Indian religions are the faiths that originated on the Indian subcontinent, principally Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. They share concepts such as dharma, karma, rebirth and liberation from the cycle of birth and death, although they interpret them differently. Their origins cannot be given a single date. Elements of Hindu tradition are linked to the Vedic religion and perhaps earlier practices in the Indus Valley, while Buddhism and Jainism arose around the 6th to 5th centuries BCE, and Sikhism much later, in the 15th century CE. The very early date shown here is a broad estimate, and scholars disagree about how far back the roots go.
Before and after
- from 56th century BCE to 20th century BCESumer
- from 55th century BCE to 27th century BCECucuteni–Trypillia culture
- from 55th century BCE to 45th century BCEVinča culture
- 6th millennium BCEDiscovery of silver
- 6th millennium BCEOrigins of Indian religions
- 6th millennium BCEDiscovery of iron
- c. 5,001 BCECopper is smelted in the Balkans
- c. 4,750 BCEEruption of Hudson, Cerro
- c. 4,360 BCEEruption of Macauley
More in Art, literature & culture
- about 51,300 years agoSulawesi cave art is made
- about 30,100 years agoThe Venus of Willendorf is carved
- 6th century BCEOrigins of Judaism
- 33 CEOrigins of Christianity
- 631 CEOrigins of Islam
- 1469Origins of Sikhism
The era
This moment belongs to the Human prehistory (300,000 years ago to 3,200 BCE), the human story before writing.