periods 1-6. period 1- indus river valley indus river now –dry desert but historically lush...
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South Asia: India Periods 1-6
Period 1- Indus River Valley Indus River
Now –dry desert but historically lush landscape (ex of change in environment)
Monsoon rains caused flooding in rivers-brought rich soil down river (like Nile, Tigris & Euphrates)
Independent cities- Civilizations based on agriculture:
wheat, rye, peas, rice, cotton Many domesticated animals
On trade route with China, SE Asia, India Extensive job specialization
Craftsmen not as advanced as Egypt or Mesopotamia-no swords Urban planning-streets, sewage system, varied house size suggests class
structure Written language not deciphered
Examples of independent cities: Mohenjo-Daro
British found settlement when building a RR across India 1850s Spoke Dravidian Language- Conquered by Aryans (Indo-European group)- but probably already on the decline
Harappa- no sign of invasion
Development of Caste SystemCaste-social class of heredity-usually unchangeable
Continuity for South Asian culture and social structure throughout periods 2-6
Generally South Asia is more loyal to social system than to political leaders
Explained through creation myth (think archetype through many cultures!)Brahmim- highest social class-priests, scholarsKshatriya-warriors and gov officialsVaishya- landowners, merchants, artisans (in other
cultures the landowners are the nobles and of high status)Shudra- common peasants and laborers
During period 2 Caste system becomes more complex divided into sub-systems JatiLittle contact among jati
Religions of South AsiaHinduism
Began pre 600 BE with Vedas- religious texts passed down from conquering Aryans Rig Veda- most important of texts
Central beliefs- Reincarnation-rebirth of soul so that human spirit (atman) could eventually
join the universal spirit Polytheistic
Primarily remained in IndiaBuddhism
Founded in India 6th century BCE by Siddhartha Gautama Left life as prince to seek meaning of life & experienced enlightenment
Central beliefs Anyone can attain Nirvana (union with universal spirit Nirvana can be reached through study of Four Noble Truths and Eightfold
PathSpread on trade routes and became universalizing faith along with
Islam & Christianity China (though Scholar Gentry destroyed temples), Japan, Southeast Asia
Islam comes in period 3 with the Delhi Sultanate!
Period 2-Mauryan EmpirePolitically fragmented-decentralized (unlike
Rome, Han empires)- Geography separatedCulture separated-
Religion-people more loyal to Hinduism than gov language
Ashoka--third ruled or Mauryan empireWealthy-empire sat on trade routesLarge army (like Rome & Han) conquered most of
IndiaConverted to Buddhism—looked to peace of religion
250 years after Ashoka India returned to decentralized state-which lasted 500 years
Period 2-Gupta EmpireFounder- ChandraNot as large as MauryanNever as centralized as
MauryanNo bureaucracyDrew tribute from local
leaders—local warriors had a lot of independence
Example (along with Persia) of theatre state- awing subjects into remaining loyal to kingRoyal palace=Pataliputra
Hinduism will hold South Asia together
even after fall of Period 2 empires
as Confucianism holds East Asia together
Indian Ocean Trade RouteLinked Southeastern China to Africa--Three legs of route
Southeastern China to southeast AsiaSoutheast Asia to eastern coast of IndiaWestern coast of India to Red Sea and eastern coast of Africa
Used different ships than in MediterraneanLateen sail-triangle to handle rough winds of Indian Ocean
Like Polynesians Dhow ships (esp in period 3)
ProductsIvory from India, Africa & MesopotamiaSpices from ME, India, SE AsiaSilk and porcelain from China
Dominated by Arabs
Becomes even more important once Silk Road stops at end of Period 3
Period 3Islam begins in ME (Mecca & Medina) in Period 3
Universalizing faiths (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism) Open to everyone-anyone can achieve salvation unlike Hinduism which
only the highest caste reaches reunion with universal spirit Especially appeals to poor Spread along trade routes by merchants
Islamic Empires in ME, North Africa, Iberia, South AsiaPolitical organization-
Caliph- ruler in charge of government and religion Strong bureaucracy- Vizier led & kept impeccable records on Chinese
paperEconomically-
link their empires value merchants—formation of guilds encourage trade
