- India has a long and complex history, having been invaded by many groups like the Persians, Greeks, Huns, Arabs, and British, but local kingdoms have survived. - The Indus Valley Civilization was one of the world's earliest, dating back to 3000 BC, and included advanced cities with drainage systems. - The Aryans invaded around 1500 BC and introduced cultural traditions like Sanskrit and Hinduism that still influence India today. Major empires like the Maurya and Gupta expanded across northern India in later centuries.