South Asia: India Periods 1-6

Period 1- Indus River Valley Indus River

Now –dry desert but historically lush landscape (ex of change in environment) Monsoon rains caused flooding in rivers-brought rich soil down river (like

Nile, Tigris & Euphrates) Independent cities-

Civilizations based on agriculture: wheat, rye, peas, rice, cotton Many domesticated animals

On trade route with China, SE Asia, India Extensive job specialization

Craftsmen not as advanced as Egypt or Mesopotamia-no swords Urban planning-streets, sewage system, varied house size suggests class

structure Written language not deciphered

Examples of independent cities: Mohenjo-Daro

British found settlement when building a RR across India 1850s Spoke Dravidian Language- Conquered by Aryans (Indo-European group)- but probably already on the decline

Harappa- no sign of invasion

Development of Caste SystemCaste-social class of heredity-usually unchangeable

Continuity for South Asian culture and social structure throughout periods 2-6

Generally South Asia is more loyal to social system than to political leaders

Explained through creation myth (think archetype through many cultures!)Brahmim- highest social class-priests, scholarsKshatriya-warriors and gov officialsVaishya- landowners, merchants, artisans (in other

cultures the landowners are the nobles and of high status)Shudra- common peasants and laborers

During period 2 Caste system becomes more complex divided into sub-systems JatiLittle contact among jati

Religions of South AsiaHinduism

Began pre 600 BE with Vedas- religious texts passed down from conquering Aryans Rig Veda- most important of texts

Central beliefs- Reincarnation-rebirth of soul so that human spirit (atman) could eventually

join the universal spirit Polytheistic

Primarily remained in IndiaBuddhism

Founded in India 6th century BCE by Siddhartha Gautama Left life as prince to seek meaning of life & experienced enlightenment

Central beliefs Anyone can attain Nirvana (union with universal spirit Nirvana can be reached through study of Four Noble Truths and Eightfold

PathSpread on trade routes and became universalizing faith along with

Islam & Christianity China (though Scholar Gentry destroyed temples), Japan, Southeast Asia

Islam comes in period 3 with the Delhi Sultanate!

Period 2-Mauryan EmpirePolitically fragmented-decentralized (unlike

Rome, Han empires)- Geography separatedCulture separated-

Religion-people more loyal to Hinduism than gov language

Ashoka--third ruled or Mauryan empireWealthy-empire sat on trade routesLarge army (like Rome & Han) conquered most of

IndiaConverted to Buddhism—looked to peace of religion

250 years after Ashoka India returned to decentralized state-which lasted 500 years

Period 2-Gupta EmpireFounder- ChandraNot as large as MauryanNever as centralized as

MauryanNo bureaucracyDrew tribute from local

leaders—local warriors had a lot of independence

Example (along with Persia) of theatre state- awing subjects into remaining loyal to kingRoyal palace=Pataliputra

Hinduism will hold South Asia together

even after fall of Period 2 empires

as Confucianism holds East Asia together

Indian Ocean Trade RouteLinked Southeastern China to Africa--Three legs of route

Southeastern China to southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia to eastern coast of IndiaWestern coast of India to Red Sea and eastern coast of Africa

Used different ships than in MediterraneanLateen sail-triangle to handle rough winds of Indian Ocean

Like Polynesians Dhow ships (esp in period 3)

ProductsIvory from India, Africa & MesopotamiaSpices from ME, India, SE AsiaSilk and porcelain from China

Dominated by Arabs

Becomes even more important once Silk Road stops at end of Period 3

Period 3Islam begins in ME (Mecca & Medina) in Period 3

Universalizing faiths (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism) Open to everyone-anyone can achieve salvation unlike Hinduism which only

the highest caste reaches reunion with universal spirit Especially appeals to poor Spread along trade routes by merchants

Islamic Empires in ME, North Africa, Iberia, South AsiaPolitical organization-

Caliph- ruler in charge of government and religion Strong bureaucracy- Vizier led & kept impeccable records on Chinese paper

Economically- link their empires value merchants—formation of guilds encourage trade

