WHI.21


 *  **

=Describe important economic, political and religious developments in Indian history to 1800.=

** Topics on the Page **

 * I. Describe the origins of Indian civilization in the Indus Valley **
 * II. Explain the evolution and central principles of Hinduism. **
 * III. Trace the development of the caste system in India. **
 * IV. Explore the influence of Islam and the rise and fall of the Moghul empire. **
 * V. Illustrate some of the artistic and intellectual achievements of Indian civilization, including the development of the decimal point. **

Focus Question: What were the important economic, political and religious developments in Indian history to 1800?
Timeline of [|India's History] from pre-History to modern India.


 * [[image:Screen Shot 2016-11-17 at 4.24.09 PM.png width="64" height="44" link="http://countrystudies.us/india/"]][|Resources on India from the Library of Congress]**


 * For beautiful and vibrant pictures of India, view PBS's [|The Story of India photo gallery].
 * This [|video] from PBS's "The Story of India" provides a wonderful introduction to the history of India.


 * [[image:rotating gif.gif width="39" height="47"]]For more on Indian history, see **
 * ** World Geography CSA.4 **
 * ** World History II.12. **

** I. How did Indian civilization begin? The Indus Valley ** Civilization

 * [[image:rotating gif.gif width="43" height="43" link="resourcesforhistoryteachers/7.6"]]See also Grade 7.6 **
 * **See also Special Topic Page on Indus Valley Civilization**
 * **For more, see AP Key Concept 1.3**

The first Indian civilization was the [|Indus Valley civilization] or Harappa civilization, which originated near the Indus River around 3000 BCE.
 * Archaeologists discovered the remains of the ancient cities of Harappa on the Ravi River and Mohenjodaro on the Indus River in 1922.
 * The ancient civilization existed from around 3000BCE to 1500 BCE, and at its height, the Indus civilization stretched over half a million square miles across the Indus River Valley.
 * The Indus Civilization existed during the same time as the ancient Egyptian and Sumerian civilizations and outlasted both great civilizations.

For more about the geography, architecture, and food, see Indus Valley Civilization.

To find out more information about the daily lives of the people who inhabited the Indus Valley [|click here].

The [|Indus Valley Civilization] page provides information on the latest discoveries about Indus Valley sites, writings, and much more in a slide show and essay format.
 * [|Crash Course video] about the Indus Valley Civilization.
 * [|The Indian Ocean in World History] is an interactive site covering many time periods from prehistoric to modern day.

PBS's "The Story of India" [|timeline] does not just provide information on important dates, but includes themes and events; cultures and locations; people and gods; arts, language, and religion; and science and education


 * The BBC website includes an Indus Trader Game where players can explore the Indus Valley in search of trade and adventure.
 * Check out this kid-friendly interactive website on the Indus Valley from the BBC.

** II. How did Hinduism evolve and what are its central principles? **
====For more on the development of religions around the world, see AP World History Key Concept 2.1. ====

Today, Hinduism is the world's third largest religion, after Christianity and Islam.

Many historians believe the origins of Hinduism date back 5,000 or more years. The word "Hindu" comes from the Indus River. During ancient times, the Indus river was called the "Sindhu," but the Persians who migrated to India pronounced the river "Hindu." They referred to the land as "Hindustan" and called its inhabitants "Hindus."

The roots of [|Hinduism] can be found in the Indus civilization. The Indus worshiped multiple gods and goddesses and considered rivers to be sacred. In 1500 BCE, the [|Aryans] arrived and heavily influenced India. Their religion began to blend with the Indus religion forming the beginnings of Hinduism. Hindus believe in multiple gods/goddesses, reincarnation, and karma. [|[2]] There is considerable controversy over whether the key components of Hinduism arose from the indigenous population or were introduced by the Aryan invaders from the north after 1500 BCE. One of the most remarkable things about this religion is that it survived many centuries of rule under Muslim dynasties. How big of an impact did the Aryans have in India? http://www.hindunet.org/hindu_history/ancient/aryan/aryan_frawley.html

The core belief in Hinduism is Brahman, which is the underlying universal life force that encompasses and embodies existence. Hindu scriptures state that "one's ignorance of the true nature of the self (//atman//) as one with Brahman is what traps one in the cycle of endless death and reincarnation (//samsara//). Thus, the highest goal of Hinduism is the liberation (//moksha//) from the karmic cycle of death and rebirth."

