Resources

1. Resources National Geographic Feature on the Taj Mahal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fN-sCQOqzvk Documentary on the Division of India/Pakistan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q64fpLwulOg Slums of India http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vmpe4RuTTmw

2. India before Imperialism

3. Geography • India is part of Asia. • It is considered a “subcontinent” because of its size. • In the north are high mountains, the Himalayas and Hindu Kush.

4. Indus Valley Civilization • The IVC developed along the Indus River around 2500 BCE. • The people of this civilization were mostly farmers. • They built large, well-organized cities. The Indus River is located in modern day Pakistan. Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro were two of the major cities of the Indus Valley Civilization.

5. Mohenjo-Daro This is a recreation of what the entrance to Mohenjo-Daro may have looked like.

6. The Great Bath at Mohenjo-Daro This is one of the earliest examples of a public bath or water storage system found in the world. The Indus Valley people were great architects and city planners.

7. Language of the IVC Historians are currently unable to read the language of the IVC. As a result of this, all information about the civilization comes from archaeology.

8. The Decline and Fall of the IVC • There are currently several theories about the fall of the IVC: • Aryan Invasion (Highly controversial) • Around 1500 BCE, Aryans from the Caucasus invaded & the IVC, (possibly) weakened by natural disasters, was unable to fight them off • Evidence: 1) Hindu poems-Rig Veda, written c. 1500 BCE, which talk northern invaders taking over cities in the IVC 2) 39 skulls found by an archaeologist at Mohenjo-Daro.

9. The Decline and Fall of the IVC • Environmental Disaster (Flooding, Famine, or perhaps the destruction of the natural environment by the people of the IVC) • Earthquake (Massive earthquake changed course of rivers, drying up tributaries)

10. Hinduism • Hinduism is considered to be one of the worlds oldest religions. However, the exact origins/early history of the religion are unknown.

11. Hinduism Cont’d • The central Holy books of Hinduism are the four Vedas, which are considered to be the spoken word of God. • Hindus believe that cows are sacred. • Hinduism is filled with rituals which help people move from the outer physical reality to one of the spirit. Some rituals include the marriage ceremony, naming the child, and carrying him or her to face the rising sun for the first time. • Loud music or singing, and dancing often accompany celebrations.

12. Caste System • Dates back to roughly 1200 BCE. • The class system (varna) were split into four broad classes: priests, warriors, merchants, and workers. • Later, the varnas were split into sub-sections called jatis, or castes.

13. Muslim Invasions (11th-16th centuries) • The first Muslims arrived in India during the 8th century. • Over the course of the 11th and 16th centuries, India experienced a series of invasions by various Muslim nations. Mahmud of Ghazni

14. Sikhism-Origins • Sikhism originated in what is now India/Pakistan around 1500 AD. • It was founded by Guru Nanak during a period of religious conflict and division between Hindus and Muslims. • People were drawn to this religion which emphasized one God and the equality of all. Guru Nanak (1469-1539)

15. Sikhism-Core Beliefs • There is only one God • God is without form, or gender • Everyone has direct access to God • Everyone is equal before God • Empty religious rituals and superstitions have no value Guru Granth Sahib, Sikh holy book

16. Rise of the Mughal Empire (1526-1858) • Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur established the Mughal Empire in 1526 after a successful raid. • When he died unexpectedly in 1530, he was succeeded by his son, Humayun.

17. Mughal Empire: Akbar • Barbur’s grandson, Akbar is considered the architect of the Mughal Empire. • He expanded the size of the Empire through various military campaigns. • He pursued religious toleration to alleviate religious tension between Muslims/Hindus.

18. Mughal Miniatures Akbar was a major patron of the arts. Under his rule, the Mughal style of miniature painting really developed. Miniatures first began as book illustrations but gradually became a more important form of artistic expression.

19. Mughal Empire: Shah Jahan • He rebuilt the capital (Delhi), giving it large thoroughfares, waterways, stone walls enclosing the city. • While he embarked on major building projects, his people suffered. Shah Jahan

20. JamaMasjid Large mosque built in Delhi during the reign of Shah Jahan.

21. Taj Mahal Shah Jahan diverted government funds away from the military to various building projects including the Taj Mahal, a tomb for his wife who died during child birth.

22. Mughal Empire: Aurangzeb • Aurangzeb reversed Akbar’s policy of religious toleration and enacted a number of anti-Hindu policies. He also persecuted Sikhs,killing their ninth guru. • Islamic religious law (shari’a) became the basis of the Mughal government.

23. The Decline and Fall of the Mughal Empire • As a result of his policies, Aurangzab ended up in numerous wars against Hindu rulers in the South (Marathas), which depleted the imperial treasury. • When Aurangzab died, his successors fought one another. • This weakened the Empire greatly, and the empire slowly went into decline, eventually collapsing after the arrival of the British.