Culture- religiously tolerant though non-Muslims pay taxes Muslims do not spread technology & learning(remember yearly pilgrimage to Mecca
spreads ideas among all Muslims)-medicine, arabic numerals [from India], disease
Peri
od
3
Period 3-Delhi SultanateAfghan warlords invaded India to take advantage
of weak state and spread Islam –est Delhi SultanateCreated Islamic empire in northern India with large
bureaucracy Religiously tolerant of Hinduism (general theme of Islamic
empires) Encouraged merchants who spread Islam Many Sultans, while they did not convert to Hinduism,
adopted Hindu dress and customs including caste hierarchy
Unlike Africa where elites converted to Islam, Hindu leaders strictly opposed to Muslims and remained separate
Mounting tensions between Hindus and Muslims in India
Period 4 (1450-1750)Rise of Gunpowder Empires
Gunpowder empiresUsed new technology
from East Asia (China) to build military-especially large armies based on artillery
Examples: Russia, China (Ming &Qing), Japan, Ottoman, Safavid, Mughal
Height of Islamic power in Middle East/South Asia
Ottoman, Safavid & Mughal on the decline by 1750
Mughal Empire (Period 4)Babur (descendant of Timurlane/mongol)
invaded India 1523 creating Mughal EmpireMuslim Leaders over primarily Hindu population=
religious tension (continuity in South Asia from periods 4-6!)
Akbar’s rule in Mughal Empire1556-1605-Empire at height
Politically- autocrat over strong military and religionNo navy (like Safavid)-must rely on Europeans to trade goods by water
(cotton, indigo, silk)Economically- trade overland, esp cotton to Europe where demand
for cotton highSocial Structure- patriarchy
Muslim women veiledPurdah- esp upper class women confined to homeSati- Hindi women throw selves on husband’s funeral pyreChild marriage for Hindus
Culture-monumental building-mosques, schools, palaces (Taj Mahal built by
Shah Jahan to honor his wife), new capital (Fatehpur Sikri) abandoned at Akbar’s death
Religious tolerance- Akbar tried to create new “Divine Faith” to reconcile Hindu and Muslim-unsuccessful, outlawed Sati but culture more powerful than gov (like footbinding in China)
Decline of Mughalslike most gunpowder empires by 1750
Sikh rebellions in 18th centuryConstant warfare-expenses of army- hard on
treasuryLocal leaders (historic problem of South Asia)
plotting against him
European waiting to take over—Esp Great Britain & France
Similarities Ottoman
Safavid
Mughal
Political
Autocratic, political & religious control, gave land grants to nobility, relied on gunpowderBy 1750 all in decline
Large Army AND Navy
No navy No navy
Econo
mic
Economies based on agriculture
Suffered from inflation from influx of New World silver (disadvantage compared to Europeans)By 1750 all in economic decline
Istanbul- link of east and west in tradeNavy could move goods
Rely on Europeans for trade by water
Rely on Europeans for trade by water
Social
All patriarchies (purdah, veiled women), rulers wives had some influence
Sati, caste system among masses
Culture
All Muslim, all encourage arts (domes, calligraphy)
Sunni Shi’ite
Persian influence
Sunni
Masses Hindu
All Period 5 Continuities apply to South AsiaContinuity South Asia
World dominated by western civilizations, which based their power on technology of Industrial Revolution
Great Britain controlled South Asia first economically then post Sepoy Rebellion, both politically and economicallyBuilt infrastructure: roads, RRs, telegraph
Industrialization altered economy- cities grew, people moved from rural to urban, environment changed, pollution increased
Britain created unnatural economy in India where producing raw materials that cannot sustain a people (cotton instead of food) then sent raw materials to GB to be refined
Politically, British Parliamentary model grew
India adopted British parliament but controlled by British rather than locals
Inequality, among both individuals and states, reform movements attempted to address it. Slave systems dismantled
Indians second class citizens (have to get off sidewalk when British pass) Low wages in textile millsPeriod 6- movement led by Gandhi for independence
Imperialism in South AsiaImperialism- European nations are expanding their
sphere of influence in order to gain raw materials and markets for finished goodsAided by Industrial Revolution
Need for raw materials for European factories Need of labor to gather raw materials from colonies Technology to move raw materials (RR, steamboats) Technology to conquer
