<P> The ancient civilised history of Rajasthan goes back to 5,000 years ago when in the present day districts of Jhunjhunu and Sikar, along with other areas of jaipur district bordering south Haryana, which formed the part of Vedic state of Brahmavarta along with districts of Mahendragarh and Rewari in Haryana, that Vedic seers started composing Vedic scriptures, which form part of Sanatan Dharma, the base of present day Hinduism . Revered Saraswati and Drishadwati rivers formed the then Brahmavarta state . Drishadwati river is identified as the Vedic Drishadwati by Bhargava . Parts of Rajasthan may have been occupied by the Indus Valley Civilization (Harappans). Excavations at Kalibanga in northern Rajasthan around 1998 revealed the existence of human settlements of Harappan times on the banks of a river that dried up later, which some people believe to be the Saraswati, archaeologists hope the Saraswati will unlock mysteries of the past . Rajasthan's geographic position in India has caused it to be affected by the expansionist efforts of various empires . It was a part of the Maurya Empire around 321 - 184 BCE . </P> <P> Prithviraj Chauhan defeated the invading Muhammad Ghori in the First Battle of Tarain in 1191 in 1192 CE, the Ghurids decisively defeated Prithviraj at the Second battle of Tarain . </P> <P> After the defeat of Chauhan in 1192 CE, a part of Rajasthan came under Muslim rulers . The principal centers of their powers were Nagaur and Ajmer . Ranthambhor was also under their suzerainty . At the beginning of the 13th century, the most prominent and powerful state of Rajasthan was Mewar . The Rajputs resisted the Muslim incursions into India, although a number of Rajput kingdoms eventually became subservient to the Delhi Sultanate . Mewar led others in resistance to Muslim rule: Rana Sanga united the various Rajput clans and fought against the foreign powers in India . Rana Sanga defeated the Afghan Lodi Empire of Delhi and crushed the Turkic Sultanates of Malwa and Gujarat . Rana Sanga was later defeated at Khanwa against the Mughal Empire because of treachery from the Tomar king Silhadi . </P> <P> Akbar arranged matrimonial alliances to gain the trust of Rajput rulers . He himself married the Rajput princess Jodha Bai, the daughter of the Maharaja of Amer . He also granted high offices to a large number of Rajput princes and this maintained very cordial relations with them . Before long, these actions caused many previously hostile Rajputs to be his friends, and many of them surrendered their kingdoms to him . Rulers like Raja Maan Singh of Amer were trusted allies . However, some Rajput rulers were not ready to accept Akbar's dominance and preferred to remain independent . Two such rulers were Rana Uday Singh of Mewar and Rao Chandrasen Rathore of Marwar . They never accepted Akbar's supremacy and were at constant war with him . This struggle was continued by--Rana Pratap . He fought a terrible battle with Akbar at the Haldighat pass where he was defeated and wounded . Since then Rana Pratap remained in recluse for 12 years and attacked the Mughal ruler from time to time . He fought valiantly throughout his life never ceded his independence to the Mughal ruler . </P>

Word rajasthan was first used by historian know as