Introduction to India

  From around 550 BCE, many independent kingdoms and republics were established across the country. In the third century BCE, most of South Asia was united into the Maurya Empire by Chandragupta Maurya and flourished under Ashoka the Great. India slowly porgressed and from the 16th century, European powers such as Portugal, the Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom established trading posts and later took advantage of internal conflicts to establish colonies in the country. By 1856, most of India was under the control of the British East India company. In the 20th century, Mahatma Gandhi led millions of people in national campaigns of non-violent civil disobedience. On 15 August 1947, India finally gained independence form British rule.