Early Indian History

What was the first known civilization in the Indian region? What part?

the Indus Valley Civilization; Modern day Pakistan

When did the Indus Valley exist?

2500 BC to 1500 BC

Why did a civilization develop in the Indus Valley?

They had access to the Indus River Valley providing freshwater

What major cities were formed by the Harappans?

Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro

What did the harappans have that made them a very advanced civilization at the time?

Systems of irragation, straight roads, systems of mass, length, and time, canals, docks, and maybe the first use of the wheel

What was the Metallurgy?

The Bronze Age

Who were the aryans?

Warlike people from the Caucasus Mountain

What type of weapons helped the Ayrans be great warriors?

Iron weaponry from the Middle East

Did the Aryans invade the Indus Valley Civilization?

Some think they invaded the Indus Valley Civilization, others think that it was already declining

What are the Vedas?

the “oral” religious traditions of the Aryans; Polytheism

What makes up the Vedas?

songs, hymns, prayers, rituals

What is Sanskrit?

a language/ writing style developed by the Aryans

Who are Indra and Varuna?

Gods mentioned in the Vedas

Who is Indra?

“she” was a human-like warrior goddess and eventually became the god of water and rain

Who is Varuna?

“he” was a strict figure and punisher. Underwater world?

The Vedas provided the basis for what modern religion?

Hinduism

What is a rajah? What do you call a female equivalent?

a hereditary chief; Rani

Who conquered all of India in 321 BC? Hint (northern plains area)

The Mauryas Empire; conquered from the Hindu Kush the Bay of Bengal

What was the Mauryas Empire’s capital?

Pataliputra

What is the definition of dynasty; what empire in India had one?

Ruled by a family that lasted many generations

Chandragupta was a …

Great leader of the Mauryas Empire

Describe Chandragupta

Extremely paranoid; promoted trade, irrigation, roads, etc.

Who was Asoka?

Military Emperor of the Mauryan Empire who ruled through violence and malice from 269-233 BC

What event in Asoka’s life led him to become peaceful? This spread what religion?

He witnessed a battle where over a hundred thousand were killed; Buddhism (might not exist today without Asoka)

Who led the Gupta Empire? (He was a wannabe)

Chandragupta I

What did Chandragupta I do?

United the north and traded with China

Who is Kalidasa?

A famous poet of the Gupta Empire

What great “invention” came out of the Gupta Empire

The concept of “0” - zero

The Muslims that invaded India came from …

… the Middle East

What are Muslim leaders called?

Sultans

What caused the Muslims populations in India to grow?

Muslims forced Hindus to pay a tax but they did not have to pay if they converted to Islam

Who was one of the first great Sultans of India?

Firuz Tughlak

What was Firuz Tughlak known for?

Building construction; 30 colleges, 100 hospitals, 50 dams, 200 new towns; all completed in a 37 year period

Who was a great Mongol Leader that destroyed Delhi in 1938? What happened afterwards?

Tamerlane or Timor; he then left to conquer other lands

Who was Tamerlane‘s grandson; what did he do?

Babur; formed the Mughal Empire in India in 1526

Why is Mongol influence everywhere?

their Euro-Asiatic conquests

How was the Urdu language formed?

A diffusion of Persian and Hindi

Who was India’s greatest leader? (1556-1605)

Akbar

Who did Akbar marry?

He was a Muslim (Mughal) and married a Hindu princess

What did Akbar promote?

Promoted religious tolerance amongst all the religious groups in India and pursuit of wisdom

Who built the Taj Mahal?

Shah Jahan

How long did it take to build?

Took 22 years to build with over 20,000 workers

What cultures were blended when building the Taj Mahal?

Muslim and Hindu architecture

Why was the Taj Mahal built?

Built it as a tomb for the death of his wife when she passed away having their 15th child

What Indian empire started trading with the French and the British?

Mughal Empire; they were making a lot of money off of the trade

What countries occupied the subcontinent? What did they want to do?

Britain and France wanted to kick each other out of the Subcontinent so they could have full access to its riches

What European superpower started to build their own trading posts around India?

Great Britain

What British owned company was created by Robert Clive?

The British East India Company

What type of company was The British India Company?

Joint-stock company

Did The British East India Company have its own military? What was it called?

Yes; the Sepoys

With the help of the British East India Company, the British . . . Using economic power and military might

Successfully drove the French out of India

What caused the BEIC to gain control of much of India?

The Mughal Empire declined in the 1700s

What happens in 1765 to give Britain a lot of control?

In 1765, Mughal emperor gives Britain the right to collect taxes in India

What was British Imperialism in India motivated by?

motivated by a need for raw materials and new markets prompted by the Industrial Revolution

What is the most valuable crop?

Tea

Define Sepoys

Indian troops serving in the British army

What was the rumor that caused the rebellion?

gun cartridges and bullets were greased with cow and pig fat

What happened in 1858?

The British government took direct command of India

Define Raj

used to describe any part of India under British rule, from 1757 to 1947

The governor general

Highest British officer governing India before 1858 - reported to the BEIC Viceroy - highest British officer in India after 1858 - reported to the crown

What did queen Victoria declare in 1876?

Queen Victoria declared herself the Emperess of India