Transcript History of South Asia

History of
South Asia
Ch. 24 Sec. 2
Indus Valley Civilization
Mohenjo-Daro
1. What were 3 developments of the
Indus Valley civilization?
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Writing system
Strong central government
Masters of overseas trade
Organized, planned cities
Uniform weights and measures
2. What were 2 of the world’s first
cities? What technology did they have?
• Mohenjo-Daro & Harappa
• Bricks made by kilns (still used today)
• Plumbing systems (wells  home 
covered drains)
• Sanitation systems
• Signs of dentistry: drilled,
crowned teeth
Mohenjo- Daro Great Bath
3. What do many scientists believe
led to their decline?
• Flooding
• Drought
– Δ in monsoons leaves area cool & dry
– Tectonic activity diverts river elsewhere
• Disease
Aryan Arrival
4. Who were the Aryans?
• Light-skinned herders and hunters
from the northwest (possibly 1700
B.C.)
5. What were the Vedas?
• Collection of sacred writings- show
ideas of religion, social structure,
hymns, etc.
• Hindu sacred text (to some); oldest in
Sanskrit
6. Aryan social class pyramid
Priests
Warriors & Nobles
Artisans & Farmers
Slaves, Criminals
• Structure was flexible @ first
(intermarriage, etc), but became more
complex and rigid caste system
7. When did the Mauryan Empire control S.
Asia? What religion?
• 320-180 B.C.E. (Chandragupta Maurya)
– Ruled all but southernmost India
• Buddhism (Asoka’s pillars)
8. When did the Gupta Empire rule?
What are things its famous for?
Religion?
• 320-550 A.D. (Chandra Gupta I)
• Golden Age of India (sciences, math,
astronomy, religion)
– Concept of zero, origin of Arabic #s,
heliocentric theory
• Extensive Trade
• Hindu Revival
500 healing
plants identified
1000 diseases
classified
Printed
medicinal guides
Plastic
Surgery
Gupta
Achievements
Kalidasa
Literature
Medicine
Inoculations
Gupta
India
C-sections
performed
Decimal
System
Mathematics
Concept
of Zero
PI = 3.1416
Solar
Calendar
Astronomy
The earth
is round
Extensive Trade:
Gupta Empire
spices
gold & ivory
9. How did the Mogul (Mughal)
Empire come to power?
• Muslim missionaries & traders
were moving across Africa & Asia
• Moguls, over time, took control
over most of Indian subcontinent
(1526)
–Babur
–Most land gained under Akbar
–Shah Jahan
–Defeated only by British in 1857
10. Who were the first Europeans?
• Portuguese, 1500
11. What was the East India
Company and its significance?
• Began as a trade company for East
Indies mainly India & China
• Soon began ruling India (1757-1858)
• British Crown then took control of India
12. What did the British call their empire?
How did colonization influence Indian
culture?
• Raj (empire)
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Brought English language*
New educational system
Built RRs
Civil/public services
Modern South Asia
• India
13. What is significant about 1947?
– Year gained independence from Britain
14. How was India further divided?
- India formed for Hindus, Pakistan (east & west)
for Muslims
15. How did the division of India impact peoples?
- Forced to move to country of religion violent
conflicts erupted
- Kashmir
Modern South Asia
• Sri Lanka
16. When did Sri Lanka gain independence,
from who?
- 1948 from Britain, CeylonS.L. (1972)
- Britain favored Tamils…prelude to civil war
• Maldives
17. When did the Maldives gain
independence, from who?
- 1965 from Britain
Male, Maldives
Modern South Asia
• Pakistan/Bangladesh
18. What is significant about 1971?
- Indo-Pakistani War b/w East &
West, India fought against West
Pak. Bangladesh created
- Extremely violent
(began with genocide
against Bengali Hindus)
Modern South Asia
19. List 2 regional conflicts.
– Kashmir disputed b/w India &
Pakistan
• Nuclear weapons add to tension
–Tamils want independent state w/in
Sri Lanka (civil war)
–Hindus vs. Muslims all over region
Modern South Asia
20. List the type of government of each
country.
– India: largest democracy in world
– Pakistan: Islamic Republic
– Sri Lanka & Bangladesh: democracies w/
instability due to ethnic clashes
– Nepal & Maldives: was monarchy, now
democracy (2008, 1968 respectively)
– Bhutan: Democracy w/ monarch (2007)