Culture- religiously tolerant though non-Muslims pay taxes Muslims do not spread technology & learning(remember yearly pilgrimage to Mecca

spreads ideas among all Muslims)-medicine, arabic numerals [from India], disease

Peri

od 3

Period 3-Delhi SultanateAfghan warlords invaded India to take advantage

of weak state and spread Islam –est Delhi SultanateCreated Islamic empire in northern India with large

bureaucracy Religiously tolerant of Hinduism (general theme of Islamic

empires) Encouraged merchants who spread Islam Many Sultans, while they did not convert to Hinduism,

adopted Hindu dress and customs including caste hierarchy

Unlike Africa where elites converted to Islam, Hindu leaders strictly opposed to Muslims and remained separate

Mounting tensions between Hindus and Muslims in India

Period 4 (1450-1750)Rise of Gunpowder Empires

Gunpowder empiresUsed new technology

from East Asia (China) to build military-especially large armies based on artillery

Examples: Russia, China (Ming &Qing), Japan, Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal

Height of Islamic power in Middle East/South Asia

Ottoman, Safavid & Mughal on the decline by 1750

Mughal Empire (Period 4)Babur (descendant of Timurlane/mongol)

invaded India 1523 creating Mughal EmpireMuslim Leaders over primarily Hindu population=

religious tension (continuity in South Asia from periods 4-6!)

Akbar’s rule in Mughal Empire1556-1605-Empire at height

Politically- autocrat over strong military and religionNo navy (like Safavid)-must rely on Europeans to trade goods by water

(cotton, indigo, silk)Economically- trade overland, esp cotton to Europe where demand for

cotton highSocial Structure- patriarchy

Muslim women veiledPurdah- esp upper class women confined to homeSati- Hindi women throw selves on husband’s funeral pyreChild marriage for Hindus

Culture-monumental building-mosques, schools, palaces (Taj Mahal built by Shah

Jahan to honor his wife), new capital (Fatehpur Sikri) abandoned at Akbar’s death

Religious tolerance- Akbar tried to create new “Divine Faith” to reconcile Hindu and Muslim-unsuccessful, outlawed Sati but culture more powerful than gov (like footbinding in China)

Decline of Mughalslike most gunpowder empires by 1750

Sikh rebellions in 18th centuryConstant warfare-expenses of army- hard on

treasuryLocal leaders (historic problem of South Asia)

plotting against him

European waiting to take over—Esp Great Britain & France

Similarities Ottoman

Safavid

Mughal

Political

Autocratic, political & religious control, gave land grants to nobility, relied on gunpowderBy 1750 all in decline

Large Army AND Navy

No navy No navy

Econo

mic

Economies based on agriculture

Suffered from inflation from influx of New World silver (disadvantage compared to Europeans)By 1750 all in economic decline

Istanbul- link of east and west in tradeNavy could move goods

Rely on Europeans for trade by water

Rely on Europeans for trade by water

Social

All patriarchies (purdah, veiled women), rulers wives had some influence

Sati, caste system among masses

Culture

All Muslim, all encourage arts (domes, calligraphy)

Sunni Shi’ite

Persian influence

Sunni

Masses Hindu

All Period 5 Continuities apply to South AsiaContinuity South Asia

World dominated by western civilizations, which based their power on technology of Industrial Revolution

Great Britain controlled South Asia first economically then post Sepoy Rebellion, both politically and economicallyBuilt infrastructure: roads, RRs, telegraph

Industrialization altered economy- cities grew, people moved from rural to urban, environment changed, pollution increased

Britain created unnatural economy in India where producing raw materials that cannot sustain a people (cotton instead of food) then sent raw materials to GB to be refined

Politically, British Parliamentary model grew

India adopted British parliament but controlled by British rather than locals

Inequality, among both individuals and states, reform movements attempted to address it. Slave systems dismantled

Indians second class citizens (have to get off sidewalk when British pass) Low wages in textile millsPeriod 6- movement led by Gandhi for independence

Imperialism in South AsiaImperialism- European nations are expanding their

sphere of influence in order to gain raw materials and markets for finished goodsAided by Industrial Revolution

