What sources do historians use to understand the developments in ancient India?

Inscriptions, texts, coins, and visual material

Over a period of 1,500 years after the decline of the Harappan civilization, the Indian subcontinent witnessed significant developments. This era coincided with the composition of the Rigveda by people residing along the Indus and its tributaries. Various regions, including north India, the Deccan Plateau, and parts of Karnataka, saw the emergence of agricultural settlements. Additionally, pastoral populations were found in the Deccan and southern areas. A new burial practice involving megalithic structures became prevalent in central and south India during the first millennium BCE, often accompanied by burying the deceased with a variety of iron tools and weapons.

Around the sixth century BCE, another noteworthy trend emerged—the rise of early states, empires, and kingdoms. These political changes were intertwined with shifts in agricultural production methods. Concurrently, new towns sprouted across the subcontinent. To comprehend these intricate developments, historians rely on diverse sources such as inscriptions, texts, coins, and visual artifacts, making the analysis a multifaceted endeavor.