Indias Major Periods Mauryan Dynasty 324 BCE 183

India’s Major Periods • • Mauryan Dynasty 324 BCE – 183 BCE Fragmentation 183 BCE – 320 CE Gupta Dynasty 320 CE - 600 s CE (gradual reduction) Invasions & Fragmentation 600 s CE – 1526 CE Mughal Dynasty 1526 CE -1757 CE (Battle of Plassy) British 1757 CE – 1947 CE Independence 1947

Continuities in Indian History: • Caste system • Hinduism • Invasions from mountain passes • Political fragmentation

Topography of India • Subcontinent of India is partially separated from the rest of the Asian continent by the Himalayas

600 BCE – 600 CE

Classical India alternated between large empires and fragmented kingdoms.

The Maurya and Gupta dynasties constituted the most successful political regimes in India. They were run entirely by Indians themselves as opposed to outside conquerors.

The Maurya Dynasty, 322 BCE – 185 BCE The first empire to unify much of the subcontinent. It’s first major ruler was Chandragupta, who ruled along the Ganges River.

Mauryan Rulers: • Kept large armies • Developed large bureaucracies Consolidation • Borrowed from Persian system and Alexander the Great • Developed a postal system • Highly autocratic government

Ashoka Improvements in Trade & Communication • Built extensive road network • Built wells and rest stops along roads Converted to Buddhism • Created laws called the Rock Edicts --> laws were carved on rocks throughout the empire • Stressed concern for other human beings • Set up free hospitals, roads, and rest houses

Collapse of the Mauryan Empire a. Ashoka died in 232 B. C. E. b. Suffered from acute financial and economic difficulties o High cost for maintaining army and bureaucrats o Debasing the currency, not a effective resolution c. The empire collapsed by 185 B. C. E. About 500 (185 BCE -320 CE) years of fragmentation & division for India…

Guptas, 320 CE – 535 Ces • Decentralized • No individual rulers o Power spread through intermarriage & negotiation o Maintained order using soldiers, spies & assassins o Great period of stability – Golden Age Arts & sciences fluorished • Defeated by the White Huns

Gupta Life • Empire reached its height under Chandragupta II who gave people more freedom • However, status of women declined • Parents chose husbands/wives for their children • Child marriages were common

The Vedas • Priests called Brahmins collected hymns, poems, prayers, and rituals into holy books known as Vedas • Brahmins performed rituals and sacrifices, which gave them power and wealth

The Upanishads • Upanishads = religious writings compiled by anonymous thinkers • All humans have a soul = the atman • All souls are part of 1 eternal & universal spirit = Brahman • Goal in life = union with the Brahman = liberation or moksha

Hindu Beliefs • Believed in samsara = reincarnation/rebirth of the soul • Soul passes through many lifetimes and continues until spiritual liberation = moksha • Karma = how a person lives in this life determines what form the person will take in the next life • Liberation achieved through a life of prayer, strict self-denial, and rejection of all worldly possessions

Karma & Darma • Dharma = the faithful and selfless performance of one’s present caste duties • Karma = determined which caste you would enter at birth • Adhering to dharma and subduing your ego ensured spiritual progress, good karma, and possible birth into a higher caste when reincarnated

Caste System • Provided the stability in India that most countries received from government. • Provided a network of rules and promoted public order. • Karma & Darma were the ideological foundation. Varnas (4 classes) • Each varna had its own duties • Born into and remained in your varna for life

Buddhism – Founded on the teachings of Gautama born around 563 BCE – Accepted many Hindu beliefs but attacked the priests and caste system.

a. The Four Noble Truths All life involves suffering Desire is the cause of suffering Elimination of desire brings an end to suffering The Noble Eightfold Path brings the elimination of desire b. The Noble Eightfold path: Right belief, right resolve, right speech, right behavior, right occupation, right effort, right contemplation, and right meditation c. Religious goal: personal salvation, or nirvana, a state of perfect spiritual independence

Buddhism & Hinduism Similarities • Karma • Rebirth/reincarnation • Practice of meditation • Final release from cycle of rebirth

Buddhism & Hinduism Differences • Buddhism rejects: • Religious authority of Hindu Brahmins • Hindu caste system • Hindu deities

Caste System • Each varna was further divided into sub-castes called jatis • Jatis formed according to occupation --> ex: shoemakers, weavers, etc. • Each jati had its own rules for daily life -including diet, marriage, and social customs

Characteristics of India’s Society • Family life emphasized tight organization • Male dominance (greater in theory than reality) • Families formed economic units • Economy rivaled China in sophistication and technology but was still agricultural based • Very prosperous upper class • Emphasized trade and merchant activity (greater than China and the Med. World

600 CE – 1450 CE

Political • Time of fragmentation & repeated invasion • Muslims conquer Punjab region in 711 (though Islam first arrives by Muslim merchants) • Mahmud of Gazni’s empire conquers northern India (997 -1030) • Delhi Sultanate (late 1100 s – c. 1320) • Tughluq dynasty (1320 -1413) • Tamerlane invades 1398

