Timeline of Chapters 2 and 3
Cultural/political events Religious events
6000 “Turkmenistan Circle” of
cultures
3500? Emergence of Neolithic c. 3500 Agricultural motifs in
culture in India religious expression and
some proto-Vedic
developments?
2500–1750 Indus Valley civilization
1850–1700 “Indo-European”
settlements in NW India?
c. 1500 Elaborate ritual system
taking shape
c. 1200 Oral composition of R.g Veda?
1100–900 Shifting of “A ̄ryanized”
culture into area between
Jumna and Ganges? 1000–800 Oral composition of Sa ̄ma,
Atharva, and Yajur Vedas;
theBra ̄ hman.as
800–700 “A ̄ryan” culture found in
NE India: use of forest for
seeking and meditation Composition of the A ̄ran.yakas
c. 800–600 Emergence of urban
settlements and
kingdoms in Gangetic 7th–5th Early stages of Maha ̄bha ̄ rata
valley “ethos”?
7th–6th Upanis.adic cells of teachers
and seekers; oral compositions
ofCha ̄ ndogyaand
Br.hada ̄ ranyaka Upanis.ads;
development of doctrine of
transmigration
563–483? Gautama Buddha
c. 550–460 Maha ̄ vı ̄ra and systematization
of Jainism
c. 480 First Buddhist council at
Ra ̄ jagr.ha
c. 5th–4th Early composition of Buddhist
Tripit.aka
Note: All dates are BCEunless otherwise stated.