The religion serves as a way of life for its followers and unites different aspects of daily life including family, society, politics, business, art, and health behaviors. The sacred scriptures contain instructions for all facets of life and emphasize art and drama. Yoga is a common form of meditation that has become associated with Hinduism, but a more important feature of the religion is the importance it places on family life. A person's responsibility to their family is considered a sacred duty.

The beliefs of Hinduism strengthen the foundations of the [|caste system]. In Hinduism, one's karma determines one's rebirth in the next life.


 * Click here for a link to [|The Vedas], the primary texts of Hinduism.
 * The [|Internet Indian History Sourcebook] provides excellent primary sources from Indus Valley Cultures, the Vedic Age, the formation of religious traditions, Hinduism, Medieval India, and much more.
 * Click [|here] for an interactive experience where you can click through the Hindu story of creation and read descriptions of their many gods and goddesses.
 * Click [|here] for "Krishna: The Adventures of a Hindu God"

[|Quiz] yourself on the elements of Hinduism various ways.

[|Tracking Hinduism] is a great lesson plan where students develop a deeper meaning for the religion.

This article provides more information on [|the tradition of sati in India]. Overview of the role of women in Ancient India http://www.indusresearch.org/the-role-of-women-in-ancient-indian-society-a-counter-narrative-2/

[[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Pyramid_of_Caste_system_in_India.png width="268" height="251" align="right" caption="Caste system in India by Kwj2772, Wikimedia Commons"]]
[|The Caste System in India,] Christopher Essay, Washington State University

The Aryans introduced the [|caste system] to India.
 * The caste system is a complicated set of social hierarchies. People are traditionally not allowed to associate with members outside their caste and usually not allowed to marry outside of it.
 * Some believe the caste system came from a belief that society had two tiers, a top, and a bottom.
 * Others believe that the caste system developed from a system used by priests to divide society into three levels: priests, warriors, and ordinary people. [|[3]]

Looked at positively, the caste system was designed to preserve order and it virtually guaranteed that sons would be able to follow in their father's occupational footsteps - much like guilds or union jobs today.

Looked at critically, it allows for virtually no social mobility based on merit or effort and is intrinsically exploitative and unjust.The system evolved into five separate caste distinctions determined solely by birth:
 * Priests (Brahmins);
 * Rulers, warriors, and landowners;
 * Merchants; artisans and farmers; and
 * The so-called Untouchables.
 * There was some blurring of the lines among the middle tiers, not so between the extremes.
 * Students may gain a better understanding** of the implications of the caste system by learning about the enduring impact of the caste system in Indian society. Although India's constitution technically outlaws discrimination based on caste, the reality is quite different in everyday life.

[|Genetic Research Suggests Indian Caste System Began 1,900 Years Ago,] Slate (August 30, 2013)

This [|photo essay] from //National Geographic// about discrimination against Untouchables (Dalit) provides an impactful starting point for making this link. For more information on Hinduism's role in the caste system and the status of women see this [|link].
 * [[image:Multimedia.png]]Watch a [|video] about the effect the caste system has on women.

This [|article] from the Huffington Post explains why the caste system will not disappear.

Click [|here] for a lesson plan on the caste system in India and how the caste system relates to Hinduism. [|Here] is another lesson plan about India's caste system.

** IV. How Did Islam Influence India? **
In the 700s CE, Muslim traders went to India and brought Islam with them. In 1001, Muslim influence took off in India with the arrival of Mahmud of Ghazi. From 1192 to 1397 Turkish Kings, who were Muslim, controlled much of India.

In 1397, the Mughals, also Muslim, invaded and controlled the area. The Mughals gradually gained influence and ruled India from the 1500s to the 1700s. Their first Emperor was Barbur, who took the throne in 1527. This was the beginning of the [|Mughal Dynasty in India], the height of Muslim influence in India. There were six emperors of the [|Mughal Empire] and each had a different idea of how Muslims should co-exist with Hindus.

In the 1700s a debate over who should ascend the throne led to the end of the Mughal Empire. Diminished Muslim influence in the area occurred just as British imperialism began to gain strength in the area. [|[4]]

India was ruled by Moslem dynasties for much of its history so there were many converts throughout the sub-continent, particularly in present-day Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Kashmir. The South was traditionally dominated by Hinduism. The ability of these two religions to co-exist varies wildly throughout Indian history and acted as a key determinant, as it does to this day.

