India

Language, Culture, and Tradition

Why do we study India?

India’s Human Geography

Population: 1.1 Billion people, 2nd most populous nation

29% Urbanized- still has a large rural population

80% Hindu, 13% Muslim, 2% Christian, 2% Sikh, 3% Other

Languages: Hindi 41%, Bengali 8.1%, Telugu 7%, Marathi 7%, Tamil 6%, Urdu 5%

18 official languages, English spoken by a many as well

DiversityHindu Muslim Sikh

Strategic Importance of India

India borders China

India also borders Pakistan, the only majority-Muslim nation with nuclear weapons

It also has strategic control over the Indian Ocean Basin

India’s Government

Federal Republic

The World’s largest democracy

Independence: August 15, 1947 (from the UK)

Prime Minister: Manmohan Singh

India’s States

India’s Long history 4,000 yrs

ago civilization flourished in the Indus Valley at Harrapa and Mohenjo-Daro, two ancient cities

Harappa & Mohenjo-Daro

Although 400 miles apart they were connected by navigable Indus River

Irrigation and farming was taking place

Written language was used

Evidence of extensive trade

The Aryans Invade India

Lighter-skinned invaders from Central Asia arrived between 1500-500 BCE

Blending of Harrapan and Aryan culture developed in the subcontinent

Small kingdoms appeared ruled by rajahs or princes

Sanskrit – Aryan language

Sanskrit Word

Matr

Bhrata

Svasir

Duhita

Sunu

English Word

Mother

Brother

Sister

Daughter

Son

Aryan Society Aryan’s brought the

caste system to India

The Dravidians, the original peoples of India, were conquered by the Aryans

Dravidians were the “untouchables” of the caste system

Persian & Greek Invasions Persians invaded India

in the 6th Century BCE

Written Sanskrit is related to Persian

Greeks invade India in 326 BCE

The Greek conquest was short lived

Gupta Empire320 – 550

Gupta family ruled for over 200 years

Period of stable government & great accomplishments

Indian scholars produced masterpieces

Gupta Accomplishments

Mathematics: concept of zero, “arabic numerals,” and the value of 3.1416 determined

Medicine: diagnoses and treatment was advanced, surgeries performed

Lit.: Many of the traditionally oral stories were written down

Sanjay Gupta