9th centuary BC

The earliest mention of the region is in the Hindu epic Mahabharat, it tells about the conquest of eastern India by Prince Bhima. Eastern India included the ancient kingdom of VARENDRA BHUMI, now known as BANGLADESH.

By the 5th and 6th centuries BC the Aryan culture had spread eastward from the Indus River to dominate most of northern India. During this time the Bengal region was comprised of small squabbling states.

8th -12th Centuary AD

Northern India broke into a number of separate kingdoms, the Bengal area established a separate political identity. Gopala, a tribal chief, emerged as an elected leader and became the founding figure of the Pala dynasty. Palas were buddhists.

The Hindu senas from south India eventually replaced the Palas by 805 AD. But less then a century later Palas, Senas, Buddhists and Hindus were swamped by the tide of ISLAM.

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