The first recorded invader of India was the Indo-European king, Darius I, who conquered the Indus Valley around 517 BCE. The Achaemenid Empire, of which Darius was the king, extended from the Balkans and Asia Minor all the way to the Indus Valley. Darius' victory over the last Indo-Aryan king, Porus, marked the end of Aryan rule in India.
The Achaemenids were succeeded by the Mauryans, who ruled from 322 to 185 BCE. The Mauryan Empire was the largest empire in the history of India, and at its height controlled almost the entire subcontinent. The first Mauryan emperor, Chandragupta, conquered the Nanda Empire, which was based in what is now Bihar. He then went on to conquer the empire of the Greeks in India, which was based in the north-western part of the subcontinent.
The Mauryans were succeeded by the Gupta Empire, which ruled from 320 to 550 CE. The Gupta Empire was a Hindu dynasty, and under the rule of the Gupta kings, Hinduism flourished in India. The Gupta period is often referred to as the Golden Age of India, as it was a time of great prosperity and achievement.
The Gupta Empire was succeeded by the Vakataka Empire, which ruled from 250 to 500 CE. The Vakataka Empire was based in the Deccan Plateau, and was notable for its patronage of Buddhist scholars.
The Vakataka Empire was succeeded by the Chalukya Empire, which ruled from 550 to 750 CE. The Chalukya Empire was based in the Deccan Plateau, and was notable for its patronage of Hinduism.
The Chalukya Empire was succeeded by the Rashtrakuta Empire, which ruled from 750 to 973 CE. The Rashtrakuta Empire was based in the Deccan Plateau, and was notable for its patronage of Jainism.
The Rashtrakuta Empire was succeeded by the Chalukya Empire, which ruled from 973 to 1189 CE. The Chalukya Empire was based in the Deccan Plateau, and was notable for its patronage of Hinduism.
The Chalukya Empire was succeeded by the Yadava Empire, which ruled from 1189 to 1311 CE. The Yadava Empire was based in the Deccan Plateau, and was notable for its patronage of Hinduism.
The Yadava Empire was succeeded by the Delhi Sultanate, which ruled from 1206 to 1526 CE. The Delhi Sultanate was a Muslim dynasty, and under the rule of the Delhi Sultans, Islam flourished in India. The Delhi Sultanate was succeeded by the Mughal Empire, which ruled from 1526 to 1857 CE. The Mughal Empire was a Muslim dynasty, and under the rule of the Mughal emperors, Islam flourished in India.
The Mughal Empire was succeeded by the British Raj, which ruled from 1858 to 1947 CE. The British Raj was a period of British rule in India. under the rule of the British, India was a colony of the British Empire. The British Raj came to an end with the independence of India in 1947.
