India

Classical Time Period1000 BCE-500 CE

Politics•Mauryan dynasty– Chandragupta, Ashoka

▫Ashoka- brutal and ruthless, expanded empire, promoted Buddhism

•Gupta Empire– political stability, “golden age”

•Regionalism, political diversity•Autocratic kings and emperors

throughout•Decentralized•Caste system promoted public order like a

government would

Mauryan Empire

Economy•Taxation system under Guptas•Vigorous economy– lots of manufacturing•Based in agriculture•Emphasis on trade and merchants•Trade hub•Ivory, steel, spices, cotton, dyes (indigo)

Religion•Hinduism– polytheistic, founded by the

Aryan people▫Reincarnation, karma, dharma, caste

system, yoga•Buddhism– by Siddhartha Gautama,

reform movement of Hinduism▫Reincarnation, karma, dharma, removal of

caste system, nirvana, yoga

Culture•Epic poems– Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana,

Upanishads•Caste system•Patriarchy in families•Advanced in science (astronomy, medical

findings) and mathematics (negatives, numbering system, zero, decimal system, etc.)

•Art with religious and natural themes•Sati•One of world’s first universities

Interactions•Maritime trade

▫Indian Ocean▫Mediterranean

Middle East, North Africa, Europe•Trade hub•Trade with China

▫Buddhism, art•Indian culture spread to SE Asia

▫Indian merchants married into local royal families▫Art, architecture, religion

Comparisons

Indigenous people

Various animistic religions

Aryan people

Hinduism

Classical PeriodRiver Valley Civilizations

Polytheistic

Distinctive writing forms

Trade

Advanced technology

Regional kingdoms

Continuities•Polytheistic religion•Agricultural economy•Many regional kingdoms

Changes•Various polytheistic/animistic religions→

emergence of Hinduism as predominant religion along with caste system for social order

•Indigenous peoples→ arrival of the Indo-European Aryans into the Indian subcontinent

Postclassical Time Period500-1450

Politics• Periodic disruptions by

nomadic groups• Regional kingdoms• Umayyad, later Abbasid

control of northern India• Delhi Sultanate

▫ Capital at Delhi

Economy•Internal and external trade•Tax on non-Muslims•Agriculture based

Religion•Islam began to secure a place in India•Some Indians convert for social status•Sufis— most effective missionaries,

allowed followers to observe old traditions

•Bhaktic cults emerged as a Hindu revival against Islam

Culture•Islam– egalitarian; Hinduism– caste

hierarchy•Social divisions between Hindus and

Muslims•Muslims adopted Indian food, clothing,

customs (ex. sati)▫Started becoming socially divided by caste

Interactions• Arabs brought Indian

learning and technology back to Middle East▫ Numbering system,

algebra, geometry, medicine, stories, games (chess)

Comparisons

Just Indian religions

(Hinduism, Buddhism)

Flourishing of Indian learning

Distinctive Indian religions in addition to

Islam

Transmission of Indian learning

Classical Period Postclassical Period

caste system

trade

agriculture

regional kingdoms

Continuities•Hinduism as predominant religion•Agricultural economy•Caste system•Regional kingdoms•Advanced Indian learning and technology•Patriarchal families•Trade

Changes•Only distinctive Indian religions present

(Hinduism, Buddhism) → Islam introduced

Early Modern Time Period1450-1750

Politics• Mughal Empire• Akbar– greatest ruler

▫ Gave Hindus high gov’t roles Integrated Hindus and

Muslims in gov’t• Large, undisciplined

armies• Warrior aristocracy

Economy•Dependent on agriculture, trade, etc.•Textile manufacturing– cotton•Trade destination for Europeans•Akbar– no tax (jizya) on Hindus

