India Ancient and Modern India has been a victim of its ancient past Only today is it trying to break the mold of the past.
India India has been shaped by three ideas: The Aryan religion Rejection of Buddhism Hinduism and the caste system
India Early India and the role of geography Geography gives India a measure of isolation that lead to regionalism
India Ancient Civilization: Indus Valley civilization The Harappan Civilization BCE With the Harappan Civilization we see rise of cities along the Indus valley
India Harappan City sites show a remarkable sameness as if build from a central plan. Central Authority?
India The Aryan Invasion 1500BCE Invasion or Infiltration? Aryan religion A caste system A cycle of death and rebirth
India The caste System created a rigid social structure with almost no social mobility. Buddhism was an attempt to break the cycle. Jainism another attempt to break the cycle using severe ascetics.
India In the end India rejected Buddhism and Jainism and religion evolved into Hinduism and maintained the caste system
India By the 10 th century CE Islam spread in the north of India (Modern Pakistan) and the religious cycle of Hinduism was broken in that region.
India India has struggled to find unity: Gupta Empire CE Mongols CE Mughal Empire CE
India British India East India Company, a commercial empire Sepoy Revolt 1857 British Empire 1857
India Road to Independence: Indian Congress party 1920 Struggle for independence Mahatma Gandhi Independence 1947 Division Modern India Modern Pakistan
India Modern India is trying to shake off its past Fastest growing economy in Asia Moved from third world neutral to U.S. Ally to counter balance China?
India Modern India’s problems: Largest gap in wealth in world Work week is 60 hours Wages are actually falling Single VAT Tax is burden to 90% + of population
India Can the economic miracle hold? Rural India is very poor At the same time the lowest castes are the beneficiaries of the economic growth fitting into new jobs and with new skills