INDIAN OCEAN TRADE NETWORK COFFEE SLAVES IVORY HORSES SILKS GOLD STEEL CLOTH YARN SILKS INDIGO PEPPER GEMS ANIMALS DRUGS SILVER LACQUER SILK PORCELAIN SUGAR LUXERIES TEA SPICES TIMBER RICE MEDICINES

1450 CE – 1750 CE

The Mughal Empire • Zahir al-Din Muhammad (Babur the Tiger), Turk, invades northern India for plunder, 1523 • Gunpowder technology gives Babur advantage (“gunpowder empire”) • Founds Mughal dynasty • Expands through most of Indian subcontinent 28

Akbar (r. 1556 -1605) • Grandson of Babur • Wins fear and respect after throwing Adham Khan, leader of the army, out the window twice • Second time just to make sure he was dead • Created centralized government • Destroyed Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagar • Religiously tolerant, promoted “Divine Faith” • Syncretic form of Islam and Hinduism 29

Aurangzeb (r. 1659 -1707) • Expands Mughal empire into southern India • Hostile to Hinduism • Demolished Hindu temples, replaced with mosques • Tax on Hindus to encourage conversion 30

Mughal Decline • Reasons for Decline • Draining of the imperial treasury (they broke) • Later rulers not very competent • India was still very diverse (only held together by strong imperial military), so once decline set in, it was only natural for India to split apart • Revolts • Local rulers began to assert more authority (growing stronger economically) • Persians sacked Delhi in 1739 • British power growing as Mughal power declines • British won battle of Plassey in 1757 • Begin to take administrative & economic control over interior 31

Mughal Decline • British power growing as Mughal power declines • British won battle of Plassey in 1757 • East India Company began to take administrative & economic control over interior • The British government gained direct control in 1858 32

1750 CE – 1900 CE

Indian Rebellion of 1857 -1858 (AKA Sepoy Rebellion) • Triggered by the introduction into the colony’s forces of a new cartridge smeared with animal fat from cows and pigs • Remember: Indian troops = Hindus and Muslims • Hindus = find cows sacred • Muslims = regard pigs as unclean • Both = viewed this military “innovation” as a plot to harm them and convert them to Christianity • Indian troops in Bengal mutinied against their British superiors

Indian Rebellion of 1857 -1858 • Indian Rebellion spread from Bengal to other regions and other social groups • Many social groups within India were upset with British colonial rule • Local rulers = lost power • Landlords = deprived of their estates and/or rent • Peasants = overtaxed and exploited by urban moneylenders and landlords • Weavers = unemployed (displaced by machines) • Religious leaders = opposed to Christian missionary preaching

Indian Rebellion of 1857 -1858 • Crushed in 1858 but important results followed: • Widening of the racial divide in colonial India between native Indians and their British rulers eroded British tolerance for their subjects • British = became more conservative and cautious when it came to trying to change Indian society didn’t want another rebellion • British government assumed direct control over India ended the British East India Company’s rule there

British Rule Over India • Types of British rule: o Direct British rule o East India Company rule o Indirect rule (through local majarajas & rajas)

British Rule Over India • Brought order, stability & efficient government • Benefited many commoner Indians • Education system for Indian elites & civil service exam system • Young girls educated too • Infrastructure: main highway, railroads, telegraph, postal service • Safe travel: put an end to thuggee (where we get “thug” • Outlawed sati

Social & Economic Changes under British • Zamindar system: Local collected taxes (tax farming) • Goal was for the Zamindars to become a rural gentry class, which would support British rule • Introduction of British textiles • Put many women out of work • Hurt local textile industry • Only limited industrialization • Educated Indians & mixed British-Indians followed the culture & style of the British

Revived Hinduism • In India = many turned toward a revived Hinduism • More distinct and unified • Purposes of this revived Hinduism: Swami Vivekananda One of India’s most influential religious figures of the 19 th century • Provide India with an accessible religion on an even keel with Christianity • Provide Indians with a feeling of worth when faced with the humiliation of colonial rule • Uplift India’s village communities • Offer spiritual support to a Western world caught up in materialism and militarism • Caused Muslims to develop a stronger identity

Independence Brewing • First Indian nationalists were upper-caste and educated • Wanted India to modernize before gaining independence • A little self-government was granted, but local British officials often disregarded it • 1885: Indian National Congress established • Mostly upper-caste educated Hindus • Wanted British to spend more on economic development & a share in governing (not much happened) • Muslim League created to represent Muslims

1900 CE - Present

Major Independence Leaders • Gandhi • Against Western materialism (industrialism) • Strategy of satyagraha: nonviolent resistance • Convert British to his views • Strengthen unity & self-respect of all Indians • 1921: Government of India Act: Indian parliament created, with 2/3 being elected • Nehru • Upper-caste (Brahmin) and intellectual • Wanted India to become a modern industrial society • Jinnah • Leader of the Muslim League – called for a Muslim state of Pakistan

Independence & After 1947: Hindu India & Muslim Pakistan Gandhi was assassinated by a Hindu militant in 1948 Nehru became prime minister until he died in 1964 India was neutral during the Cold War Horrible relations with Pakistan • India supported East Pakistan breaking away and becoming Bangladesh • Economic growth since the 1980 s • Though many live in complete poverty • “Untouchability” outlawed by the constitution, but discrimination especially happens in villages • • •