The Historical Journey
How a subcontinent became a free nation
Move through six chapters — each one a turning point in the long road to 15 August 1947.
Chapter 1 · Pre-1757
India Before British Rule
A subcontinent of kingdoms, guilds, seaports and scholarship.
Before colonial rule, India was a mosaic of Mughal provinces, Maratha confederacies, Rajput states, Sikh misls and southern kingdoms. It accounted for a large share of world manufacturing, exporting cotton, muslin, silk, spices, indigo and steel from ports such as Surat, Masulipatnam and Hooghly.
Key moment
Thriving textile and shipbuilding economies
Key moment
Universities, observatories and vast literary traditions
Key moment
European trading companies arrive from 1498 onwards