1 / 70

South Asian History

South Asian History. Changes over Time. Indus Valley Civilization. Existed on the subcontinent around 2500 BC (same time as Mesopotamia & Egypt) Ruins of Ancient Cities: Harappa and Mohendra-Daro Urban planning Large public buildings Water supply and sewage systems

giles
Download Presentation

South Asian History

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. South Asian History Changes over Time

  2. Indus Valley Civilization • Existed on the subcontinent around 2500 BC (same time as Mesopotamia & Egypt) • Ruins of Ancient Cities: Harappa and Mohendra-Daro • Urban planning • Large public buildings • Water supply and sewage systems • After 1750 BC the civilization declined • Reason for decline is unclear – it was thought that Aryan “invaders pushed south” but now one theory is ecological change

  3. Indus Valley Civilization • Map & Ruins of Harappa

  4. Mohendra-Daro • View down a street

  5. The Aryan Migration • 1500 BC – people speaking Indo-Aryan languages migrated from Caspian Sea into South Asia through the Hindu Kush mountains (Modern Afghanistan) • Seminomadic herders that migrated over centuries • The Vedas provide some information about Aryans • Conflict existed between different Aryan groups and other groups of people • Evidence of class and gender discrimination • Worshiped a multitude of nature related gods

  6. Indo-Aryan Migration

  7. The Aryan Migration • Over 1000 years, spread across the northern section of India • Used Iron tools, cleared forests, & cultivated land • As population increased -> regional states & kingdoms developed & trade increased • 326 BC Alexander the Great – contact between Greek and Indian civilization

  8. The Aryan Society • As the Aryan societies became more complex, they divided themselves into groups. • This caused people to be limited on the jobs they could have and who they could interact with. • These rules became more and more strict and central to Indian society

  9. The Mauryan Empire • Chandragupta Maurya – initiated the first imperial dynasty • 326 BC to 184 BC • Ashoka – advanced empire into southern peninsula • Seen as India’s first true emperor • Used Military force – then supported Buddhism, peace, & nonviolence • After Ashoka – leaders were ineffective at managing large empire – invasions from Central Asia, internal fighting – • this leads to the fall of the Mauryan Empire

  10. Mauryan Empire

  11. The Next 500 Years… • No strong ruler was in place • Subcontinent was subdivided • Invaders from Central Asia • Trade links to Rome and China • Buddhism spread from the subcontinent to Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Tibet, China, and Japan

  12. The Gupta Empire • Begins in 320 AD – 6th Century • Achievements in education, medicine, literature, and the arts • Hinduism gains popularity – Gupta kings combined Hinduism and Buddhist values • Mid 6th Century- invaders from Central Asia – ended the Gupta Empire

  13. Gupta Empire

  14. Next 600 years… • Subcontinent was again divided • Harsha – brief empire in 7th century with ½ the subcontinent • Regional conflicts – center of power shifted to the south • Southern kingdoms traded with eastern and western worlds • Caste system began during this period (Brahmins – at the top) as Hinduism dominates over Buddhism and Jainism

  15. The Delhi Sultanate • 7th Century Islam arrives in Afghanistan -> spreads to Pakistan • By end of 10th Century – Islamic Invaders and Traders arrive in South Asia • Early 13th Century – a collection of Islamic Dynasties (Delhi Sultanate) – extend Islam’s control across Northern India and into Central India • Internal conflict & outside threats (Mongols) • Was often brutal to local Hindus – contributed to downfall by the Mughals

  16. Expansion of Islam

  17. Delhi Sultanates

  18. The Mughal Empire • 1526 invaded the subcontinent • Zahir-ud-Din Babur – (descendent of Genghis Khan) • Created large kingdom because of strong army • Akbar – greatest Mughal ruler – combined Central Asian, Persian and South Asian political/social traditions

  19. Mughal Empire

  20. Mughal Empire • Islamic Mughal rulers – showed respect for cultures • Hindus & Muslims were members of nobility • The economy was strong – achievements in art and architecture – Taj Mahal • By 18th century – regionalism began to occur – leaders wanted more power

  21. Taj Mahal

  22. TajMahal • Is a mausoleum for the wife of Mogulo Emperor Shah Jahran • After her death in 1631 her husband began the construction • Over 300 feet tall, white marble