Need for raw materials for European factories Need of labor to gather raw materials from colonies Technology to move raw materials (RR, steamboats) Technology to conquer

Guns & artillery Telegraph to communicate quickly medicine to move into tropics-Ex:-quinine to prevent malaria

Aided by Social Darwinisn- belief that Europeans were better than native populations and therefore had a duty to control and educate natives in western ways

British Raj-early Period 5Europeans made agreements with local leaders of Mughal

empire (nawabs) to establish trading posts along coastsEuropeans staffed posts with company men who were aided

by local sepoys (Indian troops)British East India Company centered in Calcutta- British then

controlled Bombay-expanding their economic interests at expense of Mughals and other Europeans

By 1818 English established British Raj- economic control of large parts of India while local Indian princes ruled politically

Sepoy Rebellion convinced British they needed to expand their control to political and economicCultural conflict between Christian British and Hindu &

Muslim Sepoy soldiers who believed the bullet casings of British weapons contained animal fat

British put down rebellion and est direct rule of India

British Imperial Rule in South AsiaPolitically- India brought into British empire with British governor

(viceroy) and Indian Civil Service staffed by British to administer Britain set up bureaucracy to rule India which took most power from

the local princesBritish claimed Indians could hold positions in Indian Civil Service but

examinations were held in BritainEconomically

created unnatural economy transferring farmlands to cash crops (cotton, opium, tea, silk and sugar)

Positively, British built infrastructure of India to facilitate industries (railroads, canals, steamboats)

CulturallyGuaranteed religious toleration, Tried to ban satiImproved cities by adding sewage systems-limited spread of cholera

and lowered death rates Western style schools for Indian elite (unwanted side effect was the

desire for rights from Enlightenment like Rammodhun Roy and Indian National Congress), spread language

Changing Labor SystemsAs slavery declined in period 5, Imperialist nations recruited

poor in their colonies to become indentured servants to work in areas where needed additional labors– great example of

MigrationIndentured Servants worked a set number of years (5-7) in

exchange for their passage—form of forced laborExamples:

Indian migrants to rubber plantations in Southeast Asia, South Africa and the Pacific

Chinese laborers to work on sugar plantations in the Caribbean, gold mines in South Africa and Australia, railroad construction in America and Peru

Japanese and Chinese to sugar plantations in Hawaii, Africans to sugar plantations in Caribbean

Social Structure during ImperialismEuropeans remained segregated from native

populations-especially women and childrenLived in enclaves of all EuropeansKnew Indians only as servants and nannies

IndiansEuropeans opened schools- increased literacy and

education for men and elite womenSecond class citizens unable to achieve highest

ranking positions, laws segregating societiesSocial Darwinism- pseudo science reinforces

differences in Europeans and natives

Period 6- DecolonizationRising Nationalism- desire for independence and

self determinationIndependence groups formed in India during WWI

Indian National CongressMuslim LeagueDuring WWI- Britain promised India that if Indians

supported war movement that Britain would move toward independence

Britain gave some local powers to Indians but kept India a colony in empire– British repressed opposition movements

Gandhi (Mahatma- “great soul”)English educated attorney but showed his empathy

for poor by wearing simple, handmade cotton clothesAdvocated self determination through non-violent

means (civil disobedience)Led 80 mile march to sea to protest British monopoly on

salt (necessary for food preservation)Fasted, but could not solve problem between Hindus

and MuslimsDid not get along with Muslim leaders-Muhammad Ali

Jinnah-advocated separate PakistanDisagreed with his successor, Jawaharlal Nehru-

supported modern industrial IndiaAssassinated 1948

Independence for South AsiaPost WWII, Britain’s Labour Party agreed to Indian

independence1947 agreed to partition South Asia into two

states: Hindu India and Muslim PakistanChaotic transition to independence-followed by

rioting, 12 million leaving ancestral homes, 500,000 dead

Kashmir-though part of India, had large Muslim population—led to continued fighting and series of wars between India and PakistanArms race between the two with both getting nuclear

weaponsStill tension in the region