The history of Hindus, and almost equivalently that of India, has its beginnings in the distant past. Just like there are upheavals and periods of distress in the life of a human, the historical traditions and philosophical concepts underlying the history of India have witnessed similar ups and downs. The understanding of the present day Hindu psyche, its conditioning and the actions springing from it requires the study of the Hindu history and the innumerable events and incidents associated with it.

There has been some controversy concerning the estimated antiquity and the chronological datelines of historical events and personalities. Research continuing presently brings forth many inconsistencies and fallacies on the part of early Indologists. New and modern evidence is supportive of the existence of a much older civilization in the present day Persia-India region (the Saraswati-Sindhu valley). However, much research is still required to give definitive answers and say wherher the old notions about the antiquity and continuity of Indian history are accurate or not.

Many Hindus feel that there needs to be a broader angle of viewing the history of Hinduism through the eyes of Hindus and lesser through the eyes of invaders and imperialists - a problem common to many countries and regions of the world. This has meant that history as viewed and apparently observed by Christians, Muslims, Secularists, Buddhihsts, and Sikhs is treated with suspicion and instead is interpreted in a way that is consistent with Hindu psyche.

In general, the chronology of the history of Hindus can be divided into four parts.

Ancient History
The history before the Kali Age, which commenced around 3000 BCE, namely, the Vedic period.

The Ramayanic Age
Including the time during which the great Mahabharat War occurred.

Medieval History
Starts with the end of the Mahabharat War, and the reign of Emperor Parikshit. This period also witnessed the Indus Valley or the so-called Saraswati-Sindhu Civilization. This period also includes the age of Mahavira, Buddha and Adi Shakaracharya. The Maurya and Gupta dynasties also flourished during this period. This era ended approximately in 700 CE, with the invasion of Islamic warriors on the frontier of Gaandhar (Afghanistan).

Modern History
From about 1500 years to a few hundred years ago. The records of plundering and looting of Hindu riches, the killing and execution of hundreds and thousands of Hindu people - a period of war, battles and distress. The resurrection of many a Hindu king and commoner against the cruelties and maladministration of the established Moghul Kings took place in this Era. An important development in this period was the founding and propagation of the new reformist faith of Sikhs.

The coming of the British as traders and, later, overpowering the existing Mogul empire, Sikh Kingdom, and Hindu Rajas. Their rise to the establishment of political and governing power over the whole country. The fight for political freedom, the history of innumerable people who laid their lives for the sake of their own countries; the bloody partition of the subcontinent into Hindu dominated India and an Islamic Pakistan and India belong to today's age - an age of revival of Hindu psyche and Hindu fundamentals.