History of the South Asia/the Indian
Subcontinent
According to the Theory of Plate Tectonics, the Indian Subcontinent was once attached to Africa
About 70 million years ago it began moving to its current position
The first Human-like creatures were in the Indian Subcontinent as long as 500,000 years ago.
“Modern humans” arrived 12,000 years ago
Early humans started farming in the Indus River valley 7000 years ago and in the Ganges River Valley about 5000 years ago
Indus River Valley Civilization
• Lasted from 3300 – 1300 BC (2,000 years!)
• Over 1056 cities and villages have been found
• Economy based on Agriculture and Trade
• Little evidence of violence/warfare
• First civilization to use precise measuring and weighing devices
• Disappeared because of drought or invasion from the northern “Aryans”
• Came from Aryans in the North – settled in Indus River valley and Gangetic Plain
• The Aryans were nomadic herders and warriors
• The era lasted from 1500 – 500 BC• Brought with them a polytheistic religion -
Writings focused on Gods – the roots of Hinduism
• Society was divided into 4 basic groups:o Brahmins – Priests and Kingso Kshatriyas – Warriors and Rulerso Vaishyas –Farmers, Artisans, Merchantso Shudras – Peasants, serfso “Untouchables”
• References to Cattle as being non-edible• The era gave birth to Indian Civilization• Ended by braking apart into smaller
kingdoms and regions – Invasion of Persia
Vedic Civilization
In 327 BC, Alexander the Great (him again!)conquered much of Northern Indian subcontinent before his Generals convinced him to go home!
Maurya Empire• 322-185 BC• Took over after Alexander the Great’s Army
retreated• Established a single finance, administration
and security system across India.• Encouraged the spread of Buddism• Failed because a strong king (Ashoka) was
followed by much weaker kings – who left the empire open to invasion by outsiders
Gupta Empire • 320 – 550 AD• Founded by Majaraji Sri Gupta – after
conquering 20 lesser kingdoms in and around current day India
• Considered “the Golden Age of India” –advancements in science, art, technology, engineering, math, religion and philosophyo Concept of ZEROo Base 10 number systemo Earth moves around the suno Earth is not flat, but roundo Moon and Planet “shine” because of
reflected light from the suno Innovations in medicine and Surgeryo Chess may have originated here
• Ended because of internal conflicts, and raiders from the North
Mughal Empire• Founded by BABUR – a Central Asian descendent of
Tamerlane and Genghis Khan• Began with Babur’s conquest of Northern India in 1526• Spread Islam throughout India but allowed other
religions to practice (Akhbar)• Later leaders were less tolerant• Taj Mahal was built• Developed and extensive tax collection system that
expanded commerce and trade throughout the empire• The empire dissolves into chaos during ‘wars of
succession’ where two of the former emperors sons and three of his grandsons are killed. This weakens the empire and leads to British domination
• Technically ends in 1857 – but really dissolves in the early 1700s
British Empire – the RAJ
• 1757-1947• Began with East India Trading Company
o English first arrived in 1600 – established control of British trade in the all the Indies
o Expanded from pure trade to govern the regiono Organized a private army with British officers and
Indian soldierso Ended with the Indian Rebellion of 1857-58
• British Government officially took over after the Rebellion until after World War II
• Increasing Indian Independence Movements led to full independence in 1947
• “Independent” India separated along religious lines (Hindu vs Islam) forming India and Pakistan
British Empire - Opposition
• Mutiny of 1857-58• Mahatma Gandhi• Independence and
Partition
1947 – Independence and Partition
Issues facingSouth Asia Today
• Nuclear Stand-off between India and Pakistan• Islamic terrorism• Independence from foreign ‘super powers’ (the West,
Soviets/Russia/China• Population Growth
On the Good Side…