Political Evolution of South Asia

1. Political Evolution of South Asia

2. Pre-European India • Dravidians to Aryans • Occasionally, strong rulers united the northern plain • After the rise of Islam, waves of Muslims swept into South Asia. • Mughal Empire

3. Pre-European India • Mughal Empire: (1500s to mid-1700s) • Longest period of South Asian unification • Governed over 1 million people • Wealthy lived in mansions while commoners lived in mud-brick huts

4. Pre-European India • Mughal Empire: • Akbar the Great – • Ruled 1556-1569 • Brutal military commander, but… • Tolerant ruler allowing religious diversity • Patron of arts & architecture

5. Pre-European India • Mughal Empire: • Shah Jahan – • Ruled 1628-1658 • Led opulent court life • Best known for architecture

6. Pre-European India • Mughal Empire: • Aurangzeb – • Ruled 1658-1707 • Expanded Mughal territory, but… • Very puritanical reign • Taxed non-Muslims • Revoked rights of Hindus • Religious tensions mounted and revolts became common

7. European Imperialism • Causes -- • GOLD • Availability of Raw Materials • Potential for New Markets • GOD • Desire to Spread Christianity & Western Civilization • GLORY • Competition Fueled by European Nationalism

8. European India • Vasco da Gama exploration of the world led to increased trade interest with South Asia • Portuguese = Goa • Dutch East India Company = Sri Lanka & spice islands • British East India Company = Calcutta, Bombay, Madras

9. European India • British East India Company establish a monopoly • Particular interest in cotton, opium, spices, indigo But… How were less than 100,000 British able to rule 325,000,000 unwilling Indians?

10. European India • British East India Company rule: • At first learned Indian culture & intermarried • Used Indian princes as figureheads • Pitted Hindus against Muslims • Kept Indian bankers & merchants benefiting from British trade • Used Sepoys • British trained Indian soldiers to protect trade

11. European India • Soon, British perception of India shift from appreciation to condemnation of past customs • Educated Indians: English, British Lit, Bible • Further divides Indian society • Built railroads, telegraphs, & postal service • Further divides Indian society

12. European India • Sepoy Rebellion: (1857-1859) • Also called “Great Mutiny” & India’s first war for independence • Violence sparked by British annexation of Mughal stronghold & equipping Sepoy’s with guns that are greased with animal fat • Huge casualties - lack of org • British victorious – “India is saved by the telegraph”

13. European India • Sepoy Rebellion: • Causes British tighten hold on India • Set-up official colonial government – “Raj” • Tax Indian textiles, salt • Tight British grip leads to organized Indian nationalist movements

14. Growth of Hindu Nationalism • Groups like the Indian National Congress were formed • Virtually all of the INC was Hindu, lived in cities, & British educated • Muslim community watches suspiciously • Amritsar Massacre • Gives nationalism more momentum

15. Growth of Hindu Nationalism • Mohandas Gandhi: • Typical mischievous child • Graduated & married at 13 yrs old • Born to a prominent business man • Gandhi studied in law London • Turning point in South Africa

16. Growth of Hindu Nationalism Mohandas Gandhi:

17. Growth of Hindu Nationalism • Mohandas Gandhi: • Satyagraha = Civil Disobedience • Gained support among many Indians • Wanted a multicultural India where Hindus & Muslims could live peacefully • Proved Indians had ability to drive change & influence British • Gave Indians confidence & purpose

18. Growth of Hindu Nationalism • Mohandas Gandhi: • 1930, Salt March (India’s “Tea Party”) • Indians forbidden from collecting or selling salt, & purchases taxed • Thousands joined Gandhi during 200 mile march to the sea, where they willfully broke the salt band • Many endured beatings & imprisonment

19. Growth of Hindu Nationalism • Mohandas Gandhi: • INC organized a “Quit India” • Advocated complete independence from Britain • soldiers stopped fighting WWII • local officials quit gov’t jobs • citizens boycotted British goods • used strikes & work stoppages

20. Growth of Hindu Nationalism • Muhammad Ali Jinnah: • Growth of Hindu nationalism made Muslim minority fear for rights in an independent India • Advocated splitting region in a Hindu India & Muslim Pakistan

21. Independence • WWII & Partition: • Partition was messy & millions fled to the “correct” side of the new border • Millions killed in the process • Problems continue – clear divisions are difficult: Kashmir • Gandhi failed to create a peaceful, multicultural India • Assassinated for teachings

22. Independence • Jawaharlal Nehru, Gandhi’s close ally, becomes 1st prime minister of India • Goals = end economic reliance, end dalit discrimination, create secular society • Muhammad Ali Jinnah, becomes 1st Governor-General of Pakistan • 1971, E. Pakistan = Bangladesh

23. European Imperialism • Effects --

24. Analysis Gandhi: Was Gandhi a great soul worth our admiration?

25. Analysis • Partition: • What challenges did the U.S. face after gaining independence? • What challenges do you think India faced after achieving independence? • What can the U.S. learn from this situation and apply to Iraq?

26. Analysis • India’s Federalist State: • A federation allows a fair degree of autonomy to states. India has chosen to establish a federal state (states to linguistic & large ethnic groups) • How does this strategy compare to the U.S. state structure? Is this a good strategy? Why or why not?