Guns & artillery Telegraph to communicate quickly medicine to move into tropics-Ex:-quinine to prevent malaria
Aided by Social Darwinisn- belief that Europeans were better than native populations and therefore had a duty to control and educate natives in western ways
British Raj-early Period 5Europeans made agreements with local leaders of Mughal
empire (nawabs) to establish trading posts along coastsEuropeans staffed posts with company men who were
aided by local sepoys (Indian troops)British East India Company centered in Calcutta- British
then controlled Bombay-expanding their economic interests at expense of Mughals and other Europeans
By 1818 English established British Raj- economic control of large parts of India while local Indian princes ruled politically
Sepoy Rebellion convinced British they needed to expand their control to political and economicCultural conflict between Christian British and Hindu &
Muslim Sepoy soldiers who believed the bullet casings of British weapons contained animal fat
British put down rebellion and est direct rule of India
British Imperial Rule in South AsiaPolitically- India brought into British empire with British governor
(viceroy) and Indian Civil Service staffed by British to administer Britain set up bureaucracy to rule India which took most power from
the local princesBritish claimed Indians could hold positions in Indian Civil Service
but examinations were held in BritainEconomically
created unnatural economy transferring farmlands to cash crops (cotton, opium, tea, silk and sugar)
Positively, British built infrastructure of India to facilitate industries (railroads, canals, steamboats)
CulturallyGuaranteed religious toleration, Tried to ban satiImproved cities by adding sewage systems-limited spread of cholera
and lowered death rates Western style schools for Indian elite (unwanted side effect was the
desire for rights from Enlightenment like Rammodhun Roy and Indian National Congress), spread language
Changing Labor SystemsAs slavery declined in period 5, Imperialist nations recruited
poor in their colonies to become indentured servants to work in areas where needed additional labors– great example of
MigrationIndentured Servants worked a set number of years (5-7)
in exchange for their passage—form of forced laborExamples:
Indian migrants to rubber plantations in Southeast Asia, South Africa and the Pacific
Chinese laborers to work on sugar plantations in the Caribbean, gold mines in South Africa and Australia, railroad construction in America and Peru
Japanese and Chinese to sugar plantations in Hawaii, Africans to sugar plantations in Caribbean
Social Structure during ImperialismEuropeans remained segregated from native
populations-especially women and childrenLived in enclaves of all EuropeansKnew Indians only as servants and nannies
IndiansEuropeans opened schools- increased literacy and
education for men and elite womenSecond class citizens unable to achieve highest
ranking positions, laws segregating societiesSocial Darwinism- pseudo science reinforces
differences in Europeans and natives
Period 6- DecolonizationRising Nationalism- desire for independence and
self determinationIndependence groups formed in India during WWI
Indian National CongressMuslim LeagueDuring WWI- Britain promised India that if Indians
supported war movement that Britain would move toward independence
Britain gave some local powers to Indians but kept India a colony in empire– British repressed opposition movements
Gandhi (Mahatma- “great soul”)English educated attorney but showed his empathy
for poor by wearing simple, handmade cotton clothesAdvocated self determination through non-violent
means (civil disobedience)Led 80 mile march to sea to protest British monopoly
on salt (necessary for food preservation)Fasted, but could not solve problem between Hindus
and MuslimsDid not get along with Muslim leaders-Muhammad
Ali Jinnah-advocated separate PakistanDisagreed with his successor, Jawaharlal Nehru-
supported modern industrial IndiaAssassinated 1948
Independence for South AsiaPost WWII, Britain’s Labour Party agreed to Indian
independence1947 agreed to partition South Asia into two
states: Hindu India and Muslim PakistanChaotic transition to independence-followed by
rioting, 12 million leaving ancestral homes, 500,000 dead
Kashmir-though part of India, had large Muslim population—led to continued fighting and series of wars between India and PakistanArms race between the two with both getting nuclear
weaponsStill tension in the region