India

1000 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 Period River 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

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 PeriodPostclassical 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

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 2 nd 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 Improved status for women (for some time) Hindus incorporated into government Postclassical PeriodEarly 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

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 19 th 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

Comparisons Decentralized rule– regional kingdoms in much of India Economically independent Indians controlled own trade Centralized rule– British Economically dependent British controlled trade Early Modern Period Industrial 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)

1914-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 AgeModern 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.)