India

1000 BCE-500 CE

Politics
Mauryan dynasty Chandragupta, Ashoka
Ashoka- brutal and ruthless, expanded empire, promoted Buddhism

Gupta Empire political stability, golden age Regionalism, political diversity Autocratic kings and emperors throughout Decentralized Caste system promoted public order like a government would

Mauryan Empire

Economy
Taxation system under Guptas Vigorous economy lots of manufacturing Based in agriculture Emphasis on trade and merchants Trade hub Ivory, steel, spices, cotton, dyes (indigo)

Religion
Hinduism polytheistic, founded by the Aryan people
Reincarnation, karma, dharma, caste system, yoga

Buddhism by Siddhartha Gautama, reform movement of Hinduism

Reincarnation, karma, dharma, removal of caste system, nirvana, yoga

Culture
Epic poems Vedas, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Upanishads Caste system Patriarchy in families Advanced in science (astronomy, medical findings) and mathematics (negatives, numbering system, zero, decimal system, etc.) Art with religious and natural themes Sati One of worlds first universities

Interactions
Maritime trade
Indian Ocean Mediterranean
Middle East, North Africa, Europe

Trade hub Trade with China

Buddhism, art

Indian culture spread to SE Asia

Indian merchants married into local royal families Art, architecture, religion

Comparisons
River Valley Civilizations Classical Period

Indigenous people

Polytheistic Distinctive writing forms Trade Advanced technology Regional kingdoms

Aryan people

Various animistic religions

Hinduism

Continuities
Polytheistic religion Agricultural economy Many regional kingdoms

Changes
Various polytheistic/animistic religions emergence of Hinduism as predominant religion along with caste system for social order Indigenous peoples arrival of the IndoEuropean Aryans into the Indian subcontinent

500-1450

Politics
Periodic disruptions by nomadic groups Regional kingdoms Umayyad, later Abbasid control of northern India Delhi Sultanate
Capital at Delhi

Economy
Internal and external trade Tax on non-Muslims Agriculture based

Religion
Islam began to secure a place in India Some Indians convert for social status Sufis most effective missionaries, allowed followers to observe old traditions Bhaktic cults emerged as a Hindu revival against Islam

Culture
Islam egalitarian; Hinduism caste hierarchy Social divisions between Hindus and Muslims Muslims adopted Indian food, clothing, customs (ex. sati)
Started becoming socially divided by caste

Interactions
Arabs brought Indian learning and technology back to Middle East
Numbering system, algebra, geometry, medicine, stories, games (chess)

Comparisons
Classical Period Postclassical Period

Just Indian religions (Hinduism, Buddhism) Flourishing of Indian learning

caste system trade agriculture

Distinctive Indian religions in addition to Islam Transmission of Indian learning

regional kingdoms

Continuities
Hinduism as predominant religion Agricultural economy Caste system Regional kingdoms Advanced Indian learning and technology Patriarchal families Trade

Changes
Only distinctive Indian religions present (Hinduism, Buddhism) Islam introduced

1450-1750

Politics
Mughal Empire Akbar greatest ruler
Gave Hindus high govt roles
Integrated Hindus and Muslims in govt

Large, undisciplined armies Warrior aristocracy

Economy
Dependent on agriculture, trade, etc. Textile manufacturing cotton Trade destination for Europeans Akbar no tax (jizya) on Hindus
Reinstated by Aurangzeb

Religion
Akbar created religion unsuccessfully to unite Muslims and Hindus
Din-i-Ilahi

New sects such as Sikhism anti-Muslim Jizya off Hindus

Culture
Akbar, Shah Jahan, & Jahangir patronized the arts Taj Mahal Shah Jahan Blend of Persian and Hindu architecture Akbar tried to increase position of women basis of many reforms Shah Jahan & Jahangir had influential wives gender roles Womens status declined in 2nd half of Mughal Empire

Mughal Art

Taj Mahal

Interactions
Trade destination for Europeans
Delhi, Agra, Lahore

Most trade with Asia, some with Persia Manufacturing Slave trade with east Africa Asian sea trading network

Comparisons
Postclassical Period Early Modern Period
Agricultural economy Patriarchy Caste system

Low status for women

Only Muslims formed the government

Improved status for women (for some time) Hindus incorporated into government

Regional kingdoms
Muslim rule

Continuities
Hinduism as predominant religion Islam in India Muslim rule Agricultural economy Regional kingdoms Textile manufacturing Caste system Trade Patriarchy

Changes
Low status for women improved under Akbar Barriers between Hindus and Muslims both groups integrated into the same govt

1750-1914

Politics
British East India Company Battle of Plassey British won control of Bengal Sepoys 3 presidencies Madras, Calcutta, & Bombay British Raj

Economy
Britain needed India to facilitate industrialization
Capital, raw materials, market

Textile (cotton), silk, spice industries Agriculture Railway system built Trade controlled by British Major source of revenue for British govt Economically dependent on Britain

Religion
Initially British didnt attempt to convert Indian to Christianity Divided country based on religion Muslims and Hindus Sati outlawed Hinduism as a majority religion

Religion in India During British Raj

Culture
Early on, British adopted some Indian ways rejected later Social systems initially left as they were White racial supremacy racial discrimination Wide range of reforms in early 19th century
Outlawed sati English education Transmitted Western technology, ideas, inventions, etc.

Interactions
Trade controlled by British
Exclusive trade with British East India Company

British used Indian goods for industrialization Dependent on British British tried to remake India along Western lines Raw materials exported to Britain, finished goods shipped back

Comparisons
Early Modern Period Industrial Age

Decentralized rule regional kingdoms in much of India

Hinduism Agricultural economy Trade Patriarchy manufacturing

Centralized rule British Economically dependent British controlled trade

Economically independent
Indians controlled own trade

Continuities
Hinduism as predominant religion Islam Agricultural economy Caste system Trade Patriarchy Manufacturing

Changes
Decentralized rule by regional kingdoms centralized rule by British Muslim cultural influences Western cultural influences Indian control of Indian trade British control of Indian trade Economically independent economically dependent (on Britain)

1914-Present

Politics
National Congress Party Gandhi nonviolent protests August 1947gained independence from British rule Separate Muslim states created in NW and east Secular democracy after independence

Gandhis Salt March

Economy
Much of Indias budget went to cover the expenses of wars of the British armies Decline in food production (due to production of cash crops) caused regional famines Drop in wages and rise in prices Agriculture Rapid growth of middle class

Religion
Some leaders supported establishment of Hinduism as state religion, ignoring Muslims After independence, vicious Hindu-Muslim and Muslim-Sikh rioting Much religious conflict Persistence of Hinduism as the majority religion

Culture
Female politicians Indira Gandhi
Little status/rights for women nevertheless

Indian film industry Bollywood High-tech sectors Many traditional values still in place

Interactions
Ruled by British
British Raj

Ideas of nonviolence from previous experiences in South Africa Western influences

Comparisons
Industrial Age Modern Times

British rule Monarchy

Trade Hinduism

Independent rule Democracy

Caste system Agriculture Western cultural influences

India including Muslim regions like Pakistan

Partition of India to create separate Muslim states

Continuities
Hinduism as predominant religion Traditional culture Agricultural economy Trade Caste system (outlawed but present nonetheless) Western cultural influences

Changes
Decentralized/British rule independent, centralized rule monarchy democracy One unified Indian state with different religions creation of independent Muslim states in areas of Muslim majority (Pakistan, etc.)