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Indian History to 1700

Page history last edited by Robert W. Maloy 3 weeks, 6 days ago

 


A Map of India, 1700 CE to 1792 CE

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.

 

    • Akbar the Great

 
V. Illustrate some of the artistic and intellectual achievements of Indian civilization, including the development of the decimal point.

  

  • The Taj Mahal 

 

  • The Decimal System of Number Representation 

 

CROSS-LINK: Decimals Module from Usable Math 

 

  • The Laws of Manu: Rules and regulations that control social and moral behavior

 

Focus Question: What were the important economic, political and religious developments in Indian history to 1800?



external image 500px-Hebrew_timeline.svg.pngTimeline of India's History from pre-History to modern India.

Resources on India from the Library of Congress

 

This video from PBS's "The Story of India" provides a wonderful introduction to the history of India.

 

PAGE SUMMARY

This page describes a broad assessment of Indian history to the 1700s, first with the foundations of Indian society in the Indus Valley Civilization starting in 3000 BCE where the Harappa civilization existed in the same period as the Egyptian and Sumerian civilizations. This is an important to teach to contextualize the existence of this civilization while discussing what is happening in other parts of the world at the same time.

 

One important theme discussed on this page is the Indian Caste system, a defined social hierarchy in India that still has a major impact on society today. Additionally, the page discusses the development of Hinduism, the third most popular religion in the world. The page continues with the Mughal Empire. Readers learn about the syncretism between Islamic and Middle Eastern cultures and Indian society. The Muslim invasion of India only increased the social and cultural diversity housed within the countries modern borders. Finally, there are the mathematical, scientific, and artistic achievements of Indian civilization, including the Taj Mahal, decimals, and the Laws of Manu -- all groundbreaking and impressive feats in India’s long history. 

(Kate Maskell, February 2022)

 

 

 

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

 

Carved stone Hashtnagar pedestal, dated to 384 CE
Carved stone Hashtnagar pedestal, dated to 384 CE 


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.

 

For more about the geography, architecture, and food, link to Indus Valley Civilization

 

The Indus Civilization existed during the same time as the ancient Egyptian and Sumerian civilizations and outlasted both great civilizations.



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
 

 

  • Check out this kid-friendly interactive website on the Indus Valley from the BBC.

 

Indus Valley Civilization Writing, Seals: Shows and details images of Indus script

 

II. How did Hinduism evolve and what are its central principles?

 

What is Hinduism?

 

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

 

Hinduism does not have a single founder, text, or set of beliefs. It has core tenets and an overlapping set of practices, cultural values, and norms. They believe in a system of reincarnation. PBS video to learn more. 

 

III. How did the caste system develop?

Caste system in India by Kwj2772, Wikimedia Commons

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.

 

Dalit or Untouchable Woman, Bombay, 1942
Dalit or Untouchable Woman, Bombay, 1942

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.

 

 

  • Watch a video about the effect the caste system has on women.

 

 

 

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.

 

Here is a link to a research paper that discusses the role of women in ancient Indian society. 

https://scmhabra.org/eresources/HISA-Sem-2_Sourov.pdf 

 

This link provides an article about the lives of everyday women during the Mughal Empire. It gives insight into their roles and impact in broader Indian society.

 

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.

 

Interactive Caste System Game: Quizzes students on the order of the castes

 

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.

Babur Receives a Courtier, 1589
Babur Receives a Courtier, 1589


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.

 
external image Mughal_Historical_Map.png
 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.

 

 

For an additional summation of the Mughal Empire, check out this article by Whitney Howarth.

 

 

 

For more information on how Islam spread throughout India, and it's effects check out this article in Egypt Today.

 

                             Who was Akbar the great?

Secrets Revealed About Mughal Emperor Akbar By His Close One 

Akbar the Great from PBS

Akbar the Great video explaining the achievements of this ruler.

 

 

 

 

V. What Contributions Has India Made to Art, Math, Science and Law?

 

external image 500px-Hebrew_timeline.svg.pngLink to a timeline of Indian art

 

"Islam, An Age of Learning and Artistic Refinement" provides more information on the artistic and intellectual developments in India.

 

Click here for an interactive art tour of Mughal Empire art pieces. Each piece provides interesting context about Indian society and the significance of the Mughal Empire.

 

 

 

The Taj Mahal

 

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]


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.

Take a tour of the Taj Mahal here or use Google Maps to explore the street view of the Taj Mahal here.

 

Timeline of the Taj Mahal
 

 

Image from MathIsFun.com

 

Image from MathIsFun.com

The Decimal System of Number Representation


Invented in the 600s CE, the decimal system made mathematical calculations much more efficient.

 

Who Invented the Decimal System

 

 

 

 Multimedia Resources

 

Watch Ancient India: Indus River Civilization for more information on the math developments of the Indus River Valley, which we still use today!

 

Watch History of Mathematics: Who Invented Decimals?

 

 

 

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

 

 

Legal Developments

 

Mānava-Dharmaśāstra or Laws of Manu is considered the first ancient legal text and constitution among the many Dharmaśāstras of Hinduism.

 

The Laws of Manu

 

 

 

Quiz Questions

 

In which category would Merchants be placed in the Indian Caste system? 

 

 

A) Shudra

 

B) Brahmin

 

C) Vaishya

 

D) Kshatriya

 

Answer C

 

 



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: 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

New Additions:

Daily life in Ancient India (2011). Retrieved 18 February 2011 from This is my India's site: http://www.thisismyindia.com/ancient_india/daily-life-in-ancient-india.html.
Internet Indian History Sourcebook (13 March 2007). Retrieved 18 February 2011 from Internet History Sourebooks Project's site: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/india/indiasbook.html.
Timeline of India's History (2010). Retrieved 18 February 2011 from Kamat's Potpourri's site: http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/timeline/timeline.htm.
The Story of India (2008). Retrieved 18 February 2011 from PBS's site: http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/gallery/photos/3.html.
Lesson Plan: Tracking Early Hinduism (2008). Retrieved 18 February 2011 from PBS's site: http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/teachers/lessons/1/.
Indus Valley Civilization (2010). Retrieved 18 February 2010 from The Indus Civilization site: http://www.harappa.com/har/har0.html.
Video: The Story of India (2008). Retrieved 18 February 2011 from PBS's site: http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/.
Timeline: The Story of India (2008). Retrieved 18 February 2011 from PBS's site: http://www.pbs.org/thestoryofindia/timeline/1/.
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: http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/mogul/timeline.htm.
Timeline of Indian Art (2011). Retrieved 20 February 2011 from Kamat Potpourri's site: http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/art/timeline.htm.
Two concerns in Hinduism: The Caste System and the Status of Women (2010). Retrieved 20 February 2011 from Religious Tolerance's site: http://www.religioustolerance.org/hinduism4.htm.
Sacred Texts and Traditional Tales (2000). Retrieved 20 February 2011 from Exploring Religion's site: http://uwacadweb.uwyo.edu/religionet/er/hinduism/htexts.htm.
Islam, An Age of Learning and Artistic Refinement (2006). Retrieved 20 February 2011 from International World History Project's site: http://history-world.org/islam14.htm.
The Tradition of Sati in India (2010). Retrieved 20 February 2011 from Kamat Potpourri's site: http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/hindu/sati.htm.
Tradition of Female Education in Karnataka (2011). Retrieved 20 February 2011 from Kamat Potpourri's site: http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/edu/inkar.htm.
Basic Beliefs of Hinduism (2008). Retrieved 22 February 2011 from Minnesota State University's site: http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/religion/hinduism/beliefs.html.

Additional images from wikimedia commons.

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