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Uttar Pradesh forms a major area of the Northern fertile plain or the
Indo-Gangetic plain. This area is said to have been occupied by the group of
people referred to as "Dasas" by the Aryans. Their main occupation of
these inhabitants was agriculture. Till BC 2000 the Aryans had not settled
in this region. It was through conquest that the Aryans occupied this area and
laid the foundations of a Hindu civilization. The regions of Uttar Pradesh was said to have
been the ancient Panchala country. The great war of the Mahabharata
between the Kauravas and Pandavas was said to have been fought here. Besides the
Kurus and Panchalas the Vatsas, the Kosis, Hosalas, Videhas etc formed the early
region of Uttar Pradesh. These areas were called Madhyadesa. It was during the
Aryan inhabitation that the epics of Mahabharata, Ramayana, the Brahamanas
and
Puranas were written. During the reign of Ashoka, works for public welfare was
taken up. Having rich resources there was active trade within and outside the
country. The rule of the Magadha empire brought Buddhism and Jainism into this
region. This period witnessed administrative and economic advancement.
The Kushanas exercised their power over this region till 320AD. The territory
passed into the hands of the Guptas during whose rule, the Huns invaded this
region. After the decline of the Guptas, the Maukharis of Kannauj gained power.
During the rule of Harshavardhana, Kannauj was an important city. After his rule
political chaso set it. It was amidst this confusion that the Muslims invaded
into Utter Pradesh though the society was dominated by the Rajputs, jats and other local
chiefs. In 1016AD Mahmud of Ghazni laid his eyes on the wealth of Kannauj. He
was followed by Mohammad Ghori. Throughout the rule of the Delhi Sultanate and
the Mughals, the territory progressed. After the Mughals the Jats, the Rohillas,
and the Marathas established their rule. By 1803 the British controlled this
region and annexed it by 1856. It was in the Uttar Pradesh (The period between 1857-58)
that the first struggle for liberation from the British yoke was unleashed. The
revolt was suppressed and from then till independence it remained under British
dominance. In 1950 the state was organised and named as Uttar Pradesh.
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