India is an extremely complex and diversified country which hosts many different languages, cultures, and religions.This probably accounts at least in part why it was open to invading armies. Most of these came from the north and west and brought the Muslim faith with them. Ultimately none could dominate and unify the complicated patchwork of kingdoms and other allegiances for very long.

Who was Akbar the great? Click [|here] for a chronology of Moghul kings.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTcwboZ0NB4

** V. What Contributions Has India Made to Art and Science? **
One of the greatest artistic contributions to the world came with the building of the [|Taj Mahal] in the 1600s.
 * The building was meant to be a tomb created by the Mughal emperor for his favorite wife.
 * This structure still stands today and attracts visitors from all over the world. [|[5]]

India also made large contributions to science, math and the arts.

Indian cultures were the first to smelt steel in the 200s BCE.

They invented the [|decimal system] in the 600s CE which made mathematical calculations much more efficient. Watch this [|video] on the secrets of the Taj Mahal from National Geographic.

For more information on the Taj Mahal here are some shorter [|videos] from history.com.

Information on the construction of the Taj Mahal can be found [|here].

Take a tour of the Taj Mahal [|here] or use Google Maps to explore the street view of the Taj Mahal [|here]. Watch this [|video] for more information on the math developments of the Indus River Valley, which we still use today!

See this link for a [|timeline of Indian art].

[|"Islam, An Age of Learning and Artistic Refinement"] provides more information on the artistic and intellectual developments in India. It is generally thought that women in medieval times were denied an education, but this is not completely true. During this time period, a regular system of domestic education existed for [|girls] in South India, which continued into the nineteenth century.


 * Sources:**

[1] Geographia Asia, (2005). A Conscise History of India. Retrieved February 22, 2007, from Geographia Asia Web site: http://www.geographia.com/india/india02.htm [2] Carr, Karen (2006). Hinduism. Retrieved February 22, 2007, from History for Kids Web site: http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/india/religion/hinduism.htm [3] BBC, (2006). Religion and Ethics: Hinduism. Retrieved February 22, 2007, from BBC Web site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/history/history_1.shtml [4] Geographia Asia, (2005). A Conscise History of India. Retrieved February 22, 2007, from Geographia Asia Web site: http://www.geographia.com/india/india02.htm [5] Zahoor, A (1997). The Taj Mahal, India. Retrieved February 22, 2007, from IslamiCity Web site: []

Another source to check out: Birodkar, Sudheer (2006). Daily Life in Ancient India. Retrieved February 22, 2007, from Welcome to Ancient India! Web

New Additions:

Daily life in Ancient India (2011). Retrieved 18 February 2011 from This is my India's site: []. Internet Indian History Sourcebook (13 March 2007). Retrieved 18 February 2011 from Internet History Sourebooks Project's site: []. Timeline of India's History (2010). Retrieved 18 February 2011 from Kamat's Potpourri's site: []. The Story of India (2008). Retrieved 18 February 2011 from PBS's site: []. Lesson Plan: Tracking Early Hinduism (2008). Retrieved 18 February 2011 from PBS's site: []. Indus Valley Civilization (2010). Retrieved 18 February 2010 from The Indus Civilization site: []. Video: The Story of India (2008). Retrieved 18 February 2011 from PBS's site: []. Timeline: The Story of India (2008). Retrieved 18 February 2011 from PBS's site: []. Seven Wonders: The Taj Mahal (2011). Retrieved 18 February 2011 from History.com's site: [|http://www.history.com/videos/seven-wonders-the-taj-mahal#seven-wonders-the-taj-mahal]. When the Moguls ruled...Chronology of Mogul Kings (2010). Retrieved 20 February 2011 from Kamat Potpourri's site: []. Timeline of Indian Art (2011). Retrieved 20 February 2011 from Kamat Potpourri's site: []. Two concerns in Hinduism: The Caste System and the Status of Women (2010). Retrieved 20 February 2011 from Religious Tolerance's site: []. Sacred Texts and Traditional Tales (2000). Retrieved 20 February 2011 from Exploring Religion's site: []. Islam, An Age of Learning and Artistic Refinement (2006). Retrieved 20 February 2011 from International World History Project's site: []. The Tradition of Sati in India (2010). Retrieved 20 February 2011 from Kamat Potpourri's site: []. Tradition of Female Education in Karnataka (2011). Retrieved 20 February 2011 from Kamat Potpourri's site: []. Basic Beliefs of Hinduism (2008). Retrieved 22 February 2011 from Minnesota State University's site: [].

Additional images from wikimedia commons. 