Early Iron Age Sri Lanka

Early Iron Age Sri Lanka appears on the timeline as a people or culture of Tamil south and Sri Lanka (South Asia) from c. 900 to 377 BCE, a span of 523 years. Its people spoke Unknown or undeciphered languages (Indus, Minoan, Moche, Nazca, Chavin, Jomon and other unattested languages).

Settlements at Anuradhapura and elsewhere show iron, rice farming and horses from around 900 BCE. The Sinhalese chronicles tell of Prince Vijaya arriving from north India as the legendary founder of the Sinhalese.

See Early Iron Age Sri Lanka on the interactive timeline

Facts

Dates: c. 900 to 377 BCE
Duration: 523 years
Type: People or culture
Region: Tamil south and Sri Lanka, South Asia
Language family: Unknown or undeciphered

Became

Anuradhapura Kingdom 377 BCE to 1017 CE

Events in South Asia during its time

483 BCE Death of the Buddha

Neighbours in South Asia

Anuradhapura Kingdom 377 BCE to 1017 CE
Kuru Kingdom c. 1200 to 500 BCE
Achaemenid eastern satrapies c. 535 to 330 BCE
Magadha (Haryanka dynasty) c. 544 to 413 BCE
Panchala c. 1100 to 350 BCE
Avanti c. 600 to 350 BCE
Vajji confederacy c. 700 to 468 BCE
Kosala c. 700 to 475 BCE
Shakya republic c. 650 to 480 BCE
Gandhara c. 600 to 518 BCE

Elsewhere in the world at the same time

Carthage c. 814 to 146 BCE, North and West Africa
Roman Republic 509 to 27 BCE, Europe
Greek city-states c. 800 to 338 BCE, Europe
Neo-Assyrian Empire 911 to 609 BCE, Middle East
Achaemenid Empire 550 to 330 BCE, Middle East
Athens 508 to 322 BCE, Europe

Questions

When did Early Iron Age Sri Lanka exist?

c. 900 to 377 BCE, about 523 years. These dates are approximate, because the evidence for its beginning or end is uncertain.

Where was Early Iron Age Sri Lanka?

Tamil south and Sri Lanka, in South Asia.

What language did Early Iron Age Sri Lanka speak?

Unknown or undeciphered. This family includes Indus, Minoan, Moche, Nazca, Chavin, Jomon and other unattested languages.

What came after Early Iron Age Sri Lanka?

Anuradhapura Kingdom.