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Indian History. Indus River Valley Civilization (3000 – 1500 BCE). a.k.a. Harappan Civilization Achievements: Paved, brick streets Large multistoried buildings We know very little about them because we haven’t deciphered their writing system. Aryan Invasion (1500 BCE).
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Indus River Valley Civilization (3000 – 1500 BCE) • a.k.a. Harappan Civilization • Achievements: • Paved, brick streets • Large multistoried buildings • We know very little about them because we haven’t deciphered their writing system
Aryan Invasion (1500 BCE) • Education system to make theirs a dominant culture • Sanskrit (writing system) – we have not fully translated yet • Caste System • Their religion (Brahmanism) mixed with the ancient religion to make Hinduism
Mogul Empire (1526-1857 CE) • Brought Islam to India • Akbar the Great • Forged alliances with Hindu kingdoms • Shah Jahan • “Golden Age” of Mogul architecture • TajMahal • Aurangzeb • Expanded the empire to 1.25 million square miles, 150 million subjects (1/4 of world population)
British Colony(1858-1947 CE) • British East India Company attracted by wealth of Mogul India (spices, cotton, silk, indigo, salt, tea, and opium) • Royal Charter in 1600 – allowed access to ports by Mogul emperors • 1858 – British Crown assumed direct control (“The British Raj”)
Independence (1947) • 1885 – Indian National Congress founded • Leaders educated in England • Eventually gained 15 million members and 70 million participants • Mohandas Gandhi • Leader of Indian nationalism • Lawyer educated in London • Non-violent civil disobedience
Hindu-Muslim Relations • Muslim minority worried about how they would be treated in an independent India • Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League demanded an independent Muslim state
Partition (1947) • Two states: India and Pakistan (East & West) • 12.5 million people displaced • 500,000 – 1 million people dead (estimates) • Problems: • Independence was declared prior to partition so the new states had to maintain order • No plans for large population movements • Breakdown of law and order; riots, massacres and death from the journey
India-Pakistan Conflicts • Competition for strategically located states (ex: Kashmir) • Autonomous under British; chose to remain autonomous after independence • 70% Muslim but the Maharaja of Kashmir was Hindu • 1947, 1965, 1971 wars for Kashmir • Status has not changed – split between India, Pakistan,and China • Water • India buildup of military/nuclear power • Himalayas no longer provide protection (Who does India need protection from?)