As per the verbal and folk history. Ghazipur was covered with dense forest during the Vedic era and it was a place for ashrams of saints during that period. The place is related to the Ramayana period. Maharshi Jamadagni, the father of MaharshiParashurama, is said to have resided here. The famous Gautama Maharishi andChyavana were given teaching and sermon here in ancient period. Lord Buddha gave his first sermon in Sarnath, which is not far from the here. The Aurihar region of Ghazipur became the main centre of teachings of Lord Buddha. Many stupas and pillars are the main evidence of that period. Chinese traveller Hieun Tsang visited this area and has described this place as Chanchu "Kingdom of the Lord of battles."
Its ancient name of Gadhipuri or Gadhipur was renamed to Ghazipur about 1330, after Ghāzī Malik, a Muslim ruler of the Tughluq dynasty, who ruled this area.
The first Scientific Society of India was established first in Ghazipur in 1862 by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan for propagating modern Western knowledge of science, technology and industry. It was a departure from the past in the sense that education made a paradigm shift from traditional humanities and related disciplines to the new field of science and agriculture. Some current institution like Technical Education and Research Institute (TERI), a post-graduate college, in the city, takes their inspiration from that first Society.
The region has been active in India Independence Movement. The celebrated hero of First War of Independence (which is also referred as Sepoy Mutiny) Mangal Pandey belonged to that time of Ghazipur district area (now part of Ballia). The famous Raju Baxi revolt is also associated with this place where the farmers revolted against the British and set fire to several indigo godowns. This place has played a significant role in the Indian National movement. During the Home Rule movement and the Quit India movement people of Ghazipur took part courageously
