World History Timeline

Timeline

9 events

15th century BCE

  1. c. 15th century BCE – c. 12th century BCE★★★★★

    Composition of the Rigveda

    The hymns of the Rigveda, the oldest text of Hinduism, are composed in Vedic Sanskrit and transmitted orally for generations.

    ReligionCulture· India, Pakistan

5th century BCE

  1. c. 5th century BCE★★★★★

    Teaching of Gautama Buddha

    Siddhartha Gautama attains enlightenment at Bodh Gaya and teaches in the Ganges plain, founding Buddhism.

    Religion· India, Nepal

3rd century BCE

  1. c. 261 BCE★★★★★

    Kalinga War

    Emperor Ashoka conquers Kalinga; the war's devastation leads him to embrace Buddhism.

    WarReligion· India
  2. c. 260s BCE – c. 230s BCE★★★★★

    Edicts of Ashoka

    Emperor Ashoka has edicts inscribed on rocks and pillars across his empire, promoting Buddhist ethics and tolerance.

    ReligionPolitics· India, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan

5th century

  1. c. 420s★★★★★

    Founding of Nalanda Mahavihara

    Under the Guptas, the monastery of Nalanda in Bihar is founded and becomes Asia's foremost centre of Buddhist learning for centuries.

    ReligionCulture· India

7th century

  1. 629 – 645★★★★★

    Xuanzang's pilgrimage to India

    The monk Xuanzang travels to India and brings back hundreds of Buddhist texts, which he translates into Chinese.

    ReligionExploration· China, India

11th century

15th century

  1. 1469★★★★★

    Birth of Guru Nanak, founder of Sikhism

    Guru Nanak is born at Talwandi (now Nankana Sahib, Pakistan); his teachings become the foundation of Sikhism.

    BirthReligion· Pakistan, India

17th century

Timeline · World History Timeline