Archaeological evidence indicates that early humans lived along the banks of theBanas River and its tributaries some 100,000 years ago. TheIndus (Harappan) and post-Indus civilizations (3rd–2ndmillenniumbce) are traceable atKalibangan in northern Rajasthan, as well as at Ahar and Gilund, both near the city ofUdaipur in the south. Pottery fragments at Kalibangan date to 2700bce. The discovery nearBairat (in north-central Rajasthan) of two rock inscriptions from the 3rd centurybce indicate that the area was at that time under the rule ofAshoka, the last great emperor of theMauryan dynasty ofIndia. The whole or parts of present-day Rajasthan were ruled byBactrian (Indo-Greek) kings in the 2nd centurybce, theShaka satraps (Scythians) from the 2nd to the 4th centuryce, theGupta dynasty from the early 4th to the late 6th century, theHephthalites (Hunas) in the 6th century, andHarsha (Harshavardhana), aRajput ruler, in the early 7th century.

SeveralRajputdynasties arose between the 7th and 11th centuries, including that of the Gurjara-Pratiharas, who kept the Arab invaders of theSindh area (now in southeasternPakistan) at bay. UnderBhoja I (or Mihira Bhoja; 836–885), the territory of theGurjara-Pratiharas stretched from the foothills of theHimalayas southward to theNarmada River and from the lowerGanges (Ganga) River valley westward to Sindh. With the disintegration of that empire by the late 10th century, several rival Rajput clans came to power in Rajasthan. The Guhilas, feudal lords of the Pratiharas,asserted their independence in 940 and established control of the region around Mewar (present-day Udaipur). By the 11th century the Chauhans (Chahamanas), with their capital atAjmer and later atDelhi, had emerged as the major power in the eastern region. In the following centuries other clans—such as the Kachwahas, Bhattis, and Rathors—succeeded in establishing independent kingdoms in the area.

The second of a series of encounters known as theBattles of Taraori (Tarain), fought near Delhi in 1192, initiated a new period in Rajasthan’s history.Muḥammad Ghūrī’s victory over a Rajput army underPrithviraja III not only led to the destruction of Rajput power in theIndo-Gangetic plain but also firmly established theMuslim presence in northern India. As Muslim forces pushed south and then west along the traditional routes to theKathiawar Peninsula (Saurashtra; now part of the state ofGujarat), the Rajput kingdoms of what is now Rajasthan were encircled. Over the next four centuries there were repeated, though unsuccessful, attempts by the central power based in Delhi to subdue the Rajput states of the region. The Rajputs, however, despite common historical and cultural traditions, were never able to unite to inflict a decisive defeat on their opponents.

Rajput strength reached its zenith at the beginning of the 16th century underRana Sanga (Rana Sangram Singh) of Mewar, but he was defeated in a fierce battle by theMughal invaderBābur, and the brief splendour of a united Rajput polity waned rapidly. It is largely from that period of Rajasthan’s history that theromantic view of the Rajput as a valiant warrior is derived.

Toward the end of the 16th century, the Mughal emperorAkbar was able to achieve, through diplomacy and military action, what his predecessors had been unable to accomplish by force alone. Military campaigns were still undertaken by imperial Mughal forces, and Rajput strongholds, such as Ranthambhor andChittaurgarh (Chitor), were besieged and destroyed (1567–68), but Akbar also entered into a series of alliances with numerous Rajput ruling houses, arranging marriages with Rajput princesses for himself and for his heirs. Akbar’s son and successor,Jahāngīr (ruled 1605–27), as well as Jahāngīr’s third son, the builder of theTaj Mahal inAgra (Uttar Pradesh),Shah Jahān (ruled 1628–58), were both born of Rajput mothers. Mughal-Rajput marriages continued until the early 18th century, bringing many Rajput states (along with their not insubstantial military resources) into theimperial fold without costly military subjugation. Furthermore, some Rajput rulers, such asMan Singh ofAmber (Jaipur) and Jaswant Singh of Marwar (Jodhpur), served with loyalty and distinction in the imperial Mughal forces. Under Akbar the Rajput states of the region were grouped together under the Suba of Ajmer, an administrative unit of the Mughal Empire.

After the death of the emperorAurangzeb in 1707, the Rajput state ofBharatpur was developed by aJat (peasantcaste) conqueror, but by 1803 most of the surrounding states paid tribute to theMaratha dynasties of west-central India. Later in the 19th century the British subdued the Marathas and, having established paramountcy in the region, organized the Rajput states intoRajputana province. The government of India was represented in Rajputana by a political officer, with the title of agent to the governor-general, who was also chief commissioner of the small British province of Ajmer-Merwara. Under him were residents and political agents who were accredited to the various states.

It was during that period that the idea of Indiannationalism was born. In Udaipur,Dayananda Sarasvati wrote hisSatyarth Prakash (“The Light of Truth”); intended to restoreHinduism to its pristine purity, the work created a ferment in Rajputana. Important movements of thought also occurred among theJain sadhus (holy men) and scholars.Ajmer was the centre of political activity, and nationalist leaders included Arjun Lal Sethi, Manik Lal Varma, Gopal Singh, and Jai Narain Vyas.

After India became independent in 1947, the princely states and chiefships of Rajputana wereintegrated by stages into a single entity. They were first grouped into small unions, such as the Matsya Union and the Rajasthan Union, which were merged with the remaining Rajput states to create Greater Rajasthan in 1949. When the new constitution of India came into force in 1950, the state of Rajasthan became anintegral part of India. The Rajput princes—though retaining a recognition of their original title, some special privileges, and a privy purse—surrendered their political powers to the central government. When the States Reorganization Act wasimplemented in 1956, Rajasthan acquired the shape that it has today. The privileged status given to rulers of the former princely states was discontinued in 1970.

The state prospered over the next several decades, diversifying its largely agrarian economy with growth in the manufacturing and service sectors. Tourism in particular increased significantly. The state has been governed by theIndian National Congress (Congress Party) for most of its existence, although since the 1990s theBharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formed several governments. Notable is the BJP’sVasundhara Raje, the state’s first female chief minister, who was elected to that office in 2003 (serving until 2008) and again in 2013.