1. From the Indus River Valley to the Mughal Empire
A History of India
From the Indus River Valley
to the Mughal Empire

2. Why India? 7th largest country in terms of land area 2nd most populous
1.2 billion people
Only China has more
The most populous democracy in the world
One of the world’s largest economies
Possesses nuclear weapons

3. Religion Birthplace of several religions Hinduism Buddhism Sikhism
Hindus are by far the largest percentage of Indians today
A significant minority of Muslims
Bangladesh and Pakistan are primarily Muslim countries

4. Bangladesh + India + Pakistan = India
Geography
Historically, India’s geographic boundaries were bigger than they are today:
Bangladesh + India + Pakistan = India
Bangladesh and Pakistan did not exist as separate countries until after India gained independence from Great Britain in 1947
Ancient Indian cities, like Harappa and Mohenjo- daro, are located in what is now Pakistan

6. Geography of Indus River Valley
2 rivers – Indus and Ganges deposits silt during flooding like T & E and the Nile
Natural Barriers-
Himalayan, Kush, and Karakorum Mtns. Highest in the world
Deserts to the east
Indian Penninsula to the south-has mtns near the edges creating a dry center with lush narrow coasts

7. Indus River Valley First civilizations appeared around 3000 BCE
Two of the cities that have been excavated are Harappa and Mohenjo-daro
Cities date to about 2500 BCE
Grid system
Fortified city centers
Oven-fired bricks in standard sizes

8. City Planning in the Indus Valley
Indus Valley cities had grid-like streets They had citadels Buildings were made of cut, oven baked bricks Cities had plumbing and sewage systems that drained dirty water and waste to sewers below ground w/ manholes for access Each house had a toilet (bricks and wood) and area for bathing connected to system Houses of different sizes were mixed together some 3 stories high

10. Contact with Other Cultures
Lots of contact with other cultures
Trade with Africa, Europe, and other parts of Asia
Occasional conquerors transformed India in terms of its ethnic makeup, languages, religions, traditions, etc…
Alexander the Great
Persian Empire
Turks

11. Achievements of Indian Empires
Complicated governments
Math!
Zero
Arabic numerals
Decimals
Periods of religious tolerance
“We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made.”—Albert Einstein

12. Mughal Empire Followed a period of warfare and division in India
Empire founded by Babur, who first inherited a kingdom at age 11
Empire lasted from about 1500 to 1700

13. Mughal Empire Akbar was the greatest leader of the Mughal Empire
Babur’s grandson
Ruled from 1556 to 1605
A Muslim, but defended religious tolerance
Married a Christian wife
And a Muslim wife
And TWO Hindu wives

14. Mughal Empire Akbar famous for his military success
Used cannons to defeat troops mounted on elephants
Military success, along with effective government, allowed him to unify a land of 100 million people
More than the people in all of Europe at the time

15. Mughal Empire
The Mughal Empire declined at the same time as Europeans were beginning to make inroads along the Indian coast
Dutch and British trading companies would control much of India’s commerce in the 1700s
The British would make India a colony in the 1800s

16. Taj Mahal Built by Akbar’s grandson, Shah Jahan
A tomb for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died at age 38 while giving birth to her 14th child
Took 22 years to build
20,000 workers
Made of marble and with precious stones decorating the inside