History of India

History of IndiaDivided in 10 Periods

1. Indus Valley Civilization: led by the city states of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa

2. Aryans (2500BC – 322BC)Hinduism and regional kingdoms develop

3. The Mauryan Empire (322BC – 188BC)• Spread of Buddhism and the first Indian Empire started by

Chandragupta

4. Gupta Period (320AD – 480AD)• Golden Age of India

5. Muslim Invasions (1175AD – 1300AD)1. Muslims Turks from Afghanistan invade and begin to re-unite

India into small kingdoms

Indian Civilization (cont)6. Delhi Sultanate is the largest of these kingdoms ruled by Muslim

Turks

7. Mughals – most powerful of Indian dynasties controlled most of today’s India, Pakistan and Bangladesh

8. Europeans begin to Rule (1500AD – 1850AD)• Portuguese, French, Dutch, and English centers of rule

dominated by Corporations not countries

9. English Imperialism – ruled as an English colony for almost 100 years

10. Independence and Democratic India – Muslim and Hindu political groups push for and eventually gain independence from European Imperialism. Today India is one of the most important, powerful countries in the world and is rapidly growing in influence

Indus Valley Civilizations

Indus River Valley Civilization 3500-1500 BCE

• Two City States and many smaller villages

• Harappa• Mohenjo-daroBoth had

– centrally planned cities – city walls– Public buildings– grainaries– toilets, wells, drainage

system – brick lined sewers in the

streets

Politics

• City states

• Governed by Priest Kings

• The Indus Valley script has never been translated

• so we know very little about their lifestyle or belief system beyond what architecture tells us

Indus Valley Civilization Economy• Agricultural• cotton and food crops• Industry = textiles• Irrigation Canals• Craft workers made beautiful

clay figurines• Made jewels from gold, silver

and copper.

Social/Religion

• Polytheist nature gods; fertility goddess important

• Priests/kings in villages had high importance

• Some merchants but mostly farmers

End of the Indus Valley

• Repeated floods caused the course of the Indus River to shift away from the cities

• The Indus Valley script has never been translated so we know very little about their lifestyle or belief system beyond what architecture tells us

• New cultural group called Aryans migrate/invade and merge with the Indus Valley peoples

Aryan Migration

pastoral depended on their cattle.

warriors horse-drawn chariots.

Sanskrit

writing

The Vedas 1200 BCE-600 BCE.

written in SANSKRIT.

Hindu core of beliefs:

hymns and poems.

religious prayers.

magical spells.

lists of the gods and goddesses.

Rig Veda oldest work.Rig Veda oldest work.

• India’s greatest epic poem: Mahabharata and the Ramayana (about important battles)

• Upanishads: epic poems that are mystical and religious.

Varna (Social Hierarchy)

ShudrasShudras

VaishyasVaishyas

KshatriyasKshatriyas

Pariahs [Harijan] Untouchables

Pariahs [Harijan] Untouchables

BrahminsBrahmins

The Caste System

The mouth?

The arms?

The legs?

The feet?

WHO IS…

What is a JATI?

BrahminsBrahmins

KshatriyasKshatriyas

VaishyasVaishyas

ShudrasShudras

The Vedic Age

The foundations for Hinduism were

established!

India Unites:The Mauryan and Gupta Dynasties

Aryan Age ends with Invasion of Darius and Alexander

India begins to Unite c. 400-300BCE

Persia first united NW India under Cyrus and

Darius

c. 330 Alexander the Great conquered Persia Greek empire failed when Alexander diedNow a native Indian Empire would begin.

The Mauryan Empire 321-180 BCE

Politics

• Founded by Chandragupta Maurya ( 324 to 301 B.C.)

• Increased centralized govt control over regional kingdoms

• large army of 700,000

• secret police to watch for treason

301 BCE gave up his throne to & became a Jain monk (extreme Buddhism)

Ashoka Maurya

Ashoka 268-232 BCMost important ruler in ancient India

Brutal military commander who extended the Empire throughout S. and E. India

Battle of Kalinga - 260 BC100,000 Kalingans died

150,000 Kalingans driven from their home

More died from disease & starvation in the aftermath of the destruction brought on by the war

“What have I done?”

Ashoka and many Indian leaders converted to Buddhism after this battle and became pacifists

He spent the rest of his life encouraging non-violence, moderation and Buddhist principles to India

Asoka’s Buddhist Rock and Pillar Edicts

spread Buddhist principles

scattered in more than 30 places in India, Nepal,Pakistan, & Afghanistan.

Each pillar is 40’-50’ high.

helped bring order and unity to India

Trade/EconomyAgricultural economy•New canals and irrigation systems for trade and agriculture. •renovated major roads throughout India.

•built towns for spinning & weaving textiles

•uniform system of currency, weights and measures

•Created provinces ruled by governors for tax assessments and law enforcement

•Taxes rose over time to build Ashoka’s projects which led to Empire’s fall at Ashoka’s death

•Increased trade by uniting India

•India traded silk, cotton, and spices to Mesopotamia, China, Egypt and Rome

Silver punch mark coin

Indian AgricultureState farms operated and

cultivated by slaves. Grew Rice, Pepper,

Wheat, Barley, Mustard, Sugar Cane, Medicinal Roots

Religion

Buddhism grows

built thousands of Stupas for Buddhist followers.

built Buddhist schools and universities

the unnecessary eating of animals was abolished.

Wildlife became protected including the first national parks in the world

promoted vegetarianism and built animal hospitals.

Ashoka’s empire died out slowly after he died

The Sanchi Stupa (Buddhist temple) by Ashoka

Similarities between Buddhist Stupas and Pagotas

Buddhism architecture spread from India when Buddhism spread over the next 1000 years

The Mauryan Empire at its Height

Social• The Caste System limited social opportunities & determined who people could marry

• Families are patriarchal—headed by the eldest male• Laws limited women’s life and abilities Sati was sometimes practiced

“Even a man in the grip of rage will not be harsh to a woman, remembering that on her depends the joy of love, happiness and virtue” Mahabharata epic

Indian Population•50 million people during Mauryan Empire

The Artstransition from wood to stone in their architecture and art Indian

Stupa

Ashoka's Pillars

After the Mauryans: Regional Rule and the Rise of

Jainism and Buddhism

Regional Kingdoms and local rule - 185 BCE to CE 300

Northern IndiaInvading HUNS built new small regional kingdoms

Hindu Kush civilizationsMost powerful regional kingdoms for trade across the region and along the

Silk Road

Jainism grew in influence during this time of confusion since the leaders pushing Hindu and Buddhism were weakened

Jainism – like Hindu and Buddhism

Believe in karma, dharma and Moksha

expected to follow five principles of living:

Ahimsa: "non violence in all parts of a person -- mental, verbal and physical."

Satya: speaking truth; avoiding falsehood

Asteya: to not steal from others

Brahma-charya: (soul conduct); remaining sexually monogamous to one's spouse only

Aparigraha: detach from people, places and material things. Avoiding the collection of excessive material possessions, abstaining from over-indulgence, restricting one's needs,