Timeline of Indian Art and Culture
Timeline of Indian Art and Culture
Indus Valley Civilization
3300-1300 BCE
Urban planning, drainage systems, Great Bath of Mohenjo Daro, granaries.
Mauryan Architecture
322-185 BCE
Pillars (Ashokan Pillars), stupas (Sanchi Stupa), rock-cut caves (Barabar Caves).
Dravidian Style
6th century onwards
Temples with gopurams, Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur.
Nagara Style
6th century onwards
Curvilinear shikhara, Khajuraho Temples.
Indo-Islamic Architecture
12th-18th century
Fusion of Islamic and Indian styles, Qutub Minar, Red Fort, Taj Mahal.
Colonial Architecture
18th-20th century
Blend of European and Indian styles, Victoria Memorial, Gateway of India.
Post Independence
Post-1947
Modern buildings and urban planning, Chandigarh by Le Corbusier.
Ancient Literature
1500-500 BCE
Vedic literature: Rigveda, Samaveda, Yajurveda, Atharvaveda, Upanishads.
Epics
200 BCE-200 CE
Mahabharata by Vyasa, Ramayana by Valmiki.
Sanskrit Literature
4th-5th century CE
Works of Kalidasa (Shakuntala, Meghaduta), Panini (Ashtadhyayi).
Medieval Literature
12th-17th century
Bhakti and Sufi movements, works of Amir Khusrau, Baburnama, Akbarnama.
Modern Literature
19th-20th century
Indian Renaissance: Tagore (Gitanjali), Premchand (Godan), Narayan (Malgudi Days).
Post Independence Literature
Post-1947
Roy (The God of Small Things), Rushdie (Midnight's Children).
Hindustani Music
Medieval Period
North Indian classical music, instruments like sitar, tabla, artists like Ravi Shankar.
Carnatic Music
Medieval Period
South Indian classical music, instruments like veena, mridangam, artists like MS Subbulakshmi.
Folk Music
Since ancient times
Regional variations: Bihu, Lavani, Baul, Bhangra.
Modern Music
20th century onwards
Film music, Bollywood songs, playback singing, Indian pop, fusion (A.R. Rahman).
Classical Dance
Since ancient times
Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam.
Folk Dance
Since ancient times
Bhangra, Garba, Ghoomar, Yakshagana.
Religious Festivals
Since ancient times
Diwali, Holi, Eid, Christmas.
Harvest Festivals
Since ancient times
Pongal, Baisakhi, Makar Sankranti.
National Festivals
Post-1947
Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti.
Ancient Painting
Prehistoric
Cave paintings: Bhimbetka Rock Shelters, Ajanta and Ellora Caves.
Medieval Painting
4th-18th century
Miniature paintings: Mughal, Rajput, Pahari, Deccan schools.
Modern Painting
19th-20th century
Raja Ravi Varma, Amrita Sher-Gil.
Sculpture
Since ancient times
Mauryan period: Ashokan Pillars, Lion Capital. Gupta period: Buddha statues. Chola period: Nataraja.
Traditional Theatre
Ancient period
Sanskrit theatre, folk theatre: Nautanki, Jatra, Yakshagana.
Modern Theatre
20th century
IPTA