ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

History of Punjab

Okay kiddo, let me tell you about the history of Punjab! Punjab is a region located in northern India and eastern Pakistan. The word "Punjab" means "land of five rivers" because there are five major rivers that flow through the region.

A long, long time ago, around 3,000 years ago, there were a lot of different tribes and kingdoms in the Punjab region. One of the most famous of these was the Indus Valley Civilization, which was one of the earliest advanced civilizations in the world. They built big cities and made beautiful artwork and pottery.

Fast forward a bit to the 6th century BC, and we start to see the rise of the great Indian teacher and philosopher, Gautama Buddha. His teachings became very popular in Punjab and many people there became Buddhists.

In the 16th century, the Mughal Empire conquered Punjab and ruled over it for several hundred years. The Mughals were known for their beautiful architecture, art, and clothing, and they built many impressive structures in Punjab such as the Lahore Fort and the Badshahi Mosque.

Later on, in the 19th century, the British Empire took control of Punjab and the rest of India. They introduced new technologies and ways of doing things, but also took advantage of the people and resources of Punjab for their own benefit.

After India gained independence from Britain in 1947, Punjab was divided into two parts: Punjab in India and Punjab in Pakistan. This caused a lot of chaos and violence as people were forced to leave their homes and move to the other side of the border.

Today, Punjab continues to be an important region in both India and Pakistan, known for its vibrant culture, agriculture, and industry. And that's the history of Punjab, in a nutshell!