• Early Indian civilization produced several inventions.india image by creative from Fotolia.com
  
  India is one of the world's few surviving ancient civilizations. Beginning with the Indus Valley civilization in northwestern India, civilization began to take root in India almost 5000 years ago. Because India is so much older than it's neighbors, many of the ancient world's tools originated in early India.
  
  

Tools

• The bow drill was first used in Mehrgarh between the fifth and fourth milennium BC. The bow drill consists of a drill pit on a pole or spindle which is turned by a bow. The bow drill was used to start fires by rubbing a wooden spindle on kindling and also for drilling holes in wood and lapis lazuli for making jewelry.
  
  The earliest mechanical device for separating cotton was discovered in the Ajanta Caves of India and has been dated to the fifth century AD (see reference). It consisted of a single roller to separate the cotton fibers.
  
  The earliest furnace was discovered at Balakat a site of the Indus Valley Civilization dating to 2500 to 1900 BC. The furnace is believed to have been used for firing ceramics.
  
  

Materials

• Calico originated in Calicut India in the 11th Century AD and was exported to Europe and Africa in the following centuries. Calico is a plain woven fabric, in one or many colors.
  
  Corrosion-resistant iron was first used to build the Iron Pillar of Delhi over 1600 years ago (see reference). Debate continues over how ancient Indians were able to forge such iron. The materials and process that they used is unknown.
  
  

Leisure

• Chess originated in India around 280 to 550 CE and was later introduced to Persia and Arabia (see reference). The game was later spread to Byzantium and would be introduced to western Europe through the Greeks and Arabs. The game made its way to East Asia along the silk road.
  
  The earliest evidence of dice was discovered in sites in Lothal, Ropar, Alamgirpur, Kalibangan, and Desalpur in India and date back to 3000 BC. Archaeologist believe the dice were used for gambling. Dice would later be introduced to Persia, spreading west from India and influencing the development of ancient board games