1. Ancient Civilizations & Early Empires
South Asia
Ancient Civilizations
&
Early Empires

2. South Asia India Largest country on Indian Subcontinent
On of the world’s oldest civilizations

3. Ancient Civilizations
Harappan Civilization
Indus River Valley
Pakistan
One of world’s largest ancient civilizations
Flourished between 3000 BC and 1700 BC
Often called Harappan civilization
After its first discovered city
Harappa was one of eight major Harappan cities
All were trade centers located along waterways

4. Harappan Civilization

5. Ancient Civilizations
Aryan Civilization
Populated much of northern India around 1500BC
Moved from place to place herded livestock
Left two important legacies behind
Social order
Sanskrit
Aryans believed in orderly society divided into
varnas-or social classes
Brought the Sanskrit to this region
Parent language of Hindi

8. Early Empires Mauryan Empire
320BC ruler Chandragupta united nearly all of northern India, Afghanistan and parts of Asia
Under him trade flourished & farming improved & weights and measures were made standard
Great Emperor Asoka
Helped expand empire and improve trade
Spread Buddhism
After his death power struggles and invasion destroyed empire

9. Mauryan Empire

10. Early Empires Gupta Empire 300 ADs United much of northern India
Trade and culture thrived
Scholars made important advances in math, medicine and astronomy
Concept of zero first introduced
Empire weakened by invaders
By 550 India was divided once again

11. Gupta Empire

12. Early Empires Mughal Empire
In 1500s a new group of Muslim invaders led by great warrior Babur
Conquered much of Northern India
1526 Establish Mughal Empire
Babur grandson Akbar was one of India’s greatest rulers
Trade flourished
Demand for Indian goods like spices and tea grew
Empire grew rich from trade
Religious tolerance encouraged peace in empire
Although Mughals were Muslim most Indians still practiced Hinduism
Architecture thrived
Taj Mahal
India’s most spectacular building
Built during Mughal Empire
Late 600s Muslim armies began launching raids on India

13. Mughal Empire

14. Taj Mahal

15. Early Empires British Empire
As early as the 1500’s Europeans had tried to control parts of India
1600’s English presence began in India
Demand of Indian goods such cotton and sugar was high
Mughal rulers granted East India Trading Company
East India Company
British trading company
At first was small trading post
British presence gradually grew
Expanded territory and power
By mid 1800’s controlled more than half of India
Colony-territory inhabited and controlled by people from foreign land

16. Early Empires British Empire(continued)
India had become a British Colony
British rule angered and frightened many Indians
1857 Indian troops revolted, triggering violence across India
British government crushed the rebellion and took control of India, away from East India Company
British government ruled India directly

17. Independence 1800s Indians began to question British rule
Created Indian National Congress
Hoped to gain more rights and opportunities
Mohandas Gandhi
Important leader
Non-violent protests
1947 two countries were formed
Pakistan-Muslim
India-Hinduism
As result 10 million people rushed to cross border in fear of religious persecution
Soon after India and Pakistan gained Independence
Other countries in region did too gradually

18. Religion
Hinduism
One of the world’s oldest religions, Hinduism, is practiced by most people in India today. Hinduism evolved over thousands of years and was influenced by the cultures and traditions of many peoples. However a few fundamental teachings are shared by nearly all Hindus

20. Religion
Buddhism