1. South Asian History
Changes over Time

2. Indus Valley Civilization
Existed on the subcontinent around 2500 BC (same time as Mesopotamia & Egypt)
Ruins of Ancient Cities: Harappa and Mohendra-Daro
Urban planning
Large public buildings
Water supply and sewage systems
After 1750 BC the civilization declined
Reason for decline is unclear – it was thought that Aryan “invaders pushed south” but now one theory is ecological change

3. Indus Valley Civilization
Map & Ruins of Harappa

4. Mohendra-Daro
View down a street

5. The Aryan Migration
1500 BC – people speaking Indo-Aryan languages migrated from Caspian Sea into South Asia through the Hindu Kush mountains (Modern Afghanistan)
Seminomadic herders that migrated over centuries
The Vedas provide some information about Aryans
Conflict existed between different Aryan groups and other groups of people
Evidence of class and gender discrimination
Worshiped a multitude of nature related gods

6. Indo-Aryan Migration

7. The Aryan Migration
Over 1000 years, spread across the northern section of India
Used Iron tools, cleared forests, & cultivated land
As population increased -> regional states & kingdoms developed & trade increased
326 BC Alexander the Great – contact between Greek and Indian civilization

8. The Aryan Society
As the Aryan societies became more complex, they divided themselves into groups.
This caused people to be limited on the jobs they could have and who they could interact with.
These rules became more and more strict and central to Indian society

9. The Mauryan Empire
Chandragupta Maurya – initiated the first imperial dynasty
326 BC to 184 BC
Ashoka – advanced empire into southern peninsula
Seen as India’s first true emperor
Used Military force – then supported Buddhism, peace, & nonviolence
After Ashoka – leaders were ineffective at managing large empire – invasions from Central Asia, internal fighting –
this leads to the fall of the Mauryan Empire

10. Mauryan Empire

11. The Next 500 Years… No strong ruler was in place
Subcontinent was subdivided
Invaders from Central Asia
Trade links to Rome and China
Buddhism spread from the subcontinent to Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Tibet, China, and Japan

12. The Gupta Empire Begins in 320 AD – 6th Century
Achievements in education, medicine, literature, and the arts
Hinduism gains popularity – Gupta kings combined Hinduism and Buddhist values
Mid 6th Century- invaders from Central Asia – ended the Gupta Empire

13. Gupta Empire

14. Next 600 years… Subcontinent was again divided
Harsha – brief empire in 7th century with ½ the subcontinent
Regional conflicts – center of power shifted to the south
Southern kingdoms traded with eastern and western worlds
Caste system began during this period (Brahmins – at the top) as Hinduism dominates over Buddhism and Jainism

15. The Delhi Sultanate
7th Century Islam arrives in Afghanistan -> spreads to Pakistan
By end of 10th Century – Islamic Invaders and Traders arrive in South Asia
Early 13th Century – a collection of Islamic Dynasties (Delhi Sultanate) – extend Islam’s control across Northern India and into Central India
Internal conflict & outside threats (Mongols)
Was often brutal to local Hindus – contributed to downfall by the Mughals

16. Expansion of Islam

17. Delhi Sultanates

18. The Mughal Empire 1526 invaded the subcontinent
Zahir-ud-Din Babur – (descendent of Genghis Khan)
Created large kingdom because of strong army
Akbar – greatest Mughal ruler – combined Central Asian, Persian and South Asian political/social traditions

19. Mughal Empire

20. Mughal Empire Islamic Mughal rulers – showed respect for cultures
Hindus & Muslims were members of nobility
The economy was strong – achievements in art and architecture – Taj Mahal
By 18th century – regionalism began to occur – leaders wanted more power

21. Taj Mahal

22. Taj Mahal Is a mausoleum for the wife of Mogulo Emperor Shah Jahran
After her death in 1631 her husband began the construction
Over 300 feet tall, white marble

