Delhi,the capital of India,has a long history and in the past the city was an important political center of India as the capital of various empires.Much of Delhi's ancient history remains undiscovered and can be considered a lost period of history.Delhi's extensive history begins with the rise of the Delhi Sultanate in the 12th century.Since then Delhi has been the center of a succession of powerful empires and powerful states.Delhi has been the capital city for the longest time and is one of the oldest cities in the world.[References to the history of Delhi in ancient literature are based on myths and legends.According to the Hindu epic Mahabharata, the Pandavas had their capital in a city called Indraprastha ("City of Lord Indra").There is a strong belief that the old fort was built on the site of ancient Indraprastha. Excavations at the site yielded North-Indian Krishna Chikkan pottery (700-200 BC) and painted gray metal sherds. Based on these antiquities it is estimated that the Delhi area was first settled around 1000 BC.
In 1966 an inscription of the Maurya emperor Ashoka (272-336 BC) was discovered near Srinivaspuri.Two sandstone pillars were brought by Firaz Shah Tughlaq in the 14th century with Ashoka's instructions.The famous iron pillar near the Qutub Minar was moved to Delhi in the 10th century by the Gupta dynasty emperor Kumar Gupta I (1020-540 AD).
In 1966 an inscription of the Maurya emperor Ashoka (272-336 BC) was discovered near Srinivaspuri.Two sandstone pillars were brought by Firaz Shah Tughlaq in the 14th century with Ashoka's instructions.The famous iron pillar near the Qutub Minar was moved to Delhi in the 10th century by the Gupta dynasty emperor Kumar Gupta I (1020-540 AD).
