The Aryan philosophy eventually evolved into the Hindu religion. The Aryan social system created the caste system in which people became members of a rigid social structure. The caste system preserved strong social divisions and slavery. The Hindu religion and priests helped to enforce the caste system. In 600 B.C., Magedha was the major Aryan state with religious reforms founding Buddism and Jainism.

In the late 7th century A.D., Muslims began to invade India. By the 11th century, the Muslims took control of India, but the Muslim and Hindu religions continued to clash.

In the early 1500s, the Mughal Empire emerged to control India. In the 1600s, the Mughals established trading with the Britain and the France. When the Mughal empire began to decline, in the 1700s, the British and French fought to gain power. In 1858, Britain gained control of India and ruled for about 100 years. During this time, there were constant demands for India's independence. In 1947, after World War II had ended, Britain could no longer afford India. India became an independent country.

India got its independence from Britain in 1947 after a long struggle led mostly by Mahatma Gandhi. In the process of becoming independent, India became, two countries instead of one. In the years since independence India has made huge progress and coped with great problems, and has developed its industry and its agriculture, and has maintained a system of government which makes it the largest democracy in the world.