23. Europeans Arrive 1498 – Vasco da Gama – lands on India’s coast
1510 – Portuguese trading post – Goa – dominate spice trade
Early 17th century – Dutch & British – challenge Portuguese trade by establishing trading areas, the French established trading areas by late 1600s.
British and French created alliances with regional kingdoms - fought the Carnatic Wars – for control in South Asia

24. Vasco de Gama

25. British Company Rule
100 years – English East India Company – British Monarchs allowed the company to rule
Calcutta, Madras, Bombay – chief cities
“Dual Government” – company held power but a local ruler carried out rule
Nawab (Muslim) Maharaja (Hindu)

26. British East India Company

27. British Gain Territory
Negotiated treaties with kingdoms – company stationed troops & collect taxes in return for protection
By entering disputes between princes
Annexing the areas because of no dominant central power
Trade diversified –
British Government – began to question authority of the company

28. India 1795

29. Problems arise
Missionaries arrive – to “civilize” and convert – brought ideas of liberalism and nationalism
Fought for control with Russia – Afghanistan
Aggressive Modernization efforts
1857 Sepoy Rebellion
Annexation of land
Rumors of a conspiracy against local beliefs
Rifle cartridges (smeared with pig & cow fat)
Resulted in full scale war with loss of control of some areas

30. Rifle Cartridges

31. The British Empire

32. British Crown Rule
1858 Act for the Better Government of India “Crown Rule”
Established a secretary of state – still ruled by local governor-generals (viceroy)
Suez Canal 1869 – reduced travel time
Built infrastructure – roads, bridges, railroads, telegraph lines, irrigation systems
Extracted raw materials and sent them to Great Britain to be processed
Established market for manufactured goods

35. Tensions begin to build…
1885 – Indian National Congress is formed
Reform movement calling for moderate change
1905 Nationalists begin to challenge for control
Divided into moderate and extremist groups
Widespread protests, British goods boycotted, attacks on British officials, extremist leaders were jailed

37. Muslim League Formed to work for the rights of Muslims in India –
Did not want to be controlled by a Hindu state

38. World War I Up to a million Indian soldiers served in the war
Contributed large amounts of food and ammunition
After the war – increased nationalism resulted in more Indian participation in the government at a local level

40. Rowlatt Acts 1919
Gave the government right to disregard civil liberties if needed to suppress the people
Mohandas Gandhi – called for strikes and protests
British commander – ordered troops to fire on protesting Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs
Amritsar Massacre

43. Most important political & spiritual leader in achieving independence for India was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi—The Mahatma (The Great Soul).
Born in 1869
He is honored by people as the father of their nation
Life was guided by a search for the truth that could be known only through tolerance & concern for his fellow man, & that finding a truthful way to solutions required constant testing
He overcame fear in himself & taught others
Believed in nonviolence & held that violence is better than cowardice – civil disobedience
Lived a simple life & thought it was wrong to kill animals for food or to use their ides

44. Gandhi 1915 – returned from South Africa to India
Felt that the Indian National Congress needed to change
Focused on independence and nonviolent civil disobedience
Boycott British schools, courts, protests
Quit the government jobs
Refuse to pay taxes

45. “My life is dedicated to service of India
through the religion of non-violence
which I believe to be the root of Hinduism. The religion of non-violence is not meant merely for the riches and saints. It is meant for the common people as well.”
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

46. Gandhi’s efforts continue…
Appealed for national unity
Was jailed several times and his popularity increased
1930 – marched with 1000s to the sea to make salt from saltwater – avoiding British tax
Some conflicts begin between the Indian congress and the Muslim league
1935 & 1937 some local authority given to the Indian National Congress

47. World War II begins…
Britain declares war on British India’s behalf without consulting the Indian leadership
Congress Party – would not support war until promised independence
Muslim League – supported war to attempt to gain influence
Mohammad Ali Jinnah - passed the Lahore Resolution – demanded a separate state at independence
Gandhi appealed to the people not to accept the resolution but most supported the claim for two nations

49. Continued Protests
Congress led independence movement protests continued – 1000s were jailed
War expanded to the Pacific – British worked on compromise but did not succeed
Gandhi began “Quit India” movement – threatened widespread civil disobedience
1942 Gandhi in Jail along with 1000s of others
Some Indian POWs fight along side the Japanese
Altogether, he spent seven years in prison for political activity

51. In 1948, at the age of 78, while on his way to a prayer meeting, in New Delhi, Gandhi was assassinated.
A high-ranking Brahman, who feared Gandhi’s program of tolerance for all creeds and religions, shot him three times.

