the history of assam can be broadly divided into four eras. the ancient era, the medieval era, colonial era and the post-colonial era

ancient era (350 – 1206)

the ancient era begins with the establishment of pushyavarman’s varman dynasty in 4th century in kamarupa kingdom. the kingdom reached its peak under bhaskaravarman in 7th century. xuanzang visited his court and left behind a significant account. bhaskaravarman died without leaving behind an heir. then came salasthamba, who established mlechchha dynasty. mlechchha dynasty fell in the 9th century. thereafter, a new king, brahmapala was elected, who established pala dynasty with the last pala king being removed by gaur king, ramapala, in 1110 ad. the two subsequent kings, timgyadeva and vaidyadeva, though established by gaur kings, ruled mostly as independents and issued grants under the old kamarupa seals. the fall of these kings and rise of individual kingdoms in 12th century marked the end of the kamarupa kingdom and the end of era of ancient assam.

medieval era (1206 – 1826)

medieval assam saw rule of number of dynasties. the kamata kingdom was the first one which started ruling assam in the 13th century. later came koch dynasty which peaked under nara narayan and chilarai. kachari, chutiya dynasty ruled in east assam. in the area between the kachari and the chutiya kingdoms, a shan group, led by sukaphaa, established the ahom kingdom.

with the defeat of the burmese in first anglo-burmese war and subsequent treaty of yandaboo, control of assam passed into the hands of the british, which marks the end of the medieval period.

colonial era (1826 – 1947)

in 1824, first anglo-burmese war broke out when the british attacked the burmese garrison in assam and by 1825 the burmese were expelled from assam. as per treaty of yandaboo, the burmese monarch renounced all claims on assam in favour of british. the british rulers of brahmaputra valley and they began to consolidate their rule in assam. later by 1854 with the annexation of north cachar hill district whole of was covered by the british rule. british rule continued till 1947 and ended with independence of india.

post-colonial (1947 – present)

starting from 1947, witnessed many important events like formation of separate states for tribal sects, united liberation front of assam and assam students union amongst others.