WHI.21+and+WHI.22

=Indian History to 1800=

How Did Indian Civilization Begin?
The first Indian Civilization is known as the Indus Civilization. This civilization originated near the Indus River around 3000 BC. The Indus was one of the oldest civilizations in the world. For the time period, they were quite advanced technologically. For example, they had indoor toilets. [|[1]]

How Did Hinduism Evolve and What Are Its Central Principles?
The roots of Hinduism can be found in the Indus civilization. The Indus worshipped 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]]

How Did The Caste System Develop?
The Aryans introduced the caste system to India. The caste system is a complicated set of social hierarchies. People are not traditionally allowed to associate with members outside their caste and usually not allowed to marry outside 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]]

How Did Islam Influence India?
In the 700’s CE, Muslim traders began to go 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 Mughal Emperors 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]]

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 and math. Indian cultures were the first to smelt steel in the 200s BCE. They also invented the decimal system in the 600s CE which made math much easier.

[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: http://www.islamicity.com/Culture/Taj/story_1.shtml

Another source to check out: Birodkar, Sudheer (2006). Daily Life in Ancient India. Retrieved February 22, 2007, from Welcome to Ancient India! Web site: http://members.aol.com/Donnclass/Indialife.html#ARYANhttp://resourcesforhistoryteachers.wikispaces.com/WHI.21+and+WHI.22