One of the characteristics of Hinduism is its indifference to history. Very little information is ever given about the time or the name of the author of these works. They cared more for the soundness of the doctrine or the truth of experience than for the circumstances that gave birth to it. There are occasional mention of the names of the authors in some prayers and some circumstances and astrological positions that helps to determine the historical events at the time of occurrence. This is an imperfect fragment of the reality and the so-called facts of ancient Hindu history are extremely uncertain. Most of the research on Hindu history was done by Western scholars or by Indians with Western education. Often, their works are incomplete and inaccurate. Any division of the period into ages is obviously artificial and overlapping. However, we make some convenient landmarks and divide them into some manageable periods of 'Ages.'

The first period extends from the earliest period of available records to the time of birth of Buddha, roughly from 2,500 B.C., or much earlier to 560 B.C.; [The Vedic Period]. The second period is till the fall of the Mauriyan empire, from 560 B.C. to 200 B.C. [The Age of Vedanga and Kalpa Sutra]. The third period is till the rise of the Guptas empire, from 200 B.C. to 300 A.D. [The Age of the Epics]. The fourth is till the death of King Harsha, from 300 A.D. to 650 A.D. [The Age of Puranas, Agamas and Dharshanas]. The fifth is till the invasion by the army of Mohammed Ghazni, from 650 A.D. to 1000 A.D. [The Age of Later Puranas, Agamas and Dharshanas]. This constitutes the ancient period of history of India and Hinduism. The medieval period is from the 11th century to the middle of the18th century [The Age of Bhakthi Movements and Bhakthi Schools]. This was the period when there were several invasions of the Indian Subcontinent by the armies of several Muslim rulers of Turkey and Persia. These later lead to the establishment of Mughal empire in Delhi and all over Northern India. Many Hindu temples were destroyed in these areas. During this period, several Bhakthi movements were started and organized by the Hindus to escape the restrictions imposed by the Muslim rulers. Then comes the Modern age of Nationalism and reform from the middle of the 18th century till Indian Indipendence till today.