IndiaIndia

Key Historical EventsKey Historical Events Indian civilization began in the Indus Valley (now Indian civilization began in the Indus Valley (now

Pakistan) around 250 BCPakistan) around 250 BC Thousands of years later, invaders (Aryans) Thousands of years later, invaders (Aryans)

crossed the mountains of the Hindu Kush and crossed the mountains of the Hindu Kush and spread throughout South Asia.spread throughout South Asia.

Aryans established small kingdoms on the Aryans established small kingdoms on the Ganges plain.Ganges plain.

Pushed darker skinned native Indians called Pushed darker skinned native Indians called Dravidians toward the south.Dravidians toward the south.

Persians and Greeks invaders went into the area, Persians and Greeks invaders went into the area, but could not conquer the Aryan Kingdoms of the but could not conquer the Aryan Kingdoms of the GangesGanges

Key Historical EventsKey Historical Events

Other empires: MauryanOther empires: Mauryan

Empire, Gupta Empire, Empire, Gupta Empire,

and Mughal Empireand Mughal Empire

Europeans ArriveEuropeans Arrive In the 1500s, European traders came to In the 1500s, European traders came to

India, looking for spices, cloth and other India, looking for spices, cloth and other goods not available in Europe. This soon goods not available in Europe. This soon established trade relations with India’s rulers.established trade relations with India’s rulers.

French, Dutch, and Portuguese traders set up French, Dutch, and Portuguese traders set up trading colonies in India. Through the trading trading colonies in India. Through the trading arm, the British India Company (East India arm, the British India Company (East India Company), Britain gained control over India’s Company), Britain gained control over India’s trade with Europe in 1757. trade with Europe in 1757.

In 1857 the British government put down a In 1857 the British government put down a revolt and established direct rule over India.revolt and established direct rule over India.

British rule brought some British rule brought some benefits to India, but most benefits to India, but most Indians did not like Indians did not like colonialism.colonialism.

Great Indian leader Great Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi began an Mohandas Gandhi began an opposition movement based opposition movement based on nonviolent resistance.on nonviolent resistance.

Eventually Britain gave in Eventually Britain gave in and granted India its and granted India its freedom on August 14, 1947.freedom on August 14, 1947.

““Be the change that you Be the change that you want to see in the world.” -want to see in the world.” -GandhiGandhi

Religion Brings DivisionReligion Brings Division

Independence also brought the division Independence also brought the division of India. The Muslims of West and East of India. The Muslims of West and East Pakistan chose to separate from India Pakistan chose to separate from India which was strongly Hindu to form their which was strongly Hindu to form their own country.own country.

The division caused violence to break The division caused violence to break out between Hindus and Muslims. out between Hindus and Muslims.

Mass migrations across the new borders Mass migrations across the new borders caused great hardship and sufferingscaused great hardship and sufferings

GovernmentGovernment Under Nehru (first prime minister) India Under Nehru (first prime minister) India

adopted a constitution and became a adopted a constitution and became a democratic republic in 1950.democratic republic in 1950.

India’s democracy reflects elements of both India’s democracy reflects elements of both the American and the British system.the American and the British system.

India is a federation of states held together India is a federation of states held together by a strong central government like the by a strong central government like the United StatesUnited States

India though is a parliamentary democracy India though is a parliamentary democracy with a prime minister like Britain.with a prime minister like Britain.

With a population of more than one billion, With a population of more than one billion, India is presently the world’s largest India is presently the world’s largest democracy.democracy.

Discuss With Your TableDiscuss With Your Table

Brainstorm what you know already Brainstorm what you know already about the Hindu religion.about the Hindu religion.– Think about what we talked about Think about what we talked about

yesterdayyesterday

HinduismHinduism India is a land of great variety, but the dominate India is a land of great variety, but the dominate

force in the lives of most Indians’ is Hinduism.force in the lives of most Indians’ is Hinduism. Hinduism originated around the Indus Valley near Hinduism originated around the Indus Valley near

the Indus River, in modern day Pakistan. Roots are the Indus River, in modern day Pakistan. Roots are from the Aryan culturefrom the Aryan culture

The Vedas are the most ancient religious Hindu The Vedas are the most ancient religious Hindu text and define the truthtext and define the truth

Hindus believe that the texts were received by Hindus believe that the texts were received by scholars directly from god and passed onto scholars directly from god and passed onto generations by word of mouth.generations by word of mouth.

Hindus believe in the universal soul called Hindus believe in the universal soul called Brahman, who created the world, and its present is Brahman, who created the world, and its present is in everythingin everything

Hindus make up around 80% of the population.Hindus make up around 80% of the population. Hindus believe in many gods and reincarnation. Hindus believe in many gods and reincarnation.

– Cycle of birth, death, and rebirth governed by KarmaCycle of birth, death, and rebirth governed by Karma

The Caste SystemThe Caste System The caste system was the The caste system was the

Aryan system of social classes. Aryan system of social classes. According to Hindu belief, each According to Hindu belief, each person is born into a caste person is born into a caste (varnas) and has a certain (varnas) and has a certain moral duty known as dharma.moral duty known as dharma.

Caste Today: Member of the Caste Today: Member of the upper castes consider the upper castes consider the lowest castes to be ritually lowest castes to be ritually unclean. Marrying someone unclean. Marrying someone from a different caste, whilst from a different caste, whilst not officially outlawed, is not officially outlawed, is generally not recognized. generally not recognized.

Caste barriers have largely Caste barriers have largely broken down in the large cities.broken down in the large cities.

““Untouchability” has been Untouchability” has been abolished by lawabolished by law

Loyalty to a caste is much Loyalty to a caste is much harder to eliminate and it still harder to eliminate and it still provides a sense of community provides a sense of community and belonging, mainly in and belonging, mainly in country areascountry areas