History of the South Asia/the Indian

Subcontinent

According to the Theory of Plate Tectonics, the Indian Subcontinent was once attached to Africa

About 70 million years ago it began moving to its current position

The first Human-like creatures were in the Indian Subcontinent as long as 500,000 years ago.

“Modern humans” arrived 12,000 years ago

Early humans started farming in the Indus River valley 7000 years ago and in the Ganges River Valley about 5000 years ago

Indus River Valley Civilization

• Lasted from 3300 – 1300 BC (2,000 years!)

• Over 1056 cities and villages have been found

• Economy based on Agriculture and Trade

• Little evidence of violence/warfare

• First civilization to use precise measuring and weighing devices

• Disappeared because of drought or invasion from the northern “Aryans”

• Came from Aryans in the North – settled in Indus River valley and Gangetic Plain

• The Aryans were nomadic herders and warriors

• The era lasted from 1500 – 500 BC• Brought with them a polytheistic religion -

Writings focused on Gods – the roots of Hinduism

• Society was divided into 4 basic groups:o Brahmins – Priests and Kingso Kshatriyas – Warriors and Rulerso Vaishyas –Farmers, Artisans, Merchantso Shudras – Peasants, serfso “Untouchables”

• References to Cattle as being non-edible• The era gave birth to Indian Civilization• Ended by braking apart into smaller

kingdoms and regions – Invasion of Persia

Vedic Civilization

In 327 BC, Alexander the Great (him again!)conquered much of Northern Indian subcontinent before his Generals convinced him to go home!

Maurya Empire• 322-185 BC• Took over after Alexander the Great’s Army

retreated• Established a single finance, administration

and security system across India.• Encouraged the spread of Buddism• Failed because a strong king (Ashoka) was

followed by much weaker kings – who left the empire open to invasion by outsiders

Gupta Empire • 320 – 550 AD• Founded by Majaraji Sri Gupta – after

conquering 20 lesser kingdoms in and around current day India

• Considered “the Golden Age of India” –advancements in science, art, technology, engineering, math, religion and philosophyo Concept of ZEROo Base 10 number systemo Earth moves around the suno Earth is not flat, but roundo Moon and Planet “shine” because of

reflected light from the suno Innovations in medicine and Surgeryo Chess may have originated here

• Ended because of internal conflicts, and raiders from the North

Mughal Empire• Founded by BABUR – a Central Asian descendent of

Tamerlane and Genghis Khan• Began with Babur’s conquest of Northern India in 1526• Spread Islam throughout India but allowed other

religions to practice (Akhbar)• Later leaders were less tolerant• Taj Mahal was built• Developed and extensive tax collection system that

expanded commerce and trade throughout the empire• The empire dissolves into chaos during ‘wars of

succession’ where two of the former emperors sons and three of his grandsons are killed. This weakens the empire and leads to British domination

• Technically ends in 1857 – but really dissolves in the early 1700s

British Empire – the RAJ

• 1757-1947• Began with East India Trading Company

o English first arrived in 1600 – established control of British trade in the all the Indies

o Expanded from pure trade to govern the regiono Organized a private army with British officers and

Indian soldierso Ended with the Indian Rebellion of 1857-58

• British Government officially took over after the Rebellion until after World War II

• Increasing Indian Independence Movements led to full independence in 1947

• “Independent” India separated along religious lines (Hindu vs Islam) forming India and Pakistan

British Empire - Opposition

• Mutiny of 1857-58• Mahatma Gandhi• Independence and

Partition

1947 – Independence and Partition

Issues facingSouth Asia Today

• Nuclear Stand-off between India and Pakistan• Islamic terrorism• Independence from foreign ‘super powers’ (the West,

Soviets/Russia/China• Population Growth

On the Good Side…