1. History of South Asia

2. Indus Valley Civilization
2500 BC-In the Indus Valley (present day Pakistan) the world’s first major cities emerged (Mohenjo Daro and Harappa)
Around 1500 BC the Aryans from southern Asia invaded and established a strict society
Their sacred writings (called Vedas) outlined a strict class system that became the “caste” system

3. Mohenjo Daro and Harappa on a map
Ruins of Mohenjo Daro
Mohenjo Daro and Harappa on a map

4. Major Religions Emerge
The Aryan caste system became the foundation for the Hindu religion
Around 500 BC a Hindu, Siddhartha Gautama left Hinduism and became the “Buddha” or awakened one
He taught people to think clearly, work diligently, and show compassion in order to have peace and joy
Buddhism and Hinduism are the major religions that dominate this region even still today

5. Statue of the first Buddha
Hindu Caste System

6. Other Invaders and Empires
Other civilizations invaded India through the Khyber Pass
The Mauryans and then later Guptas established powerful civilizations
The Muslim Mughal Empire ruled India from the 1100s to the 1700s
The Europeans began arriving in the 1500s and started establishing trading posts

7. The Raj The British established control of all of India by 1857
The name for British India was the “Raj”
The British built roads and railroads, restructured education, and developed a strong government to rule India
The British also created harsh policies that oppressed the Indian people

8. Map of the Raj-British Controlled India
Flag of British India
Map of the Raj-British Controlled India
Indian servants with a British Officer

9. Independence
Through the work of Mohandas Gandhi and the Indian National Congress, India became independent in 1947
Gandhi believed in nonviolent resistance
The British created India for the Hindu Indians and Pakistan for the Muslim Indians
There is still today much violence between Muslims and Hindus in India

10. Gandhi and Nehru
Gandhi with Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan

11. Modern History
Pakistan has had many changes in government since independence
Today it is ruled by a military dictatorship
India’s first prime minister was Gandhi’s close friend, Jawaharlal Nehru
His daughter Indira Gandhi, and grandson, Rajiv Gandhi were both prime minister and helped India tremendously
India today is a democracy but faces many challenges
India and Pakistan have fought a series of wars over the Jammu/Kashmir region in northern Pakistan and India

12. Causes & effects of the Kashmir conflict:
Money spent on wars not food and human needs
Economic sanctions hurt India & Pakistan economies
CAUSES
Border disputes
Religious differences
Nuclear proliferation