52. Gandhi’s legacy
His beliefs and actions have inspired civil rights movements across the globe.
He is an icon of world peace.
His birthday, 2nd October, is commemorated worldwide as the International Day of Non-Violence.

53. After the war…
Great Britain wants to withdraw but can’t because of conflicts with Congress and Muslim League
Increasing amounts of Hindu vs. Muslim violence occurred
Nehru – head of Congress – made interim Prime Minister
1947 – Great Britain announces it will leave the Indian Subcontinent by June 1948
July 15, 1947 – Britain announces that in one month two independent countries of India and Pakistan will be established

55. Partition of India and Pakistan
Boundaries had to be drawn in a month
Assets had to be divided
Some 10 million South Asians fled their homes – fearing they would soon be in a country that did not support their beliefs
Hindus and Sikhs fled from Pakistan to into India
Muslims moved from India to Pakistan
Many died in the violence that resulted

57. India & Pakistan gained independence in August 1947
East & West Pakistan become Pakistan and Bangladesh

58. India’s Partition

59. What inventions did the ancient civilizations of the Indian Subcontinent contribute to the modern world?

61. Cotton
During the Indian Independence, Mohandas Gandhi wove his own clothing as part of an effort to boycott British cotton clothing
Farmers of the Indus River Valley were the first to grow cotton
Cotton fibers were woven into cloth
India will become a primary producer of cotton in the world, especially during British rule of the subcontinent

62. Arabic Numerals
320 – 350 CE, during the Gupta empire, Indian mathematicians worked out the first beginnings of our modern number system.
The number zero (0) was created to make it easier to add and multiply numbers.
With the formation of the Islamic Empire a few years later, the use of zero spread quickly from India to West Asia and Africa (by the 800's), and then more slowly to Europe (not until the 1200's AD, and only specialists used it until the 1500's).
By 100 CE, people in India were writing the numbers as in the picture above.
While the numbers 1,2, and 3 are pretty clear, nobody knows where the other signs came from. It may be that they were taken from letters of an Indian alphabet.
Did you know, the word zero comes from the Sanskrit word meaning “nothing”?

63. Origins of Chess
Around 600 CE, or 7th century, Indians developed the game chess.
Many words for chess in other languages derive from the Sanskrit word for chess.
The Indian version of chess contains a horse, camel, and elephant; these are equivalent to the modern knight, bishop, and rook.

64. India and Its Neighbors
South Asia Today
India and Its Neighbors

65. India’s Culture
second most populated country (over 1.1 billion people)
Most Indians live…
in rural areas.
in the North.
along the coast.
in extended families.
in castes.
Hindi and English are official languages.
Most Indians practice Hinduism.

66. Prime Minister (runs the country) President (little power)
India’s Government
World’s largest democracy (federal republic)
Government structure:
Prime Minister (runs the country)
President (little power)
Parliament

67. India’s Economy
Although India is one of the world’s highest GDPs, many of its people live in poverty.
Most Indians work in agriculture.
There is an increasing numbersof high tech and industrial jobs.
Currency is the rupee.

68. Issues and Challenges Facing India
Urbanization:
high population density (overcrowded)
poverty
educational inequality
caste system
gender inequality
environmental issues
deforestation
Asian Brown Cloud
water pollution

69. India & Pakistan Today
The partition of India originally left both countries devastated.
Since their division, two wars have been fought between the countries.
conflict over the area of Kashmir
terrorism and nuclear weapons