  23. Europeans Arrive • 1498 – Vasco da Gama – lands on India’s coast • 1510 – Portuguese trading post – Goa – dominate spice trade • Early 17th century – Dutch & British – challenge Portuguese trade by establishing trading areas, the French established trading areas by late 1600s. • British and French created alliances with regional kingdoms - fought the Carnatic Wars – for control in South Asia

  24. Vasco de Gama

  25. British Company Rule • 100 years – English East India Company – British Monarchs allowed the company to rule • Calcutta, Madras, Bombay – chief cities • “Dual Government” – company held power but a local ruler carried out rule • Nawab (Muslim) Maharaja (Hindu)

  26. British East India Company

  27. British Gain Territory • Negotiated treaties with kingdoms – company stationed troops & collect taxes in return for protection • By entering disputes between princes • Annexing the areas because of no dominant central power • Trade diversified – • British Government – began to question authority of the company

  28. India 1795

  29. Problems arise • Missionaries arrive – to “civilize” and convert – brought ideas of liberalism and nationalism • Fought for control with Russia – Afghanistan • Aggressive Modernization efforts • 1857 Sepoy Rebellion • Annexation of land • Rumors of a conspiracy against local beliefs • Rifle cartridges (smeared with pig & cow fat) • Resulted in full scale war with loss of control of some areas

  30. Rifle Cartridges

  31. The British Empire

  32. British Crown Rule • 1858 Act for the Better Government of India “Crown Rule” • Established a secretary of state – still ruled by local governor-generals (viceroy) • Suez Canal 1869 – reduced travel time • Built infrastructure – roads, bridges, railroads, telegraph lines, irrigation systems • Extracted raw materials and sent them to Great Britain to be processed • Established market for manufactured goods

  33. Tensions begin to build… • 1885 – Indian National Congress is formed • Reform movement calling for moderate change • 1905 Nationalists begin to challenge for control • Divided into moderate and extremist groups • Widespread protests, British goods boycotted, attacks on British officials, extremist leaders were jailed

  34. Muslim League • Formed to work for the rights of Muslims in India – • Did not want to be controlled by a Hindu state

  35. World War I • Up to a million Indian soldiers served in the war • Contributed large amounts of food and ammunition • After the war – increased nationalism resulted in more Indian participation in the government at a local level

  36. Rowlatt Acts 1919 • Gave the government right to disregard civil liberties if needed to suppress the people • Mohandas Gandhi – called for strikes and protests • British commander – ordered troops to fire on protesting Hindus, Muslims, and Sikhs • Amritsar Massacre

  37. Most important political & spiritual leader in achieving independence for India was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi—The Mahatma (The Great Soul). • Born in 1869 • He is honored by people as the father of their nation • Life was guided by a search for the truth that could be known only through tolerance & concern for his fellow man, & that finding a truthful way to solutions required constant testing • He overcame fear in himself & taught others • Believed in nonviolence & held that violence is better than cowardice – civil disobedience • Lived a simple life & thought it was wrong to kill animals for food or to use their ides

  38. Gandhi • 1915 – returned from South Africa to India • Felt that the Indian National Congress needed to change • Focused on independence and nonviolent civil disobedience • Boycott British schools, courts, protests • Quit the government jobs • Refuse to pay taxes

  39. “My life is dedicated to service of India through the religion of non-violence which I believe to be the root of Hinduism. The religion of non-violence is not meant merely for the riches and saints. It is meant for the common people as well.” Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi

  40. Gandhi’s efforts continue… • Appealed for national unity • Was jailed several times and his popularity increased • 1930 – marched with 1000s to the sea to make salt from saltwater – avoiding British tax • Some conflicts begin between the Indian congress and the Muslim league • 1935 & 1937 some local authority given to the Indian National Congress

  41. World War II begins… • Britain declares war on British India’s behalf without consulting the Indian leadership • Congress Party – would not support war until promised independence • Muslim League – supported war to attempt to gain influence • Mohammad Ali Jinnah - passed the Lahore Resolution – demanded a separate state at independence • Gandhi appealed to the people not to accept the resolution but most supported the claim for two nations

  42. Continued Protests • Congress led independence movement protests continued – 1000s were jailed • War expanded to the Pacific – British worked on compromise but did not succeed • Gandhi began “Quit India” movement – threatened widespread civil disobedience • 1942 Gandhi in Jail along with 1000s of others • Some Indian POWs fight along side the Japanese • Altogether, he spent seven years in prison for political activity

More Related