▫Reinstated by Aurangzeb

Religion•Akbar created religion unsuccessfully to

unite Muslims and Hindus▫Din-i-Ilahi

•New sects such as Sikhism– anti-Muslim•Jizya off Hindus

Culture•Akbar, Shah Jahan, & Jahangir patronized

the arts•Taj Mahal– Shah Jahan•Blend of Persian and Hindu architecture•Akbar tried to increase position of women–

basis of many reforms•Shah Jahan & Jahangir had influential

wives– gender roles•Women’s status declined in 2nd half of

Mughal Empire

Mughal Art

Taj Mahal

Interactions•Trade destination for Europeans

▫Delhi, Agra, Lahore•Most trade with Asia, some with Persia•Manufacturing•Slave trade with east Africa•Asian sea trading network

Comparisons

Low status for women

Only Muslims formed the government

Postclassical Period Early Modern Period

Agricultural economy

Patriarchy

Caste system

Regional kingdoms

Muslim rule

Continuities•Hinduism as predominant religion•Islam in India•Muslim rule•Agricultural economy•Regional kingdoms•Textile manufacturing•Caste system•Trade•Patriarchy

Changes•Low status for women→ improved under

Akbar•Barriers between Hindus and Muslims→

both groups integrated into the same gov’t

Industrial Age1750-1914

Politics• British East India

Company• Battle of Plassey– British

won control of Bengal• Sepoys• 3 presidencies– Madras,

Calcutta, & Bombay• British Raj

Economy•Britain needed India to facilitate

industrialization▫Capital, raw materials, market

•Textile (cotton), silk, spice industries•Agriculture•Railway system built•Trade controlled by British•Major source of revenue for British gov’t•Economically dependent on Britain

Religion•Initially British didn’t attempt to convert

Indian to Christianity•Divided country based on religion–

Muslims and Hindus•Sati outlawed•Hinduism as a majority religion

Religion in India During British Raj

Culture•Early on, British adopted some Indian

ways– rejected later•Social systems initially left as they were•White racial supremacy– racial

discrimination•Wide range of reforms in early 19th

century▫Outlawed sati▫English education▫Transmitted Western technology, ideas,

inventions, etc.

Interactions•Trade controlled by British

▫Exclusive trade with British East India Company

•British used Indian goods for industrialization

•Dependent on British•British tried to remake India along

Western lines•Raw materials exported to Britain,

finished goods shipped back

ComparisonsEarly Modern

PeriodIndustrial Age

Hinduism

Agricultural economy

Trade

Patriarchy

manufacturing

Continuities•Hinduism as predominant religion•Islam•Agricultural economy•Caste system•Trade•Patriarchy•Manufacturing

Changes•Decentralized rule by regional kingdoms→

centralized rule by British•Muslim cultural influences→ Western

cultural influences•Indian control of Indian trade→ British

control of Indian trade•Economically independent→ economically

dependent (on Britain)

Modern Time Period1914-Present

Politics•National Congress Party•Gandhi– nonviolent protests•August 1947—gained independence from

British rule•Separate Muslim states created in NW

and east•Secular democracy after independence

Gandhi’s Salt March

Economy•Much of India’s budget went to cover the

expenses of wars of the British armies•Decline in food production (due to

production of cash crops) caused regional famines

•Drop in wages and rise in prices•Agriculture•Rapid growth of middle class

Religion•Some leaders supported establishment of

Hinduism as state religion, ignoring Muslims

•After independence, vicious Hindu-Muslim and Muslim-Sikh rioting

•Much religious conflict•Persistence of Hinduism as the majority

religion

Culture•Female politicians– Indira Gandhi

▫Little status/rights for women nevertheless•Indian film industry– Bollywood•High-tech sectors•Many traditional values still in place

Interactions• Ruled by British

▫ British Raj• Ideas of nonviolence from

previous experiences in South Africa

• Western influences

Comparisons

British rule

Monarchy

India including Muslim regions

like Pakistan

Independent rule

Democracy

Partition of India to create

separate Muslim states

Industrial Age Modern Times

Trade

Hinduism

Caste system

Agriculture

Western cultural influences

Continuities•Hinduism as predominant religion•Traditional culture•Agricultural economy•Trade•Caste system (outlawed but present

nonetheless)•Western cultural influences

Changes•Decentralized/British rule→ independent,

centralized rule•monarchy→ democracy•One unified Indian state with different

religions→ creation of independent Muslim states in areas of Muslim majority (Pakistan, etc.)