822 – First vernacular language newspaper in Mumbai, Mumbai Samachar published by Fardunjee Marzban. India's oldest newspaper still being published. 1838 – First edition of MumbaiTimes and Journal of Commerce launched 1845 – Grant Medical College founded. 1846 – Mahim Causeway between Salsette and Mahim completed. 16 April 1853 – First railway line in India between Mumbai and Thane. 1854 – First cotton mill started. 1857 – University of Mumbai established. 1858 – The Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China opens its Bombay branch. 1864 – The Mumbai, Baroda, and Central India Railway (later merged with other railways to form Western Railway) is extended to Mumbai. 1870 – Mumbai Port Trust formed. 1874 – St. Peters School was set up by S.S.J.E. at Dockyard 1885 – Indian National Congress formed at Gowalia Tank Maidan. 1887 – Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) established. First and only institute offering degree in engineering until 1960. 1888 – Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation founded. 1890 – Robert Harris, 4th Baron Harris arrives to take over as Governor of the Presidency of Mumbai. 1893 – Sectarian rioting between Hindus and Muslims. 1896 – Famine followed by break out of bubonic plague. Waldemar Haffkine begins plague research at Grant Medical College. 1897 – Haffkine announces plague vaccine, tests it on himself and on volunteers from Byculla Jail. 1897 – First ever gasoline motor-car in the Indian subcontinent brought to Mumbai by Mr Forster of Crompton Greaves. 1899 – Bombay plague epidemic