South Asia History

Overview of the history of South Asia.

1. South Asia A History

2. Indus River Valley Asia’s first cities 4500 years ago Harappa Mohenjo Dahro Brick buildings Carefully laid out streets Ceremonial Gateways Buildings to store grain With the growth in population the civilization thrived by farming, trade, and the use of small industry. Copper & Bronze tools Cotton cloth Clay pottery

3. Indus River Valley The Indus civilization declined between 1700 and 1500 BCE after nearly a thousand years of prosperity. It is believed that earthquakes and floods may have damaged the cities and the Indus river itself may have changed course. Indus Valley: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/indus_valley/ Crash Course: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7ndRwqJYDM&feature=c4-overview-vl&list=PLBDA2E52FB1EF80C9

4. Aryans 1500 BCE nomadic herders called Aryans settled in South Asia Believed to have come from the Caucuses Developed a spoken language called Sanskrit Passed on hymns and teachings by word of mouth

5. Aryans Sanskrit later became a written language and teachings were written in sacred texts called Vedas The Vedas show that Aryans were organized into four Varnas or social groups 1. Priests 2. Warriors 3. Farmers 4. Unskilled Laborers/Servants Over time a Caste system emerged. A Caste is a social group a person is born into and cannot change. The term for Caste in South Asia is Jati.

6. Maurya Rise to power in 300s BCE Founded by Maurya family Most famous ruler Asoka Was a Buddhist Let his people practice other religions Sent Buddhist missionaries throughout Asia Dedicated his life to peace Empire prospered through trade After Asoka’s death invasions led to Mauryan Empire’s fall

7. Gupta Empire In 320 AD Gupta Empire set up in Northern India by Chandragupta I Under Hindu rulers contact with the outside world led to: Increased trade Academia thrived Science Medicine Art Mathematics South Asian mathematicians developed the numerals 1-9 used today Later adopted by Muslim Arab traders and eventually brought to Europe

8. Moguls During the early 1500s Muslim warriors known as Moguls came from the North of India. Akbar was the greatest Mogul ruler. Added lands to the empire Lowered taxes Supported the arts Allowed Hindus to worship freely and hold government positions Later Mogul rulers were not as good Heavy taxes led to rebellion Foreign invasions led to empires collapse in the 1700s

9. Modern History 1600s British established the East India Trading Co. Through trade and Military might the British became the dominant power in South Asia by the 1800s. As British tried to introduce European practices and ideas South Asians became resentful. Indian soldiers attempted revolt in 1857 but failed. British textiles destroyed economies of the region with heavy taxes on poor Severe famines and poor health care under British rule kept resentment and tensions high.

10. Gandhi Mohandas “Mahatma” Gandhi born in 1869. Mahatma means great one. Goal was to bring independence to India Opposed violence of all forms. Believed Civil Disobedience was preferable. Used Fasts as social protest. Held Strikes Refused to buy British goods Led the Dandi Salt march in 1930. Was imprisoned many times for many years. Independence gained in 1947 but as two nations. Hindu controlled India Muslim controlled Pakistan Assassinated in in 1948

11. South Asia today Upon independence West & East Pakistan were created. Hindus fled the Pakistan’s to India and Muslims fled India to the Pakistan’s. Half a million died in fighting In 1971 Civil War broke out between East and West Pakistan. East Pakistan became Bangladesh . In 1948 Britain gave independence to the island of Ceylon which reclaimed it’s ancient name of Sri Lanka In 1965 the Maldive Islands gained its independence from Britain.

12. India & Pakistan Tensions remain between the two countries today. Religious differences Both countries claim ownership of Kashmir in the Himalayas and Karakoram mountains They have fought several wars over the region. Both countries have nuclear weapons Through peace talks the countries have better relations but are still in disagreement over Kashmir.

13. Bangladesh Timeline: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12651483 Bhutan Timeline: http://www.timelines.ws/countries/BHUTAN.HTML India Timeline: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12641776 http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/india/history-timeline

14. Nepal Timeline: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12499391 Pakistan Timeline: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12966786 Sri Lanka Timeline: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-12004081