University of ancient Taxila

University of ancient Taxila
History
Takṣaśilā Viśvavidyālaya
Ruins of Bhir Mound archaeological site
University of ancient Taxila Shown in Punjab Show map of Punjab, Pakistan University of ancient Taxila University of ancient Taxila (Pakistan) Show map of Pakistan
Location	Taxila, Punjab, Pakistan
Region	South Asia
Coordinates	33°44′N 72°47′E / 33.74°N 72.78°E / 33.74; 72.78
Type	Centre of learning
Part of	Ancient higher-learning institutions
Founded	c. 5th century BCE
Abandoned	c. 5th century CE
Site notes
Condition	Ruins
Ownership	Government
Public access	Yes

Part of a series on the
History of Pakistan

Timeline
Ancient Palaeolithic Soanian culture, c. 500,000 – 250,000 BCE Neolithic Mehrgarh, c. 7000 – c. 3000 BCE Indus Valley Civilisation, c. 3300 – c. 1700 BCE Vedic Civilization, c. 1500 – c. 500 BCE Achaemenid Empire, c. 550 – c. 330 BCE Gedrosia, c. 542 – c. 330 BCE Gandhara, c. 518 – c. 330 BCE Arachosia, c. 518 – c. 330 BCE Hindush, c. 517 – c. 330 BCE Sattagydia, c. 516 – c. 330 BCE Macedonian Empire, c. 329 – c. 323 BCE Arachosia, c. 323 – c. 312 BCE Gedrosia, c. 323 – c. 312 BCE Paropamisadae, c. 323 – c. 312 BCE Porus, c. 323 – c. 312 BCE Taxiles, c. 323 – c. 312 BCE Mauryan Empire, c. 322 – c. 200 BCE Seleucid Empire, c. 312 – c. 63 BCE Greco-Bactrian Kingdom, c. 190 – c. 140 BCE Indo-Greek Kingdom, c. 170 – c. 50 BCE Indo-Scythian Kingdom, c. 110 BCE – c. 95 CE Apracharajas, c. 25 BCE – c. 50 CE Paratarajas, c. 120 – c. 300 CE
Classical Parthian Empire, c. 90 BCE – c. 25 CE Indo-Parthian Kingdom, c. 25 – c. 80 CE Kushan Empire, c. 60 – 345 CE Sasanian Empire, c. 250 – 655 CE Indo-Sasanians, c. 240 – 410 CE Kushano-Sasanian Kingdom, c. 240 – 410 CE Gupta Empire, c. 345 – c. 455 CE Rai dynasty, c. 415 – 644 CE Hephthalite Empire, c. 450 – 560 CE Brahman dynasty, c. 641 – 725 CE
Medieval Caliphate, c. 643 – 860 CE Rashidun Caliphate, c. 643 – 661 CE Umayyad Caliphate, c. 670 – 860 CE Pala Empire, c. 770 – 850 CE Habbari dynasty, c. 841 – 1024 CE Hindu Shahi, c. 870 – 1010 CE Samanid Empire, c. 905 – 999 CE Ghaznavids, c. 999 – 1186 CE Soomra dynasty, c. 1024 – 1351 CE Ghurid dynasty, c. 1170 – 1215 CE Delhi Sultanate, c. 1206 – c. 1526 CE Mamluk dynasty, c. 1206 – c. 1290 CE Khalji dynasty, c. 1290 – c. 1320 CE Tugluq dynasty, c. 1320 – c. 1413 CE Sayyid dynasty, c. 1414 – c. 1451 CE Lodhi dynasty, c. 1451 – c. 1526 CE Mongol Empire, c. 1221 – c. 1327 CE Chagatai Khanate, c. 1225 – c. 1485 CE Ilkhanate, c. 1256 – c. 1353 CE Raees dynasty, c. 1320 – 1620 CE Katoor dynasty, c. 1570 – c. 1947 CE Samma dynasty, c. 1351 – c. 1524 CE Arghun dynasty, c. 1520 – c. 1554 CE Mughal Empire, c. 1526 – c. 1707 CE Bombay Presidency, c. 1618 – c. 1947 CE Suri dynasty, c. 1540 – c. 1556 CE Tarkhan dynasty, c. 1554 – 1591 CE
Early modern Durrani Empire, c. 1747 – c. 1826 CE Las Bela, c. 1802 – c. 1947 CE Misl, c. 1716 – c. 1799 CE Maratha Empire, c. 1758 – c. 1760 CE Sikh Empire, c. 1799 – c. 1849 CE British Raj, c. 1858 – c. 1947 CE Independence Movement
Modern Pakistan, c. 1947 CE – present Dominion of Pakistan, c. 1947 – 1956 CE Republican Pakistan, c. 1956 CE – present
History of provinces Azad Kashmir Balochistan East Pakistan Gilgit-Baltistan Islamabad Capital Territory Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Punjab Sindh
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Part of a series on the
History of Punjab

Prehistoric Soanian culture c. 1,900,000 BCE
Ancient Early Harappan period c. 3300 – c. 2600 BCE Mature Harappan period c. 2600 – c. 1900 BCE Late Harappan period c. 1900 – c. 1500 BCE Gandhara, Kekya, Madra, Trigarta, Sivi and Bahlikass (Vedic period) c. 1500 – c. 500 BCE Gandhara & Hindush (Achaemenid Empire) c. 518 – c. 330 BCE Porus, Taxiles and Mallians (Macedonian Empire) c. 326 – c. 316 BCE Maurya Empire c. 316 – c. 200 BCE Indo-Greek Kingdom c. 180 – c. 50 BCE Indo-Scythian kingdom c. 110 BCE – c. 95 CE
Classical Indo-Parthian Kingdom c. 25 – c. 80 CE Kushan Empire c. 60–345 CE Gupta Empire c. 345 – c. 455 CE Alchon Huns and Kidarites c. 450–560 CE Taank Kingdom c. 560–750 CE Hindu Shahis c. 870–1010 CE Emirate of Multan c. 855–1010 CE
Medieval Ghaznavids c. 999–1186 CE Ghurid dynasty c. 1170–1215 CE Delhi Sultanate c. 1206 – c. 1526 CE Langah Sultanate c. 1445–1540 CE Lahore & Subah of Multans (Mughal Empire) c. 1627 – c. 1707 CE Durrani Empire c. 1748 – c. 1818 CE Maratha Empire c. 1758 – c. 1761 CE Misl c. 1716 – c. 1799 CE Sikh Empire c. 1799 – c. 1849 CE
Colonial State of Bahawalpur c. 1802 – c. 1947 CE Punjab Province c. 1849 – c. 1947 CE
Post-independence Province of Punjab (Pakistan) c. 1947 CE–present State of Punjab (India) c. 1947 CE–present
History of Pakistan History of India

Outline

The university of ancient Taxila (ISO: Takṣaśilā Viśvavidyālaya) was a center of the Gurukula system of learning in Prakrit, Sanskrit, Jain and Vedic traditions in Taxila, Gandhara, in present-day Punjab, Pakistan, near the bank of the Indus River. It was established as a centre of education in religious and secular topics. It started as a Jain seat of learning and in the early centuries CE it became a prominent centre of Brahminical and Buddhist scholarship as well.

In 1980, Taxila was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.