India

Key Historical Events Indian civilization began in the Indus Valley (now Pakistan) around 250 BC Thousands of years later, invaders (Aryans) crossed the mountains of the Hindu Kush and spread throughout South Asia. Aryans established small kingdoms on the Ganges plain. Pushed darker skinned native Indians called Dravidians toward the south. Persians and Greeks invaders went into the area, but could not conquer the Aryan Kingdoms of the Ganges

Key Historical Events Other empires: Mauryan Empire, Gupta Empire, and Mughal Empire

Europeans Arrive In the 1500s, European traders came to India, looking for spices, cloth and other goods not available in Europe. This soon established trade relations with India’s rulers. French, Dutch, and Portuguese traders set up trading colonies in India. Through the trading arm, the British India Company (East India Company), Britain gained control over India’s trade with Europe in 1757. In 1857 the British government put down a revolt and established direct rule over India.

British rule brought some benefits to India, but most Indians did not like colonialism. Great Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi began an opposition movement based on nonviolent resistance. Eventually Britain gave in and granted India its freedom on August 14, 1947. “Be the change that you want to see in the world.” -Gandhi

Religion Brings Division Independence also brought the division of India. The Muslims of West and East Pakistan chose to separate from India which was strongly Hindu to form their own country. The division caused violence to break out between Hindus and Muslims. Mass migrations across the new borders caused great hardship and sufferings

Government Under Nehru (first prime minister) India adopted a constitution and became a democratic republic in 1950. India’s democracy reflects elements of both the American and the British system. India is a federation of states held together by a strong central government like the United States India though is a parliamentary democracy with a prime minister like Britain. With a population of more than one billion, India is presently the world’s largest democracy.

Discuss With Your Table Brainstorm what you know already about the Hindu religion. Think about what we talked about yesterday

Hinduism India is a land of great variety, but the dominate force in the lives of most Indians’ is Hinduism. Hinduism originated around the Indus Valley near the Indus River, in modern day Pakistan. Roots are from the Aryan culture The Vedas are the most ancient religious Hindu text and define the truth Hindus believe that the texts were received by scholars directly from god and passed onto generations by word of mouth. Hindus believe in the universal soul called Brahman, who created the world, and its present is in everything Hindus make up around 80% of the population. Hindus believe in many gods and reincarnation. Cycle of birth, death, and rebirth governed by Karma

The Caste System The caste system was the Aryan system of social classes. According to Hindu belief, each person is born into a caste (varnas) and has a certain moral duty known as dharma. Caste Today: Member of the upper castes consider the lowest castes to be ritually unclean. Marrying someone from a different caste, whilst not officially outlawed, is generally not recognized. Caste barriers have largely broken down in the large cities. “Untouchability” has been abolished by law Loyalty to a caste is much harder to eliminate and it still provides a sense of community and belonging, mainly in country areas